Urban Thinkers Campus - Feb'16
Urban Thinkers Campus - Feb'16
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  • Background
  • Habitat for Humanity India
  • The Event
  • Schedule
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  • Home
  • Background
  • Habitat for Humanity India
  • The Event
  • Schedule
  • Register
  • Pictures

Schedule

11 FEBRUARY
09.00 am - 10.00 am       @Jacaranda I, Jacaranda II, Juniper
Registration
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10.00 am - 11.30 am        @Jacaranda I, Jacaranda II
Inaugural session
Key-note Speaker: Dr. Isher Judge Ahluwalia, ICRIER
Inaugural  Invitees:
1. Jagan Shah, NIUA
2. Patricia Barandun, UN Women
3. Rajan Samuel, Habitat for Humanity India

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11.30 am - 12.00 pm
Tea break
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12.00 pm - 01.30 pm        @Jacaranda - 1
Making urban services inclusive: universal access to sanitation facilities. What works for the urban poor?    
Urban Thinkers Session 1    
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(Theme: Sanitation)
Improve access and adequacy of sanitation facilities in low-income settlements constituting a big share of Indian urban population is a prerequisite for building inclusive smart cities. Unequal coverage for urban basic services is a reality in most of Indian cities and towns; governments at the national and state level having failed to realize inclusiveness with regard to the most vulnerable fringe of urban population. Although this issue is addressed in the relevant national policies and missions such as AMRUT, SBM & the former JNNURM, the local & state authorities face challenges in realizing universal access to basic urban services. This session will explore those challenges and take stock of success stories in India and other parts of the world.

Session Brief & Issue Questions    
Improve access and adequacy of  sanitation  facilities  in  low- income settlements constituting a big share of Indian urban population is a prerequisite for building inclusive smart cities. Unequal coverage for urban basic services is a reality in most of Indian cities and towns; governments at the  national  and  state level having failed to realize inclusiveness with regard to the most vulnerable fringe of urban population. Discussions during this session will be triggered on the basis of following questions:

1.    What are the opportunities and challenges in centrally- sponsored programs, such as AMRUT, Smart Cities Mission and SBM urban, to realise inclusion with regard to water and sanitation services  in  low-standard  urban settlements?
2.    Are community toilets infrastructures an appropriate solution in informal and low-income settlements?
3.    What are the  required  institutional  transformation needed for inclusive urban sanitation planning and implementation?
4.    What is the potential for IT and big data to build inclusive smart cities?
5.    Goal 11 of the SDGs entrusts governments to make cities places for enhanced “inclusive  and  sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management”. What specific meaning does this goal bear in the Indian context?

Chair
Renu Khosla, Center for Urban and Regional Excellence
Speakers
1. Bipin Kumar Rai, Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board
2. Mukta Naik, Center for Policy Research
3. Sujata Khandekar, CORO
4. Shrawan Kumar Acharya, Jawaharlal Nehru University
5. Trupti Amritwar Vaitla, Mumbai Environment Social Network

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12.00 pm - 01.30 pm       @Jacaranda - 2

Financing the sanitation development  : Budgetary domestic resources and alternative financing for a totally-sanitised India.
Urban Lab Session 1    
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(Theme: Sanitation)
Session Brief & Issue Questions 
​Taking as a starting point the “financing gap” in the water and sanitation sector in India, this session will closely look at the strategies developed to fill in the gap. After examining the  wide range of alternate financing mechanisms that exist to strengthen public expenditures, this session will be devoted to discussing the objects of public investment in sanitation, ranging from infrastructure to O&M and behavior change.  Hence,  this session will address the challenges for financing sanitation in India by discussing following key issues:

1. Is the private sector involvement through CSR efficient to strengthen domestic budgetary resources in the sanitation sector?
2. What role can banks and MFIs play with regard to financial inclusion of the urban poor?
3. Are sanitation subsidies needed?
4. How to finance hygiene awareness promotion and behavior change communication (BCC)?
5. How to ensure sustainable financing of the entire sanitation supply chain?
6. What is the role of gender-responsible budgets in the water and sanitation sector to ensure access of basic services for women and children?

