Page 52 - Shelter, October 2024

POLICY REVIEW
1. Need to establish
convergence between
Urban Development
and Skill Development
Policies:
The changing dynamics of
urban spaces create a plethora
of opportunities and challenges
for workforce development.
To ensure sustainable urban
growth and to address the
complex needs of an urban
population, it is essential to c) Enhanced
establish a convergence between
urban development and skill
development policies. This
integrated approach is crucial for
creating resilient, inclusive, and
thriving urban environments.
There is an urgent need to
follow a hand-in-hand approach
between urban development
and skill development policies
because of the following reasons.
a) To meet the future
demands for new and
emerging skills: The
growing industrialisation
in urban areas has led
to shift from agrarian
economies to industrial d) Building
and service-oriented
economies. Urbanisation
leads to spurring up
of new industries and
sectors such as green and
sustainable technologies,
cyber security etc. which
creates the demand for
new skills related to such
emerging fields.
b) Cater to the burgeoning e) Global
needs of workforce
transformation: With
50 HUDCO-HSMI Publication
an increased focus on greater connectivity
tertiary-sector and to global networks
knowledge-based job which facilitates
roles, urbanisation has international trade,
substantially altered the knowledge transfer, and
job landscape of urban cultural exchange at an
areas. The booming gig international level.
and platform economy
in urban areas requires By harnessing skill development,
necessary skills for urbanisation can be transformed
working on digital into a powerful force for creating
platforms. thriving, adaptable, and inclusive
cities. As urban India evolves,
access to its cultural landscape is being
infrastructure: One reshaped by the convergence of
of the key features diverse influences and global
of urbanisation perspectives, giving birth to
is the availability new subcultures and lifestyles.
and accessibility to Emerging trends like wellness,
infrastructure. Urban sustainability, and social media
areas are characterised are redefining urban living.
by a wider prevalence India’s urban transformation is
of airports, hotels, a complex, dynamic narrative
flyovers, metro, public of cities transitioning from
transportation, water traditional centres to vibrant
supply etc. There is a need hubs of innovation, culture,
to develop necessary and sustainability. To ensure a
skills to fully leverage bright future, India must balance
the infrastructural economic growth, environmental
requirements of urban stewardship, and social equity.
spaces. As the country moves forward,
its cities are undergoing a
resilience: transformative evolution,
Urban spaces adapt promising a future that is more
to urban challenges sustainable, inclusive, and
and bring in resilience vibrant.
with respect to issues
such as climate change, 2. Key Future Skills for
disaster management. Urban Development:
There is a requirement to a) Technological
develop skills related to Integration, Data Driven
disaster risk reduction, Governance, and Digital
sustainable practices etc. Transformation:
connectivity: ¾ With an increase in the number
Urban areas and of smart cities, a sound
smart cities have a understanding of working