Page 2 - Shelter - April 2023

SHELTER FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
April, 2023, Volume 24. No.1
www.hudco.org
ISSN 2347-4912
Shelter is an official publication of
HUDCO/HSMI, distributed free of
charge. It deals with issues related
to housing, urban development and
other themes relevant to the habitat
sector. Contributions, comments and
correspondences are most welcome and
should be forwarded to:
EDITOR
SHELTER
HUDCO’s HSMI
HUDCO House, Lodhi Road,
New Delhi -110003
Tel: 011-24308600
Fax: 011-24365292
Email: hsmishelter@hudco.org
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chairman & Managing Director
Shri Kuldip Narayan, IAS
Directors
Mr. M. Nagaraj
Mr. D. Guhan
Mr. Sanjeet (IRAS)
Mrs. Sabitha Bojan
Dr. Ravindra Kumar Ray
Dr. Siyaram Singh
Mr. Bansi Lal Gujar
Company Secretary
Mr. Harish Kumar Sharma
Editorial Team
Editor-in-Chief: Mr. M. Nagaraj
Managing Editor: Dr. Sukanya Ghosh
Senior Editor: Dr. A. K. Sen
Editor: Ms. Simrandeep Kaur
Co-Editor: Ms. Neetu Bijesure
Cover Design: Ms. Simrandeep Kaur
Registered Office
HUDCO Bhawan, Core-7A
India Habitat Centre
Lodhi Road
New Delhi-110003
Tel(EPABX):011-24649610-23
CIN:L74899DL1970GO1005276
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Website: www.hudco.org
The G20 group of countries collectively represents 75% of global trade and nearly
66% of the World’s population. This powerful international economic cooperation
group was formed in 1999 after the Asian Financial Crisis. Currently, the group
includes nineteen strong economies of the world, as well as the European Union.
India has taken over the presidency of the group in December 2022 till November
2023. The G20 is a group for not only international economic cooperation but also has
deep links with habitat development as well. Issues such as sustainable development
and climate change are not only crucial from an environmental point of view but
are also deeply linked to a country’s economic agenda and practices. The agenda
for sustainable development based upon a foundation of international economic
cooperation can play a pivotal role in bringing forward realistic and implementable
initiatives for improving the quality of life of our habitat for the generations to come.
The G20 countries are committed to achieving the targets laid out in the SDGs and
the New Urban Agenda. A parallel process to G20 is the U20 (Urban 20), a group
which brings together participating cities from major C40 or UCLG member cities
from G20 countries. It focuses on urban issues such as sustainable development,
climate change, achievement of the SDGS and challenges of access to finance for the
development projects of the cities.
During its presidency, India has drawn inspiration from the Indian philosophy
of “VasudhaivaKutumbakam”- One Earth–One Family–One Future. The theme
includes various aspects of sustainable development, such as Sustainable Habitat
Development, addressing climate change, economic growth and transformative
development, Urbanisation and Digitisation as drivers of urban transformation,
inclusive urban planning and green & sustainable housing. The recently held U-20
City Sherpa summit in Ahmedabad also focused on urban habitat development issues
such as encouraging environmentally responsible behaviour, ensuring water security,
accelerating climate finance, championing local identity, reinventing frameworks for
urban governance &planning, and catalysing digital urban futures. The upcoming
G20 Summit is an opportunity to revisit the sustainable Habitat Agenda and chalk
out a programme for Habitat and Infrastructure development, which is not only
contextual but also transformational and futuristic.
The theme for this issue of Shelter, G20: An agenda for sustainable Habitat, focusses
on exploring an agenda for sustainable habitat ahead of the upcoming G20 and
U-20 Summits. This issue of Shelter features a wide range of issues in three sections.
The theme papers highlight various aspects of a sustainable Habitat Development
for India in the context of G20. The paper by Hitesh Vaidya focusses on the role
of U-20 as a transformational force within the G20, the paper by Reshma Singh
highlights the importance of a net zero built environment and its relationship
with equitable development and the paper by AK Jain discusses the G20 and a
Sustainable Habitat agenda for India . In the policy review section, the paper by Prof
Ranganathan underlines the need for an India urbanisation policy-2023. A paper
by Vaidya et al discusses the policies for inclusive and barrier free environment and
presents a vision of an inclusive India by 2047. Arun Bhandari’s paper explores the
interrelationship between housing and skill development and Prof Nallathiga explores
the interrelationship between Climate change and sustainable urban development. A
commentary article by Chattopadhyay et al analyses the current budget provisions
for urban development. In the case study section, a paper by Dr PB Salim presents
an interesting case study of e-governance project in West Bengal. The section also
contains a case study on urban planning and biodiversity in Bhopal by Dr S. Banerjee
et al.
I thank all the contributors for an overwhelming response to this issue. I hope the
readers enjoy reading this issue of SHELTER and offer their valuable feedback.