Ahmedabad, which is winning accolades for inclusive planning -- designing the city by taking into consideration the needs of marginalized denizens -- hosted the New Inclusive Cities Network of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF)'s first meeting on Thursday.
The three-day event which started on Thursday, featured participation of delegations from 15 countries across the world.
The CLGF is a membership organization which brings together federal, state and local government bodies. It has been recognized by the Commonwealth Head of Governments as the designated organization responsible for local government. The AMC is one of the CLGF members.
The motive of the network is to promote inclusiveness as an essential element in the decision making so that the requirements of the marginalized, like slum dwellers, urban poor, immigrants and minority groups and youth are not ignored. Participants from Birmingham (UK), Brisbane City Council (Australia), Thekwini Municipality (Durban, South Africa), Cardiff Council (Wales, UK), among others, have arrived in city.
Municipal commissioner of Ahmedabad, IP Gautam, who inaugurated the first session, said that the city is one among very few in the country to have been chosen for development as a slum free city. He added that once the city model is ready, the other Indian cities will replicate its model.
Secretary-general of the CLGF, Carl Wright said it was significant that it was holding its first meeting in India, as Inclusive Cities Network was conceptualised in Delhi. "The challenges of urbanisation are huge and many of our citizens, especially the urban poor and marginalized and have no access to drinking water, sanitation or other vital local services," he said.
He added that the Commonwealth Network is committed to identifying, sharing and promoting those practices which will ensure that every citizen, regardless of where they live or who they are, are provided with a decent standard of housing and community services.
