Global Conclave on Environment

ON JUNE 24, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

iTV Network is organizing the Global Conclave on Environment, Ecology and Wildlife.

The theme for the International Conclave is ‘An Integrated Vision for Sustainability-Agenda 2030’ and it will focus on the collective action of all stakeholders in the area of conservation of environment, our ecosystem and wildlife.

Mike Pandey, renowned international environmentalist has consented to be a partner in this unique event. Chief Guest at the event will be Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Hon’ble Minister of State for Environment, Forests & Climate Change.

Date: 25th June, 2018

Venue: Taj Diplomatic Enclave, New Delhi

Delegate Registration: 9.00am onwards (followed by Networking Lunch)

Kills on Wheels, is a 2016 Hungarian comedy film

ON JUNE 24, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

JUN24

Hungarian Film Show

Public

 · Hosted by Hungarian Information and Cultural Centre, New Delhi

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  Sunday at 19:30–21:30 2 days from now · 33-42° Mostly Sunny

• pin	Siri Fort Auditorium August Kranti Marg, Asian Games Village Complex, Gautam Nagar, New Delhi 110049 Show map

Hungarian Film Show

Kills on Wheels is a 2016 Hungarian comedy film directed by Attila Till. It was selected as the Hungarian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards.

This is a meaningful action-comedy of a wheelchair-bound assassin gang. Driven by despair and fear of becoming useless, a 20 year-old boy, his friend, and an ex-fireman offer their services to the mafia. But things are not what they seem. The boundaries between reality and fiction blur and the story becomes a whirling kaleidoscope showing us gangsters and gunfights, but also the challenge of life in a wheelchair and the pain caused by a father’s rejection.

Guterres Express Concern on explosion at rally in Ethiopia

ON JUNE 24, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

Guterres expresses ‘grave concern’ following explosion at large political rally for reform-minded Ethiopian Prime Minister

UN Photo/Manuel Elias

Secretary-General António Guterres addresses journalists following his return to UN headquarters after attending a Summit of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

23 June 2018

Peace and Security

One person has reportedly died, and dozens were injured after an explosion ripped through a large crowd at a rally for the new Prime Minister of Ethiopia on Saturday, which the UN chief described as a matter of “grave concern”.

Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the act of violence, which – according to news reports – Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, described as “an unsuccessful attempt by forces who do not want to see Ethiopia united”.

Earlier this week, the UN chief welcomed the “positive steps” taken by Mr. Ahmed to accept and implement a stalled 2002 peace agreement with neighbouring Eritrea, which would end decades of conflict and tension between the two Horn of Africa countries.

The Ethiopian leader was reportedly escorted from the major political rally in the capital, Addis Ababa, shortly after the blast, which resulted from a grenade being thrown into the crowd.

Mr. Abiy became Prime Minister, following the resignation of his predecessor in February, and is the first leader to hail from the majority Oromo ethnic group, which has been at the centre of anti-government protests for the past three years.

A statement from the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General said that “he conveys his condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured,” adding that the UN chief “expresses his solidarity with the Government and People of Ethiopia.”

The Ethiopian Prime Minister has implemented a large number of political reforms since taking office, and previously served in government as minister for science and technology.

People’s Conversation Vows to challenge undemocratic & destructive global finance

ON JUNE 24, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

Working Group on International Financial Institutions

People’s Convention Vows to Challenge Undemocratic & Destructive Global Finance:

Resolves to Build Political and Economic Alternatives

See political resolution adopted at the conference as attached. 

Mumbai, June 23 : “The international financial institutions like AIIB (Asia Infrastructure and Investment Bank) must function in a deeply democratic manner respectful of national sovereignty; or else be shut down for they constitute a threat to the nation’s economic and political security. These financial institutions are harbingers and promoters of the neo-liberal reforms responsible for hijacking of the democracy itself; regressive changes to environmental, labour, land, accountability laws; promoting privatisation and cartelisation; and burdening every citizen with huge debt; and destruction of minimal welfare measures.”

This was unanimously conveyed by over 1000 delegates from 200 organisations who gathered from all over India at the three day Peoples’ Convention on Infrastructure Financing, organised in the backdrop of the forthcoming AIIB Annual General Body meeting hosted by India in Mumbai. The Convention debated, discussed and challenged in 20 parallel workshops, the functioning of the international financial institutions and complicity of the Indian ruling and political class in pushing big and unnecessary hyper inflated infrastructure projects like industrial corridors, bharatmala, sagarmala, bullet trains, smart cities and others.

