The Need for Sustainable Urban Development in Achieving UN SDGs: A Focus on SDG 3 & 4

The UN SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) are a comprehensive set of goals identified and enshrined with the sole aim of a better tomorrow. Once we dive deeper into these goals, one major aspect that arises, in addition to others, is the need for Sustainable Urban Development.

Now, if someone is of the notion that India is the only country with slums, I am sorry to disappoint them. As per data available across platforms, there are about more than 1 billion people living in slums world over in both developed and developing worlds. The only difference here is that the developed world has coined a term "Decaying Neighbourhood" for their version of slums.

If we see in-depth, Urban Planning is directly related to UN SDGs - 3 (#GoodHealth & #WellBeing), 4 (#Quality Education), 5 (#Gender #equality), 6 (#Clean #water & #Sanitation), and 11 (#Sustainable #Cities & #Communities). However, over time, the relation between these goals and Urban Planning has deteriorated. This is primarily because of the fact that urban planning is something that we have neglected due to lack of political will, and it was further sidelined with the explosion in population as well as the lack of infrastructure in existing Urban centers over time.

What is Urban Planning? Though a number of definitions exist on this subject, I would say it is the design of Urban Areas in a relatable, seasonable, simple, reliable method taking cues from the surroundings in terms of History, Culture, and Local Practices. This will be possible only with a strong political will.

Why Urban Development of all things?

The answer lies in the average per annum migration of Rural to Urban areas. India witnesses an annual migration of 4.5% every year, and when you convert that into numbers, it is on the upside of 5 million persons per annum. Now, taking a cue from my previous article on Green Goal Challenges, wherein I had enumerated the need for better planning - this influx will put immense pressure on the existing infrastructure in Urban areas leading to havoc in the future. Now, the aftermath of this migration is the creation of more and more slums, a shortage of toilets, community areas, choking of drains due to improper spread of living spaces, diseases, etc.

Since each topic requires in-depth discussion, I am sticking to SDG 3 & 4 in this article.

Think about a child who got married off at a very young age of 15 years and is now a mother to a child at the age of 16 when he or she should have been in school making friends and learning. Both these kids (Husband & Wife) are 21 now. Now, if people state that this happens only in some communities/religions - again, I am sorry to disappoint - it is happening amongst those people who are not educated, sensitized, and overall lack access to the various initiatives our Governments are implementing from time to time. The society has to devise ways and means to fight this. Filing FIRs against the husband who is also equally unaware of the laws of the land as well as the emotional and physical trauma that the child and mother would go through is not the solution.

The second person I came across was an auto driver who is 43 now. He was married at the age of 14. He has two grown-up sons and a young daughter, and thankfully all are studying. "If only my parents or someone in society had sensitized me about education and guided me during my formative years," were one of his statements during our half an hour auto drive. And yes, he is now doing the right thing for his children, which is indeed a light in the right direction.

Now the question we need to see is how can Good Health & Well Being and Quality of Education be ensured in the long run?

Good Health & Well-Being - The availability of proper drains, sewerage facilities, community toilets, open spaces, parks etc., in addition to our Primary Health Centres, will enable this aspect. Over time, with the change in climatic conditions and the increased frequency of natural calamities and viral-borne diseases, this is indeed a core concern to be looked at while designing any urban areas. I had witnessed a classic example of this in one area which I had visited in Mumbai where the migrant force was residing below a bridge and on the roadside in tents. The contractors are to be directed to install labor camps with proper drainage and sewerage facilities. Else, in the long run, something that was meant for betterment will turn out to be an Urban Headache.

Ensure adequate #Urban #Housing for the #LIG (Low-Income Group). The PMAY (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana) is a welcome step towards this, and one state where I saw this being implemented with all its vigor is Andhra Pradesh. The construction techniques and the provisioning of open spaces have been well thought out and implemented.

Connect existing drainage systems in cities to Sewage Treatment Plants and Effluent Treatment Plants, depending on the infrastructure in each city zone. Incidentally, even though some cities in the country have well-functioning STPs, there are still clusters that are outside the system and need immediate attention.

Zoning of cities is to be given a priority. The adverse effects of the lack of zoning are visible across India, for that matter. Mixed-use planning with proper zoning can go a long way towards this and help in retaining wetlands, water bodies, separate zones for industrial clusters, residential areas, parks, etc.

Good Education - The basic fabric of education is not about 90+ scores or securing good seats in the best colleges. It should be about instilling civic sense, social well-being, and making the child an informed citizen. Now, to achieve this aspect, there is a need to create public spaces that enable playful learning. This can be by means of creating ways to engage children in a variety of ways let it be at Bus Stops, Super Markets, Libraries, Parks, Beaches, even Banks for that matter. Further, schools and teachers under the aegis of the local machinery or through NGOs can explore out-of-school learning for children of slum dwellers and migrant labor force.

Now, how to achieve these might be the classic question. It, of course, requires phenomenal effort but never impossible. Considering that India is a country with a large number of Urban Local Bodies (anywhere on the upside of 4500), wonders can be created with proper political will and policy decisions. Local bodies in liaison with Residential Associations, NGOs, etc., can chalk out plans towards this. A society where children and families thrive is a sustainable society.