Chair
Prof. K.K. Pandey, Indian Institute of Public Administration
Speakers
1. Aastha Sayal, Gaia Smart Cities
2. Abhijit Banerjee, FINISH
3. Bhumika Jhamb, UN Women
4. Depinder Kapur, WASH Forum
5. Kanika Kaul, Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability
6. Madhu Krishna, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
7. Uday Shankar, Water.org
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12.00 pm - 01.30 pm        @Juniper
Research & Academia: the sanitised city we need 
Constituent Group Session​ 1    
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(Theme: Sanitation)
Moderator: Ajay Suri, Cities Alliance
Delegates
1. Sanjay Srivastava, JNU
2. Meera Mehta, CEPT
3. Isher Judge Ahluwalia, ICRIER
4. Raj Liberhan, India Habitat Centre
5. HS Gill, HMSI
6. Shaleen Singhal, TERI

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01.30 pm - 02.30 pm
Lunch
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02.30 pm - 03.30 pm        @Jacaranda - 1
Grassroots & CSO's: the sanitised city we need 
Constituent Group Session 2    
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(Theme: Sanitation)
Moderator: Rajan Samuel, Habitat for Humanity India
Delegates
1. Arbind Singh, National Association of Street Vendors of India
2. Indu Prakash Singh, Forum for Housing Rights
3. Madhu Krishna, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
4. Pratima Joshi, Shelter Associates
5. Sanjay Daswani, Habitat for Humanity India
6. Sai Damodaran, Gramalaya
7. Swamini Adityananda Parmarth, Global Interfaith WASH Alliance
8. V. Suresh, Municipalika
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02.30 pm - 03.30 pm        @Jacaranda - 2
Women & Children: the sanitised city we need 
Constituent Group Session 3 
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(Theme: Safety)
Moderator: Nirmala Buch, Mahila Chetna Manch
Delegates
1. Abha Bahadur, Centre for Water, Sanitation and Health for Women
2. Anshu Gupta, Goonj
3. Bhumika Jhamb, UN Women
4. Chandana Das, Yuva
5. Debendra, Bal Vikas Dhara
6. Geetha Nambisan, Jagori
7. Kalpana Viswanath, Safetipin
8. Mohammad Asif, PLAN India
9. Mukta Naik, Centre for Policy Research
10. Neha Buch, Pravah
11. Sujatha Khandekar, Coro
12. Surpreet K Singh, SafeCity
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02.30 pm - 03.30 pm        @Juniper
Local authorities: the sanitised city we need 
Constituent Group Session​ 4  
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(Theme: Sanitation)
Moderator: Kulwant Singh, Regional Advisor UN Habitat
Delegates
1. Bipin Kumar Rai, DUSIB
2. Nisha Singh, Counsellor Gurgaon
3. Santha Sheela Nair, Tamil Nadu State Planning Board
4. Seema Redkar, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Solid Waste Management Department
5. Tikender Panwar, Deputy Mayor of Shimla

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03.30 pm - 04.00 pm
Tea break
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04.00 pm - 05.30 pm        @Jacaranda - 1
The City Sanitation We Need Debate
​(Theme: Sanitation)
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04.00 pm - 05.30 pm        @Jacaranda - 2
Address gender-based risks and violence related to absence and inadequacy of sanitation facilities 
Urban Thinkers Session  2
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(Theme: Safety)
Session Brief & Issue Questions    ​
How will toilets help creating safer cities for women and girls?
Compared to their male counterpart, women and girls experience the city differently. Inexistence and inadequacy of sanitation facilities in their urban vicinity puts women and girls at enhanced risk of stress, harassment and violence. In this regard, toilets can play a pivotal role in creating safer cities for women. This session will address the following questions:

1. In what particular urban areas have women and children been put under risk of harassment and violence when having no choice but to resort to open defecation?
2. What are the barriers for access to sanitation services for the urban women workforce?
3. Have the women and children’s’ needs and vulnerabilities been sufficiently envisioned and included in the design and maintenance of toilet complexes in public places?​
4. What are the potential and gaps in SBM urban to be truly gender sensitive and address gender-based risks and violence related to lack of safe toilets in urban areas?
5.What is the role of urban governance in the water and sanitation sector to address related gender-based issues?