In the political resolution adopted at the end of the Convention delegates resolved to challenge the undemocratic and economically unsound functioning of IFIs including AIIB, World Bank, IFC and others. The Convention also resolved to push for people-centered alternatives in all sectors of the economy, and to advance an inclusive model of development in which finance and infrastructure support the vulnerable and the poor communities, instead of supporting primitive accumulation of natural resources and maximising the profits of the multinational corporations and global elite further contributing to the increased inequality in the society.

Delegates vowed to return to their communities to build massive resistance to the ongoing destruction of the environment and livelihoods of the poor and the working classes, and to work to create decent jobs, promote sustainable farming, equitable access to public services, advancement of the entrepreneurial skills of artisanal and natural resource dependent communities, and of labour intensive small and medium enterprises. The Convention reasserted its belief in democratic decision-making and the advancement of cooperative federalism as a method of resisting prevailing hegemony of undemocratic and unaccountable financial institutions such as the AIIB.

Speaking to the media, prominent activist and Goldman Environment Awardee Prafulla Samantra said, “The Peoples’ Convention is further strengthening our strategies and vision to oppose and reject international finance which does not confine to the democratic principles and causing immense and irreversible damange to people, depriving of their livelihood and snatching away their resources and causing damage to environment, accelerating climate change”.

The three day convention was attended by different trade unions, networks of hawkers, fishworkers, slum dwellers, adivasis, dalits, farmers organisations and peoples movements. The convention was attended by senior activists, academics and financial analysists including Medha Patkar, economist Prof. Arun Kumar, financial analyst Sucheta Dalal, activists Ulka Mahajan, Com. Roma, Shaktiman Ghosh, Leo Colaco, T Peter, Dr Sunilam, Ram Wangkheirakpam, Leo Saldanha, Rajendra Ravi, Gabriele Dietrich, Surekha Dalvi, Sanjay M G, Ashok Chaudhary, Gautam Bandopadhyay, Bharat Patel, Jesu Rethinam, Seshagiri Rao, Meera Sanghamitra, Maglin Philomin, Soumya Dutta, Awadhesh Kumar, Umesh Nazir, Raju Bhise, Prof H.M. Deserda and many others.

“Financial institutions have declared a war on people, land, water and coasts. Workers rights are sacrificed at the alter of development. We are left with no option than to reject and oppose this onslaught by the financial institutions, both national and internationall” said Jesu Rethinam of National Fishworkers Forum.

Background:

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the two-year-old multilateral bank, is investing in all major sectors, including energy, without robust policies on environmental-social safeguards, transparent public disclosure and an accountability/complaint handling mechanism. Out of the total 24 projects, it has financed, USD 4.4 billion has already been approved. India is the biggest recipient from AIIB with more than 1.2 billion USD supporting about six projects including Transmission lines, Capital City Development at Amravati, rural roads etc. with another 1 billion USD in proposed projects.

About Us:

WGonIFIs, a network of movements, organisations and individuals to critically look at and evaluate the policies, programmes and investments of various International Finance Institutions (IFIs), and joining the celebration of the people and communities across the world in resisting them. A list of the network is available here.

Last year, when the Asian Development Bank completed 50 years, the WGonIFIs observed it by holding actions of protests in over 140 locations spread in over 21 states in India against the investment policies of ADB and other International Financial Institutions.

HYATT REGENCY HUNTINGTON BEACH RESORT & SPA COMPLETES PROPERTY-WIDE REIMAGINATION

ON JUNE 23, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

Sprawling Southern California Oceanside Destination Resort Unveils a Fully Enhanced Resort Experience with Redesigned Guestrooms, New Room Categories, Outdoor Spaces and Sun-Soaked Activities 

Mumbai, 21st June 2018 — Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa, Surf City’s premier oceanfront destination resort, has completed an expansive and multi-phase series of enhancement projects, presenting a reimagined resort experience for the 2018 summer season. Stunning renovations to the resort’s 514 guestrooms, the addition of two distinctive new room categories, a revamped poolside experience, and new activities and amenities, reflective of the destination’s active beach lifestyle, mark the beginning of a new chapter for the iconic resort.

“The heart of our vision for the refreshed Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa experience was the desire to evolve with the needs of today’s travelers and elevate the guest experience, while maintaining the distinctive character and spirit of this special seaside community,” said Peter Rice, general manager of the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa. “A welcoming and relaxed sense of sophistication is a hallmark of the Southern California coastal lifestyle, and it was important to us to weave that common thread throughout each of our newly enhanced settings and offer our guests the quintessential Huntington Beach experience.”

