Welcome to Citywatch. This is our newsletter that keeps you updated on the activities of SPARC, NSDF and Mahila Milan. In this February 2001 report, we have the following stories:
JOCKIN REPORTS ON BANGALORE VISIT
Municipal Commissioner Visits Priyadarshani and offers partnership for infrastructure:
Municipal Commissioner of Bangalore. Shantanu Counsal visited Prakashamma's Housing Program " Priyadarshani Cooperative Housing Society last week. 31 houses which are ground plus one are almost completed, and he had gone to look at what they had done, and he was so impressed with what they had done against such terrible odds, that he has asked them to provide estimates of costs of the infrastructure and will look at what the Municipal Corporation will do about it.
Bangalore Mahila Milan to sign a contract with Bangalore Municipal Corporation for building a bridge:
In an area where for the last 10 years there has been no bridge for walking from one side of the area to another, Mahila Milan has negotiated a strategy where it will work in partnership with the BMC to build the bridge. This bridge is estimated to cost Rs. 10,00,000, of which the BMC will give half after the whole
The 5,00,000 lakhs that the BMC will give will go towards the purchase of the materials, SPARC Mahila Milan and NSDF will contribute the professional and technical support and supervision, and communities will manage supervise and provide labor.
From the Homeless International Infra project a loan will be given of Rs. 5,00,000 to Bangalore Mahila Milan which will return that amount after the projects. This loan will be interest free, but it will have leveraged many things:
New Area for skill development and credibility. In building pedestrian bridge.
Leverage Rs 5 lakhs from city, which has not looked at this issue for 10 years.
Allow communities to contribute what they can manage most usefully due to which coast will go down.
In Feb 01, RS 2,00,000 is being advanced for this work. And a contract between SPARC and BMC will be undertaken.
REHABILITATION ACTIVITIES IN BOMBAY
Negotiations with the MMRDA
5Th Feb 2001:
MMRDA wants SPARC and NSDF and Mahila Milan to assist in the relocation of 500 households who are living on a road that needs to be built in Dharavi the SION-KOLIWADA road. They will be given a tenement within 10 minutes distance in Wadala ( Raoli) . SPARC has to do the household survey, provide them clearance for obtaining the alternative housing and facilitate the relocation process. MMRDA will give Rs 500 per households as a fee. Rs ,2,50,000. For work that will now take the NSDF 2 months to complete after MUTPII!
Negotiation s with the National Airport Authority of India:
The 2000+ households on Rafique Nagar which abuts the runaway of the Bombay airport has been ready to be relocated for several years and the NSDF has been negotiating with communities and NAAI for many years. Finally a deal has been negotiated where the SPARC and SPPL will get into a agreement in which SPARC will undertake to complete all the rehabilitation activities ( much like the MUTPII) and between Feb. 2001 and April 2001 relocate these households. SPARC will get Rs 2500 per household for this. All the detailed working out will be done by Railway slum leaders and Airport slum leadership both of whom are involved in the MUTPII process.![]()
DIALOUGE ON GOOD URBAN GOVERNANCE: BRIDGING THE DIVIDED CITY
A Dialogue on Social Inclusion in Cities
14 February 2001, 9:30 - 12:30 Conference Room 2
ANNOTATED PROGRAMME
Introduction
Chairperson of the Plenary
Opening Remarks
Ms. Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director, UNCHS (Habitat)
Ms. Tibaijuka's speech will highlight the emerging consensus that good urban governance is a pre-requisite for urban poverty reduction. She will introduce the idea of the Inclusive City as a place where good urban governance ensures that everyone, regardless of wealth, gender, age, race or religion, is enabled to participate productively and positively in the opportunities cities have to offer. She will also introduce the Global Campaign for Good Urban Governance and its contribution to promoting inclusive cities..
Social Inclusion and Good Urban Governance
Prof. Richard Stren, Professor of Political Economy, University of Toronto
Prof. Stren's presentation will argue that top down strategic planning is giving way to more participatory processes based on the recognition that the integration of diverse social groups is essential for cities to be sustainable. The proper treatment of social diversity is essential not only for economic productivity, but also for the environmental & social sustainability of cities.
Inclusive Cities: Experience from a City Perspective
Mayor Celso Daniel, Mayor of Santo Andre, Brazil
Mayor Daniel will describe how Santo Andre is using participatory planning to formulate practical solutions to address urban poverty. A number of innovations will be highlighted, as well as the role of leadership and political parties.
Inclusive Cities: Experiences of the Urban Poor
Ms. Sheela Patel, Director, SPARC, India
Ms. Patel will describe how in many cities, the urban poor are not waiting for government to provide services; that in many situations, government is not fulfilling its role as an enabler. Often, this results in politics of confrontation between organisations of the urban poor and government. Examples from India, The Philippines and South Africa, however, indicate that there is a new spirit of cooperation emerging between cities and their urban poor.
Promoting Inclusion through National and International Associations
Mr. Max Ng?andwe, President, International Union of Local Authorities
Mr. Ng?andwe will discuss the importance of strengthening networks of local authority associations to support cities in adopting more inclusive approaches to urban governance. He will also elaborate on the role of associations in building a network of inclusive cities, focusing on advocacy, the sharing of experiences and city-to-city cooperation.
Discussion
The Chairperson will moderate a discussion between Delegates and panelists.
Closing Remarks
The main conclusions of the Dialogue will be summarized.![]()
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