Chair
Nirmala Buch, Mahila Chetna Manch
Speakers
1. Abha Bahadur, Centre for Water, Sanitation & Health for Women
2. Debendra Kumar, Bal Vikas Dhara
3. Geetha Nambisan, Jagori
4. Mahesh Nathan, World Vision India
5. Neha Buch, Pravah
6. Sanjay Srivastava, JNU
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04.00 pm - 05.30 pm        @Juniper
Building pollution-free/ healthy cities
Urban Lab Session 2
​(Theme: Safety)
Session Brief & Issue Questions 
Besides sanitation being key, Indian cities also need to be pollution-free to constitute healthy environments for their residents. Debating solutions for air quality, integrated solid waste management and the creation and maintenance of public spaces and parks, will be the focal points of this urban lab. Following questions will be discussed:

1. What are the major shortcomings in terms of targets and actions against air pollution in India’s megalopolis?
2. What are success stories of sustainable solid waste
management in Indian urban areas?
3. What is the potential for information and communication technologies to build pollution- free cities?
4. How will the targets of the Paris Summit on Climate Change complement the implementation of the green cities agenda in India?
5. Target 11.7 of the SDGs entrusts national
governments to “provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities”. What barriers have vulnerable groups faced with regard to access to a healthy environment in Indian  cities?

Chair
Amit Kapoor, Indian Council on Competitiveness
Speakers
1. Anjana Purkayastha, World Vision India
2. Anshu Gupta, Goonj
3. Maruthachalam Selvarasu, LEAD Consultancy & Engineering  Services
4. Seema Redkar, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Solid Waste Management Department
5. Shaleen Singhal, TERI
6. Sreedhran Nair, Family Planning Association of India
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12 FEBRUARY
10.00 am - 11.30 am        @Jacaranda 1 
Reduce vulnerability and insecurity in the "informal city"      
Urban Thinkers Session 3
​
(Theme: Safety)
Session Brief & Issue Questions 
“Informality” pervades many sectors of urban life, encompassing labor and industries, to housing and shelter of many city dwellers in India. Outside the reach of public authorities & formal governance, those informal networks have been the source of high insecurity and vulnerability for those relying on them. This session will explore ways to extend urban governance to the informal urban realm, ranging from the labor sector, road use, housing and land planning. The questions that will trigger the debate are:

1. How to include informal livelihood in urban city planning?
2. What are the “factors of exclusion” that lead to the
development of informal and sub-standard housing and settlements?
3. From slum to multi-storey buildings, how to prevent and reduce insecurity in those emerging urban districts?
4. Will the pro-poor policies and programs (“Housing for
all by 2022”, Jandhan Yojana for financial inclusion, etc.) have an impact in terms of reducing vulnerability in the informal urban realm?
5. How can the capacity and autonomy of local urban institutions be strengthened in order for them to play a pivotal role with regard to informality in the city?


Chair
Chetan Vaidya, School of Planning and Architecture Delhi
Speakers
1. Ajay Suri, Cities Alliance
2. Arbind Singh, National Association of Street Vendors of India
3. Banashree Banerjee, Urban Management Consultant and Council Member IFHP
4. Chandana Das, Yuva
5. Indu Prakash Singh, Citymakers & homelessness
6. Urvi Desai, CEPT
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10.00 am - 11.30 am        @Jacaranda 2
Role of Information technologies (IT) to improve urban safety   
Urban Lab Session 3
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(Theme: Safety)
Session Brief & Issue Questions ​
Smartphone’s are the emblem of smart cities’ residents. On the safety side, social media and other virtual platforms have emerged in the urban landscape to ensure the security and safety of its users. Apps such as SafeCity, Himmat and Safetipin have proven to be efficient for prevention of harassment and violence being committed in Indian cities. To approach the potentials of the digital spread in cities, the following questions will be discussed:

1.How can communication and information technologies improve urban safety for marginalized and vulnerable groups?
2. How have Apps influenced the way women and girls move and commute in the city?
3. What are the opportunities and role of big data analysis with regard to security at the city level?
4. What are the potential shortcomings of the digital revolution with regard to affordability and literacy of urban dwellers?
5. What role can IT play to strengthen urban citizenship and governance?


