My City My Responsibility - Final call for National Conference on Urban Sustainability

Dear All, 

This is a reminder for attending our National Conference on Urban Sustainability on the 27th of April at Yashada, Baner from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm.

In order to enroll in our conference, kindly click on this link: https://forms.gle/BnP6w1V86fBtLjbq9

You can also email me at pournima@samuchit.com for further inquires. Please see the agenda attached.

Pournima Agarkar.

www.samuchit.com

My City My Responsibility - Disaster Preparedness for all

Dear All, 

Last year, we collected a few citizens' perspectives on certain issues related to Urban Sustainability. These included Housing, Transport, Governance or Peoples Participation, Heritage (both Cultural and Natural), Waste management and Air pollution, Disaster Risk Assessment and Green Open Spaces. For relating it to a broader vision, we used the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework especially the SDG 11 which deals with making cities and settlements sustainable. We compiled all citizens inputs and formed the Citizens Charter for Sustainable Pune. In our event on Citizens Charter and Action Agenda for Sustainable Pune we shared the same document with all of you. On analyzing all the Citizen inputs, we realized that if these inputs are put up as actionable points it will be a good guideline to follow by all.

Previous blogs focused on Housing, Transport, Participatory planning and Management and Cultural & Natural Heritage under SDG 11. In this blog I will be writing about Disaster Preparedness. 

Though at the country level we are party to a lot of international agreements like the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, Sustainable Development Goals 2015-2030 and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, Disaster prepardness seems to be less percolated at a city level. 

India is moving from the post disaster reactive approach to pre disaster pro active approach as per a latest report on Disaster Management. This means that we should be rapidly shifting towards the pro active mode at the city level as well. After all, India is also one of the most vulnerable countries due to population density and the coastline surrounding our country. In spite of this, there is a lack of coordination among other development agencies and disaster management agencies. On one hand there are upcoming development schemes that demand huge deforestation, high resource consumption that lead to increase in inequity. While on the other hand we are signing international treaties on disaster management globally. However implementation on ground is something really crucial. 

Pune has a Disaster management cell that has worked out a Ward level disaster management framework, however this document has not been revised since 2005. Furthermore, no one knows about its existence due to lack of poor dissemination of this knowledge. In case of any disaster its only the Fire brigade or the Police that we look upto, as individuals we have no idea what has to be done, who is the concerned authority and what are the immediate actions to be taken. Considering all such factors, actions at different levels in a society have been charted using citizen inputs.    

Individual Level: 

• Lets be aware of the probable disasters that can occur in our area and which are the vulnerable entities. 
• Lets keep a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher in our house for quick rescue. 
• Lets be updated about all the emergency contact numbers and operations in our society. 
• If possible we should understand the functioning of HAM (amateur radio) that works on radio frequency, since in case of any disasters its the electricity that is first affected and everything just shuts down. HAM operators will help us be in contact to the concerned. At least one family member should be a HAM operator or know how to use this simple technology. 
• Lets keep ourselves fit in order to not only save our lives but also our loved ones life. 
• While buying homes, check if they are earthquake resistant. 

Community Level: 

• At the community level, lets be aware if we have any disaster prepardness plan in our society, if not advocate for framing one by coordinating with local body and NGOs or organizations working in this area.
• Lets undertake or participate in emergency mock drills and be part of local area rescue task force.
• Lets advocate for an inclusive Disaster Risk Management plan for better on ground implementation. 
• Lets advocate for better disaster mitigation equipment and regular maintenance of these equipment like fire extinguishers, first aid kits etc. 
• Lets advocate against illegal encroachments or unnecessary deforestation in and around our area. 
  

