View: India model for empowering cities to drive global change
Mayoral Summit of the Urban 20 Engagement Group under India's presidency of the G20 concluded yesterday with renewed commitment and deeper collaboration towards the shared global objective of sustainable urban development. This year's U20 sought the widest possible representation. More than 430 delegates actively participated in the Mayoral Summit which also welcomed 92 mayors and city leaders, of which 57 were from international cities, as well as more than 70 organisations from academia, think tanks and industry.
It was a fitting conclusion to six months of expansive dialogue and interaction.The U20 this year sought to envision collective and localisable approaches for urban governance. Emphasis was given to the following six priority areas: 1. Encouraging environmentally responsible behaviours; 2.
Ensuring water security; 3. Accelerating climate finance; 4. Championing local culture; 5.
Reinventing frameworks for urban governance; and 6. Catalysing digital urban futures. The deliberations at the U20 benefitted greatly from the Modi government's vision for urban rejuvenation which has resulted in an unprecedented transformation of our cities and towns.
In the last nine years, the Modi government has undertaken the largest planned urbanisation programme in the world based on universalisation and saturation of basic services; technological innovation; and economic opportunity. Various transformative urban missions have resulted in Indian cities poised to help the country achieve its economic and SDG targets. We have housed more than 1 crore families.
We have provided tap water and sewer connections to more than 10 crore families. Our metro network is now the fifth-largest in the world. Our urban transport policies are
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