Do smart cities protect interests of children?

Urban Development Minister Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu has expressed concern over ‘harsh urban realities ’ adversely affecting ‘brain development and perspectives’ of young children, particularly, of the poor during their early childhood. Inaugurating a two day Conference on ‘Building Smart Child Friendly Cities in India for 21st Century’ here today, Shri Naidu urged urban planners, architects and all stakeholders to aim at creating an enabling environment for children for their all round development.

Noting that urban planning in the country aims at general objectives like infrastructure development, sanitation including solid waste management etc., Shri Venkaiah Naidu said that time has come for city master plans to incorporate specific chapters to meet the needs of young children. He stressed on the need for providing adequate open spaces and play centres etc., to nurture creative faculties of children. He said that ‘inclusive and children sensitive’ urban development strategies are the need of the hour.

The Minister observed that deficient urban planning leads to adverse impact on children and particularly, of the poor. These include : poor behavioral and academic outcomes, high risk of diseases, inadequate early brain development, high risk of diseases, impaired physical development and skills, deprivation of adequate parental care as they go out for long hours in search of livelihood.

Shri Venkaiah Naidu also expressed concern over disproportionate appropriation of urban space and opportunities by the rich at the cost of the poor and the same needs to be addressed to all stages of urban planning and execution.

He said that of the 158 million children in the country, about 26% i.e 41 million live in urban areas and 8 million of them in slums.

The Conference is organized by Bernard Van Leer Foundation and supported by the Ministry of Urban Development, National Institute of Urban Affairs and School of Planning and Architecture.