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POLICY REVIEW

The consolidating EoLI progress of SDGs in urban areas indicate city specific strengths
framework, giving due for the purpose of localizing and capabilities. Healthy
weightage to citizens' perception SDGs. The learnings from EoLI competition among
towards their cities, is a good would enable cities of India to participatory cities helps to
beginning for cities those are build practices that improve the improve upon their standings.
assessed. In one hand, cities can overall standard and quality of Growth can be further
know their standing by urban living. The outcome stimulated by emulating the best
identifying city-specific would facilitate cities to achieve practices from other cities. The
strengths and challenges by economic growth and assessment promotes local
analyzing each parameter and sustainability in long run and administration, irrespective of
pillar-wise score. On the other enhances progress of cities their population, enhancing
hand, the index examines impact towards inclusivity by achieving continuous development of
of implementation of various the Sustainable Development sectors, furthering improvement
government supported Goals. of scores that support inclusivity
programmes alongwith Empower city governments: The and resilience in cities. However,
assessing quality of life, index would enable cities in feeling of not having any scope
economic and social assessing their efforts towards left to improve upon and
opportunities available to the capacity building, reform complacency of cities achieving
citizens. It helps cities to implementation and higher ranks should be avoided
understand gaps that obstruct mobilization of resources etc. since the process is dynamic.
their growth in planning The Index has given citizens' Regardless of the score, there is
strategies and in implementation perception a due weightage. scope for improvement of all
process towards making cities City Government functionaries, cities with their own identity,
inclusive. both elected members and characteristics and history.
Urban Local Governments together officials, are supposed to be Overcoming Covid19: Around
with the state government can more responsive to citizens for the world, the impact of COVID-
therefore take suitable measures the purpose of mitigating the 19 has re-shaped urban life.
to mitigate the gap over a period gaps towards inclusive living. Local governments are playing a
by having a road map in hand. This in turn leads to healthy key role to ensure safety of each
They can tap the potential communication between citizens citizen by adopting
opportunities and increase and local administrations to indiscriminatory approach.
efficiency in local governance. address local issues and invites Outcome parameters of EoLI for
Based on the outcome, for participatory planning, cities, acted promptly, can be
governments at centre and state transparency, and analyzed, and emulated as good
are expected to come up with accountability. In the process, practices that give other cities
new ventures and timely city governments can be direction to improve upon which
initiatives. The EoLI would help empowered with functions, in turn make cities resilient and
in the following ways: functionalities, and finances as it inclusive over a period.
Ascertaining progress under has been emphasized under 74th WAY FORWARD
Sustainable Development Goals: Constitutional Amendment Act. With 'outcome-based' approach
The Ease of Living assessment Peer learning and support adopted in EoLI, all stakeholders
would stimulate India's efforts between the participating cities: and decision makers i.e.
for systematic tracking of Scores of participatory cities

April 2021 Volume 22 No. 1- SHELTER 65