Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) on January 18, 2022, organised an online event wherein it announced eleven winning cities for the Streets for People Challenge, and ten winning cities for the pilot stage of the Nurturing Neighbourhoods Challenge.
These cities will now enter the scale up stage of the challenge wherein the projects undertaken in the pilot stage will now be scaled up in a sustainable manner. At the event, the Ministry also launched Season-2 of India Cycles4Change and Streets for People Challenges and a book titled ‘Nurturing Neighburhoods Challenge: Stories from the Field”.
The event was chaired by Manoj Joshi, Secretary, MoHUA. The participants included global and Indian officials from partner organisations who had conducted the challenge, representatives from winning cities, and officials from Central and State Governments, including CEOs of 100 Smart Cities, according to a PIB release.
Since 2020, the Smart Cities Mission (SCM) has been anchoring inter-city challenges to make public spaces more people-friendly. This is in line with the 2006 National Urban Transport Policy, which called for a paradigm shift from car-centric roads to people-centric streets. Over the past 18 months, these challenges vis. Cycles4Change and Streets for People, have transformed into a nationwide movement beyond the 100 Smart Cities.
Under the ‘Streets for people Challenge’, 38 cites piloted re-imaginations of an important street each by prioritising them for pedestrians. 11 cities have been selected by a jury panel for the next phase of scale up and will be awarded Rs. fifty lakh each by MoHUA. Four cities were given a special mention by the jury for their efforts during the challenge. The challenge was conducted with technical support from the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP India).
“In an emerging paradigm at the Ministry, for the first time we are taking the lens of certain citizen groups to reimagining our cities. In partnership with the Bernard van Leer Foundation, we are investing in cities to nurture early childhood development and to make them work for caregivers. Changes led by the Nurturing Neighbourhoods cohort are transforming how we plan, design, and manage Indian cities to be healthier, more inclusive places for young children to grow up, which consequently enhances quality of life for all,” said, Manoj Joshi, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
“As an avid cyclist myself, the last two years have been memorable to see this wave of walking and cycling take over many cities across the country. The ongoing challenge for city leaders under AKAM has also sparked inspiration across the country with many city leaders talking up walking, cycling, and running activities! It is important that the city leaders lead the way and inspire others!” said Kunal Kumar, Mission Director, Smart Cities Mission.
“Streets are for people, not just cars. The Open Street Campaign helped over 100 cities across India reimagine their streets. During the challenge, the cities transformed their traffic centric streets into vibrant spaces, filled with colour, music and laughter. Imagine what we can accomplish if these were made permanent!” said, Aswathy Dilip, South Asia Director, Institute for Transportation and Development Policy
“We extend our heartiest congratulations to all the winners and everyone involved in making the Nurturing Neighbourhoods Challenge such a success. It is encouraging to see the excellent quality of innovation and work done by cities keen to build a healthy, safe, and playful environment for babies, toddlers, and their families. From dumpyards and unused spaces being converted into play zones to microparks and well-equipped vaccination centres for young children, the effort put in by cities has been truly commendable. We at BvLF believe that when city leaders plan, design, and manage neighbourhoods from a child’s perspective, they not only make it safe, accessible, and fun for young children, but also support the child’s long-term health and well-being. And, ultimately, cities that work for babies, toddlers, and their caregivers work for everyone,”said Rushda Majeed, India Representative, Bernard van Leer Foundation.