Governance Level: 

• Ensure that local disaster management plans be framed keeping a pre-disaster pro-active approach and are inline with the international agreements. 
• Ensure mapping and timely maintenance of any leakages or clogged drains and electrical systems etc in the city. 
• Disaster Management Plans should be inclusive and should be prepared considering active public participation, local organizations and local bodies. 
• Undertake effective communication strategies for disseminating information about local area disaster management plans, local mitigation measures and contacts of local concerned authorities. 
• Undertake workshops/drives on first aid, disaster prepardness, uses of refuge areas and fire extinguishers and safety measures, importance of assembly areas in the city and signages.  
• Each ward should have a Disaster management officer who coordinates with the local NGOs and active citizens for cooperation during any disasters. Undertakes regular or timely rescue practices and emergency mock drills etc for housing societies, schools and institutes etc in the area. 
• Further development of the city, should be mapped considering the vulnerabilities in the city from climate change and environmental degradation perspective. 
• Scope of creating a citizens center for resilience under the Disaster management cell needs to be explored instead of creating a new department. 
• Explore the possibility of providing toll free lines, free training on HAM operation, portable shelters and smart use of smart phones.

The list may continue...however, these are a few key inputs given by about 200 people, we are looking for more such inputs and suggestions from you in order to make our Citizens Charter a better Action Agenda. 

You can email me at pournima@samuchit.com AND like, share / comment on our Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/SustainableCityPune/ for more inputs. 

Your inputs will be featured in our Action Agenda for Sustainable Pune booklet.

Pournima Agarkar.

                                                                        www.samuchit.com 

My City My Responsibility - Protecting Cultural and Natural Heritage

Dear All, 

Last year, we collected a few citizens' perspectives on certain issues related to Urban Sustainability. These included Housing, Transport, Governance or Peoples Participation, Heritage (both Cultural and Natural), Waste management and Air pollution, Disaster Risk Assessment and Green Open Spaces. For relating it to a broader vision, we used the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework especially the SDG 11 which deals with making cities and settlements sustainable. We compiled all citizens inputs and formed the Citizens Charter for Sustainable Pune. In our event on Citizens Charter and Action Agenda for Sustainable Pune we shared the same document with all of you. On analyzing all the Citizen inputs, we realized that if these inputs are put up as actionable points it will be a good guideline to follow by all.

Previous blogs focused on Housing, Transport and Participatory planning and Management  under SDG 11. In this blog I will be writing about Heritage and how its importance for all of us.

I am glad that SDG 11 considers both Cultural and Natural Heritage in a city. We often talk about Cultural Heritage but never realize that all the natural resources that are available to us in the form of water bodies, hills and forest patches are all part of our Natural Heritage. This Natural Heritage is now getting encroached upon, destructed and depleted at increasing rates and if not conserved now, we might render the future generations without any Heritage values. The way we have started conserving and restoring our Cultural Heritage, there is a need to conserve our Natural Heritage as well. Let us see how we can contribute to conserve our Heritage (both Cultural and Natural) at different levels.

Individual Level:

• Let’s understand and acknowledge the importance of Heritage structures both Cultural and Natural for the quality of our lives and the city as well apart from their inherent value.
• Identify if there are any old open spaces with good green cover or ancient structures that have heritage value and can be conserved in our neighbourhood, and bring those to the attention of appropriate authorities/experts. 

Community Level:

• Let’s advocate for an inclusive accessibility at all cultural and natural heritage places.
• Let’s protect the heritage structures irrespective of socio-economic barriers.
• Knowing the importance of the heritage structures, ensure that these places are protected from any infrastructure development activity in the neighbourhood. 
• Let’s advocate for better sanitation facilities, safety by local surveillance and monitoring from illegal or unwanted activities in such places.

Governance Level:

• Cultural heritage structures have budget allocations, however there is a need to allocate appropriate budget for Natural Heritage as well that is concerned with our rivers, hills and hill tops. Heritage Cell should undertake this responsibility. 
• Public private partnerships (PPPs) and CSR initiatives can be explored in order to avail funds for maintaining the heritage structures.
• The way we have interpretation centers in National Parks, we need to check the feasibility of providing such interpretation centers may be at a small scale at our Cultural as well as Natural Heritage sites that promote traditional, local indigenous knowledge apart from the inherent values. This will also help in creating an inventory of the local knowledge.
• Though there are buffer areas surrounding the heritage structures, strict enforcement of the same needs to be undertaken and violating the same should be strictly penalized.
• Ensure timely maintenance and restoration works that preserve the inherent values of the structures should be undertaken by using innovative technologies.
• Individual housholds, Communities and PPPs contributing in conservation of the Heritage structures should be awarded or recognized by local bodies or state level authorities in order to sensitize citizens about the importance of heritage structures. 