Chair
Anju Pandey, UN Women
Speakers
1. Kalpana Viswanath, Safetipin
2. Mala Bhandari, SADRAG
3. Murali Srinivas, Habitat for Humanity India
4. Smt. S. Sundari Nanda, Special Commissioner of Police (Operations), Delhi Police, IPS-1988 Batch
5. Surpreet K Singh, SafeCity App

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10.00 am - 11.30 am        @Juniper
Research & Academia: the safe city we need      
Constituent Group Session​ 5
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(Theme: Safety)
Moderator: Debolina Kundu, NIUA

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11.30 am - 12.00 pm
Tea break
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12.00 pm - 01.30 pm        @Jacaranda - 1
Grassroots & CSO's: the safe city we need    
Constituent Group Session​ 6   
​
(Theme: Safety)
Moderator: Sanjay Daswani, Habitat for Humanity India
Delegates
1. Pratima Joshi, Shelter Associates
2. Arbind Singh, National Association of Street Vendors of India
3. Chandana Das, Yuva
4. Geetha  Nambisan

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12.00 pm - 01.30 pm       @Jacaranda - 2
Women & Children: the safe city we need
Constituent Group Session​ 7
​(Theme: Safety)
Moderator: Suneeta Dhar, Jagori
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12.00 pm - 01.30 pm        @Juniper
Local authorities: the safe city we need 
Constituent Group Session​ 8
​(Theme: Safety)
Moderator: Kulwant Singh, Regional Advisor UN Habitat
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01.30 pm - 02.30 pm
Lunch
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02.30 pm - 04.00 pm        @Jacaranda - 1
The City Safety We Need Debate
​(Theme: Safety)
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02.30 pm - 04.00 pm        @Jacaranda - 2
Realising sanitation & safety goals in the SDGs : Role of National & Local Governments, CSO's & corporate sector
Urban Thinkers Session 4 
​(Theme: Sanitation & Safety)
Session Brief & Issue Questions 
Achievements of the SDGs are closely linked with India sustainable development’s performance, as it is soon to become the most populated country in the world. At the same time, SDGs require revolutionary changes to take place in India. Target  6.2  of  the SDGs entrusting signatories to open defecation by 2030 already constitutes an unrivalled challenge in the Indian context. Although geared towards national governments, the SDGs constitute a common endeavour - not only of all levels of state institutions - but also NGO’s, grassroots and business and industries, to strive collaboratively towards building safe and totally-sanitised cities. Consequently, the session will attempt to answer following questions:

1. Lessons learned from the MDGs: what are the major successes and failures in India?
2. What are the obstacles and opportunities for greater collaboration of the local governments, CSO’s, faith-based organizations & corporate sector towards achievements of the SDGs ?
3. How can the global SDGs add to targets and timelines of
national programs such as SBM and “Housing for All”?
4. What are the gaps in terms of resources, institutional design and leadership to push the SDG agenda forward?
5. What would be the particular SDG indicators and metrics in the Indian context?

Chair
Kulwant Singh, Regional Advisor UN Habitat
Speakers
1. Aastha Sayal, Gaia Smart Cities
2. Anju Pandey, UN Women
3. Dinesh Mehta, CEPT
4. Preetha Prabhakaran, CLTS
5. Satya Narayan Ghosh, Water for People
6. Swamini Adityananda Parmarth, Global Interfaith WASH Alliance

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02.30 pm - 04.00 pm        @Juniper
Closing the sanitation lifecycle: sustainable liquid waste management  
Urban Lab Session 4
​(Theme: Sanitation)
Session Brief & Issue Questions ​
In order to build sustainability in a totally-sanitised India, alternatives for management and treatment of human excreta and associated wastewater need to be thoroughly explored. Various sanitation technologies exist to overcome challenges of disconnection from the city’s sewerage network. This session will explore the various existing technologies and ways in which the choice of one or another can be tightly modelled on users’ needs and topographical context of a given urban settlement. Following questions will be discussed:

1. Have State policies such as SBM sufficiently be approached from a sanitation-lifecycle perspective?
2. What are the success stories of sanitation technologies that sustainably deal with wastewater and faecal sludge in urban areas?
3. What are the success stories for reducing water consumption in sanitation facilities?
4. What are the obstacles for scaling up of such technologies?
5. How can beneficiaries be involved in the selection process for one or another technology?
6. How is the geographical and topographical context in a given settlement influencing the type of sanitation technology  selected?

Chair
Santha Sheela Nair, Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission
Speakers
1. Geetha Jeganathan, Gramalaya
2. Lalit Kumar, Sulabh International
3. Mukul Dixit, Habitat for Humanity India
4. Namita Acharjee, Eco Ecam solutions
5. Seema Redkar, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Solid Waste Management Department
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Media session

04.00 pm - 04.30 pm
Tea break

04.30 pm - 05.30 pm        @Jacaranda
Concluding session
​(Theme: Safety & Sanitation)

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