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POLICY REVIEW
DR. SUKANYA GHOSH
The livability index gives useful
insight about cities for
developing strategies and
policies to be used by
government bodies, urban
practitioners, decision makers
and academic institutions.
Towards the tangible reality of
enhancing the livability of
Indian cities, in line with the
global parameters, the Ease of
Living Index (EoLI) was
launched by the Government of
India to provide a holistic view
of Indian cities in terms of
services provided by urban local
bodies, their outcome,
effectiveness and livability
within cities.
Key Words : Ease of Living Index, Livability,
Inclusive Cities, Sustainable Development
Goals
Dr. Sukanya Ghosh (sukanya@hudco.org) is
General Manager (Projects) and Senior
Fellow at HUDCO's HSMI, New Delhi
THE EASE OF LIVING INDEX
- A Valuable Tool in Making Cities Inclusive
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, to create opportunities for a
Government of India published the Ease be er life, if handled carefully;
of Living Index 2020, which evaluated and provides for opportunities
livability of Indian Cities under two to mitigate poverty as it acts as
categories i.e.cities with million engine for economic growth. In
population and million plus population
line with various cities of the
under four pillars, having further
world, Indian cities are the hubs
categories and indicators. e paper tries
to evaluate how it can be best used for of economic activities which
making Cities Inclusive, targeted under offer opportunities for people to
Sustainable Development Goals at local prosper economically and
level. socially and account for the
major share of the GDP.
BACKGROUND Government of India recognizes
According to Population and emphasizes that cities are
Division of the UN Department not merely growth centres but
of Economic and Social Affairs, seek for be er living and is
globally, more people live in commi ed to transforming cities
urban areas than in rural areas, to improve livability through
with the urban share being 55% various interventions.
of the world's population in NEED FOR ASSESSING
2018. In 1950, 30% of the LIVABILITY
world's population was urban, The concept of 'livability' has
and by 2050, 68% of the world's been present for a few decades.
population is projected to be
In general, livability is a broad
urban. Just three countries –
term which embraces variety of
India, China and Nigeria –
human needs including access to
together are expected to
food, health, security, cultural
account for 35% of the growth
inclusion and on top of every
in the world's urban
aspect, the sense of belonging-
population between 2018 and ness to a community or a place.
2050. India is projected to add However, there is no precise and
416 million urban dwellers universally accepted definition
(World Urbanization Prospects:
of 'livability'. Livability is an
The 2018 Revision).
'ensemble concept'(Myers, 1988;
Urbanization has the potential Andrews, 2001)whose factors
April 2021 Volume 22 No. 1- SHELTER 61