Enhancements to Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa include:

• Breezy Guest Room Renovation – A study in Mediterranean coastal elegance, each of the resort’s 517 guestrooms and suites have been redesigned to exude a residential Mediterranean vibe with a color scheme that echoes the sand and sky, custom furnishings with intricate design features, grass cloth wall coverings and vintage coastal artwork. Attention to detail is woven throughout with faceted wood features on oversized dressers with unique coastal pulls, distinctively mismatched bedside tables that one might find in a private home, stylized carpet and drapery patterns that exude Spanish style authenticity, coral sculptures, hand painted framed Mediterranean tile, and wrought iron accents. Thoughtful modern conveniences complete the redesign with an illuminated bathroom mirror featuring integral clock, a mounted 65” flat screen television, glass front mini fridge and wine cooler, headboard reading lights, and ample outlet connectivity throughout the room.

• Home-Away-From-Home Room Categories – Two new guestroom categories offer distinctive and thoughtful accommodations. Six new firepit guestrooms provide a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor living, each with a lushly landscaped outdoor oasis complete with private fire pit, perfect for sparkling cocktails and conversation. As one of Southern California’s top family-friendly properties, the new family guestroom category is uniquely suited to the resort. Nineteen oversized guestrooms feature the rare combination of both a king and a queen bed, luxurious bathroom with roomy bathtub and separate shower, and an expansive walk-in closet

• Refreshed Poolside Experience – With a striking backdrop of uninterrupted ocean vistas, the resort’s revamped main pool, Mankota’s, has been transformed into a relaxed location for guests seeking endless sun-splashed fun in a contemporary setting with expanded seating, rich tropical landscaping and comfortable gathering areas. A new elevated nautilus deck and six spacious new cabanas, appointed with flat-screen televisions and personal refrigerators that can be stocked with summertime favorites, present a picture-perfect space for special events to experience technicolor sunsets over the Pacific Ocean.

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• So-Cal Inspired Activities – An array of programs reflective of Southern California’s active beach lifestyle are designed to appeal to all guests. Families can find zen together with their toes in the sand during Saturday morning beach yoga instruction. Further options for sandy fun include surf lessons for all ages with on-site surf shop Toes on the Noes, or beach architecture with the resort’s sandcastle concierge Dig It! who assists guests in constructing Instagram-worthy sand structures. Continuing the trend young travelers flip for, a 90-minute “Mermaid Magic” experience takes over the main pool every Sunday morning, complete with mermaid tail rental, water games, story time and instruction from a certified “Mermaid Master.” For wellness seekers, the 20,000-square-foot Pacific Waters Spa goes beyond the massage table with fitness classes, and pairing options for bites and treatments from an inspired menu that targets 12 spices, renowned for their internal and external benefits. 

About Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa

Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa features 517 tastefully appointed guestrooms, including 57 suites, offering guests sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean. The resort is home to four dining outlets that include the resort’s signature culinary concept, Watertable, the recently renovated, Pete’s Sunset Grille, Mankota’s Grill and Tower 15 Pizzeria. Additional resort amenities include the 20,000 square foot oasis, Pacific Waters Spa, Slyders water playground, a tranquil lagoon-style swimming pool, Shubee’s, and “The Village,” an eclectic retail plaza with everything from surf gear at renowned Orange County surf school, Toes on the Nose, to gourmet snacks deli items, wine, desserts and Starbucks Coffee at Surf City Grocers. The resort is also home to the largest collection of function space along the Orange County coastline with over 100,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space. For further information call 714.698.1234 or visit huntingtonbeach.regency.hyatt.com

About Hyatt Regency

The Hyatt Regency brand prides itself on connecting travelers to who and what matters most to them. More than 180 conveniently located Hyatt Regency urban and resort locations in over 30 countries around the world serve as the go-to gathering space for every occasion – from efficient business meetings to memorable family vacations. The brand offers a one-stop experience that puts everything guests need right at their fingertips. Hyatt Regency hotels and resorts offer a full range of services and amenities, including the space to work, engage or relax; notable culinary experiences; technology-enabled ways to collaborate; and expert event planners who can take care of every detail. For more information, please visit hyattregency.com. Follow @HyattRegency on Facebook, Twitterand Instagram, and tag photos with #AtHyattRegency.