These are a few key inputs given by 200 odd people, we are looking for more such inputs and suggestions from you in order to make our Citizens Charter a better Action Agenda. You can email me at pournima@samuchit.com AND like, share / comment on our Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/SustainableCityPune/ for more inputs. 

Your inputs will be featured in our Action Agenda for Sustainable Pune booklet.

Pournima Agarkar.

www.samuchit.com

My City My Responsibility - Participatory Planning and Management

Dear All, 

Participation and Integrated planning & Management

Last year, we collected a few citizens' perspectives on certain issues related to Urban Sustainability. These included Housing, Transport, Governance or Peoples Participation, Heritage (both Cultural and Natural), Waste management and Air pollution, Disaster Risk Assessment and Green Open Spaces. For relating it to a broader vision, we used the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework especially the SDG 11 which deals with making cities and settlements sustainable. We compiled all citizens inputs and formed the Citizens Charter for Sustainable Pune. In our event on Citizens Charter and Action Agenda for Sustainable Pune we shared the same document with all of you. On analyzing all the Citizen inputs, we realized that if these inputs are put up as actionable points it will be a good guideline to follow by all.

So far we have seen targets related to Housing and Transport under SDG 11. The next target is all about having participatory, integrated and sustainable planning and management of human settlements. 

In the city planning and management, participatory approach is easier SAID than DONE. I feel there is a need to define 'inclusive participation' so as to ensure participation from all the strata of the society. However only a few people get the privilege to participate in any decision making, planning process and management. During our survey we found that there is something called as participatory budget, however very few people are aware of such an initiative. This is also due to lack of empathy among citizens towards their city's overall growth. However, its time we start getting aware of our surroundings and make ourselves sustainable.

Lets us see what the citizens have to say about their participation in the overall planning and management of the city.

Individual Level: 

• Be aware of your rights and duties as a citizen of the city.
• Use RTI as a tool for enabling the rights of a citizen.
• Participate in the city's planning and management systems.
• Check if we have any ward level meetings in our ward. 
• Need for empathy towards our society. 

Community Level: 

• Mohalla committee's are good examples of community participation, more and more people should involve themselves in this system for ensuring their area development. 
• Lets understand the functioning of similar systems like area sabhas and advocate for the same. 
• Lets keep track of upcoming policies and schemes and how they affect our area 
• Lets raise voice in case of poor provision of basic service in your area and work cohesively with the local bodies in order to ensure services are in place.

Governance Level: 

• Ensure use of scientific sampling techniques for collecting feedback proactively from a well chosen sample cross section of the city's society on various schemes and policies (rather than expecting people from all strata of society to respond to generic requests for comments). 
• Involve local citizen groups, civil society organizations, Mohalla committee groups, Resident welfare associations, differently abled individuals etc. in governance-focused public discussions to make governance inclusive. 
• Need to have an active feedback mechanism in order to track success and failure of any policy. 
• Need to have a mechanism to reward or highlight community best practices that ensure success of any scheme or policy. 
• Enforce wardwise community meetings ensuring involvement of all irrespective of caste, creed, gender or income level. 
• Ensure transparency and accessibility of information to all in existing/current schemes/policies on urban development.

These are a few key inputs given by 200 odd people, we are looking for more such inputs and suggestions from you in order to make our Citizens Charter a better Action Agenda. 

Email me at pournima@samuchit.com OR like, share and comment on our FB page  @ https://www.facebook.com/SustainableCityPune/

Pournima Agarkar.

www.samuchit.com