U20 Conference in Indore explores crucial themes

NEW DELHI: The All India Institute of Local Self-Government (AIILSG) organised the U20 Conference in association with the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) at the Brilliance Convention Centre in Indore on May 18^th, 2023. The conference, themed “Reinventing Urban Governance for Indian Cities,” aimed to address the pressing challenges faced by cities in India and explore innovative solutions for sustainable urban development.

The event commenced with a captivating Heritage City walk in the morning, during which delegates had the opportunity to explore various iconic locations, including the majestic Rajwada Palace. The inaugural session witnessed the presence of esteemed dignitaries, including Shankar Lalwani, Member of Parliament, Indore; Kiritkumar J Parmar, Mayor of Ahmedabad; Pushyamitra Bhargav, Mayor of Indore Municipal Corporation; Kunal Kumar, IAS, Joint Secretary & Mission Director, Smart Cities Mission, MoHUA; Neeraj Mandloi, IAS, Principal Secretary, UDHD, MP; Harshika Singh, Commissioner of Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC); Dr Jairaj Phatak, Director General, AIILSG and Ravi Ranjan Guru, Deputy Director General of AIILSG.

Kunal Kumar, IAS, Joint Secretary & Mission Director, Smart Cities Mission, MoHUA, emphasized the significance of addressing urban issues, as more than 50 per cent of the population is projected to reside in cities. Neeraj Mandloi, IAS, Principal Secretary, UDHD, MP, emphasized the importance of conferences like the U20 Conference for fostering knowledge sharing. He noted the shift in India’s demographic landscape, where the nation has transformed from being predominantly rural (“gaon ka desh”) to increasingly urban (“shehron ka desh”). Addressing the gathering, Kiritkumar J Parmar, Mayor of Ahmedabad, shared insights from the U20 Sherpa conference held in Ahmedabad. He highlighted Ahmedabad’s journey as a heritage city that has successfully emerged as a hub of education, health, and sustainable transportation, with the introduction of electric buses in its fleet.

Indore’s Mayor, Pushyamitra Bhargav, extended a warm welcome to the audience and panelists in what is known as the cleanest city in India. Speaking about the theme of the conference he said, “If we strengthen just one aspect of our cities’ local identities, other aspects will also improve.” Shankar Lalwani, Member of Parliament, Indore (TBC), graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour and applauded the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, under whose leadership India will host the upcoming G20 summit in September. Speaking about the digital as an important aspect of urban development, he said “Digital advancement can help provide better services to people.”

A series of thought-provoking and insightful sessions were held throughout the day. The sessions focused on “Catalyzing Digital Urban Future,” “Reinventing Framework for Urban Governance & Planning,” and “Championing ‘Local’ Identity.” The sessions highlighted the need for inclusive development, neighborhood planning, digital governance, and maintaining the unique identity of each urban area.

It was unanimously felt that the cities need newer ways of governance. One of the sessions discussed how the current urban plans lack the necessary flexibility to accommodate the ever-changing dynamics of city life or governance models for regions like the National Capital Region (NCR) around Delhi and other metropolitan areas. Moreover, the escalating challenges posed by climate change were acknowledged as further reasons for reinventing urban governance practices.

The U20 Conference served as a platform for fruitful discussions and knowledge exchange, with the aim of finding sustainable solutions and promoting effective urban governance across Indian cities.