Tomorrow's Liveable Cities: Summary

‘All hands on deck’ has never been truer for humanity. But what can enable these hands to come together, and where? On 30th and 31st July 2020, we heard multiple perspectives at Arthan’s Tomorrow’s Liveable Cities which Nagrika help organize in partnership with BORDA. The conference brought to the fore the role of organisations in bringing all hands together and creating Tomorrow’s Liveable Cities. Based on the discussions and perspectives of the diverse practitioners from across various disciplines, we felt that three key themes emerged:

Making people central to the cities: Multiple speakers and experiences showed that though a simple concept, it is a formidable task. We, however, learnt about examples such as community driven planning and water management mechanisms that have enabled or can enable people’s participation. The discussion also brought to fore that user centric design of amenities, and customer-centric business models have come to define the public and private role in serving citizens. 

Using knowledge to improve our cities: We heard about multiple forms of insights emerging from knowledge in the form of spatial data to make decisions,  through laws and codes that define the shape, form and governance of our cities. Technological solutions such as building materials, waste management, water service delivery, and so on-all of which have been built on years of knowledge and research. Intention to do something is only the first step but it is only knowledge on the basis of which we can design the strategies for action.

Enabling Organizations to serve citizens: This is the third and most important point without which first two are not possible. Organisations create knowledge, institutionalise it and activate it. The arena where the knowledge gets activated are cities. During the two days, we heard from various organisations about how they are activating this knowledge in cities either in creating robust regulatory environments, in engaging with citizens, or implementing community led solutions. These were civil society organizations, city governments, philanthropic organisations, for-profit businesses as well social enterprises.

Whether they are creating public goods, private goods or goods in between, they all seek to create value for the citizens. Organisations need to align the value they create with the needs of citizens they seek to serve - which is a possibility only when organisations lead participatory efforts which are built on the knowledge of the citizens.

In case you missed it, you can watch the sessions by clicking on the links below:

Keynote speaker: Mr. Arun Maira. Former Member, Planning Commission of India

The Promise of Liveable Cities
Speakers: Arun Maira, Former Member, Planning Commission of India; Jagan Shah, Department for International Development, Mridula Ramesh, Sundaram Climate Institute, Manas Rath, BORDA)

The Water-Centric City: Security & Recreation
Speakers: Ganapathy Ganeshan, CDD Society; Latha Raman Jaigopal, Insipiration; Sujaya Rathi, Urban Specialist; Shubhagato Dasgupta, Centre for Policy Research

Data-driven Planning for Affordable Housing and Public Spaces
Speakers: Amita Bhide, Tata Institute of Social Sciences; Pratima Joshi, Shelter Associates; Tarun Sharma, Nagrika

Funding the Urban Transformation
Speakers: Bharath Visweswariah, Omidyar Network; Bharti Dewan, Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiatives; Jarnail Singh, MacArthur Foundation, Yutika Vora, Nagrika

Heaven on Earth: Liveable Leh
Speakers: Balakrishnan Balachandran, Alchemy Urban Systems; Dr Ishey Namgyal, Municipal Committee of Leh; Moses Kunzang, Urban Local Bodies, Leh; Smanla Dorje Nurboo, Ladakh Ecological Development Group

Keynote Speaker: Naina Lal Kidwai, India Sanitation Coalition

Improving Urban Governance and Management
Speakers: Mai Flor, WaterLinks; Tikender Singh, ex-Deputy Mayor, Shimla; Tarun Sharma, Nagrika

Entrepreneurship and Impact Investing for Liveable Cities
Speakers: Kartik Desai, Asha Impact; Meeta Narsinghani, Circulate Capital; Shailesh Pathak, L&T IDPL; Venugopal Gupta, Toilet Board Coalition

Project Drawdown
Speakers: Anuj Malhotra, Center for Green Mobility; Manas Rath, BORDA

Toxic Environment and Toxic Emotions
Speakers: Anushka Shah, MIT Researcher, Civic Studios; Bharati Chaturvedi, Chintan; Manas Rath, BORDA

Green, Beautiful and Healthy Cities
Speakers: Harini Nagendra, Azim Premji University; Udaykumar Mathapati, LivFresh Farms, Singapore