Min,Mr R K Singh: Book Release on “Renewable Energy Technology”

ON JUNE 23, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

Book on “Renewable Energy Technology”  Release by Union Minister of State (IC) for Power, New and Renewable Energy

New Delhi, June 22nd, 2018 . Hon’ble Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power, New and Renewable Energy, Shri R. K. Singh released a book titled “Renewable Energy Technology” co-authored by Shri I.S. Jha, CMD (POWERGRID), Shri Subir Sen, COO (CTU Planning & Smart Grid) POWERGRID, Shri Manish Kumar Tiwari, Asst. GM (Smart Grid) POWERGRID and Prof. D.P. Kothari in the august presence of CMD, POWERGRID, senior officials of Ministry of Power, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, CERC, CEA and POWERGRID.

The book covers in depth about the renewable energy generation resources, the technologies related to renewable energy systems such as; solar, wind, hydro, biomass, geothermal, tidal, wave energy etc., grid integration & balancing technologies, Energy Storage Systems, Electric Vehicles, Smart Grid and enabling framework for renewable energy in India. Detailed mathematical derivation, wherever needed, is presented for better understanding of the reader.

Combined with professional and academic experience of authors and balanced with theoretical as well as practical aspects, this book intends to meet the needs of a diverse range of groups like academicians, student community, researchers, utilities, developers, power sector experts and analysts, industry.

India’s Smart Cities Mission: Smart for Whom? Cities for Whom?

ON JUNE 23, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

Dr Partha Mukhopadhyay, Senior Fellow, @CPR_India, releasing a report by @HLRN_India on ‘India’s Smart CitiesMission: Smart For Whom? Cities For Whom?

New Delhi, 22 June 2018 :Highlights the Lack of an Integrated Approach and Focus on Marginalized Groups As the Smart Cities Mission completes three years on 25 June 2018, at an event in New Delhi, Housing and Land Rights Network, India (HLRN) launched its report titled, India’s Smart Cities Mission: Smart for Whom? Cities for Whom?

Justice A.P. Shah, former Chief Justice of the High Court of Delhi and former Chairperson of the Law Commission of India, who was to release the HLRN report, could not be present due to exigent circumstances and instead sent a message of support. In particular, he highlighted that, “The report has raised important human rights concerns that the Smart Cities Mission should definitely address.” The report release was followed by a panel discussion at which independent experts discussed diverse dimensions of the Smart Cities Mission, while raising concerns about its challenges.

Stressing the need for a gender equality approach, Ms Suneeta Dhar, Senior Advisor, Jagori, elaborated that, “Smart cities should be inclusive of women, in all their diversity. A women’s human rights approach would transform the way cities are planned, by addressing structural inequalities and inequities. Women have an autonomous ‘right to the city’, to its opportunities and services, as equal citizens. They have a right to safety at all times, both at work and public spaces. When cities are built without the voice of women in local governance systems, and without considering age- and genderspecific factors, then girls and women bear huge costs in terms of lack of well-being and unpaid work. There is ample evidence to substantiate these observations.”

In his remarks, Dr Partha Mukhopadhyay, Senior Fellow, Centre for Policy Research also commented that, “This report is a critical but thorough and extensive examination of the government’s Smart Cities Mission. It brings together a wide array of sources, including a valuable compilation of parliamentary questions related to smart cities, to try and answer some very important questions relating to the nature of citizenship and governance in our cities, and provides a perspective on housing and human rights that link to India’s international commitments. Regardless of one’s position with respect to smart cities, this is a report that should be engaged with.” Housing and Land Rights Network presented the major findings and conclusions of its study, which are described below.

Major Findings and Conclusions of the HLRN Study  Exclusionary approach. By focusing on only 100 cities of the country and on select areas within those cities, the Mission has demonstrated a restrictive approach to urban development. Of the total proposed investment of Rs 2.04 lakh crore (Rs 2,040 billion) in ‘smart cities,’ 80 per cent will be spent on ‘Area-based Development (ABD).’ The city area covered by ABD is less than 5 per cent for 49 of the 86 cities for which information is available. The government claims that 99.5 million people will be covered by Mission projects or only 8 per cent of India’s total population or 22 per cent of the urban population. Disaggregated data on the demographics of the affected population is also not available. The per capita investment on ABD varies from city to city, with Rs 32,159, reportedly, being spent per person in Bengaluru and Rs 43.3 lakh per person in Naya Raipur. The Mission thus Housing and Land Rights Network ,

Absence of a gender equality and non-discrimination approach. There is a limited focus on marginalized groups, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and other minorities. In particular, the silence on caste-based discrimination is glaring. While issues related to women, children, persons with disabilities, and older persons find some mention in most Smart City Proposals, the Mission does not incorporate a consistent rights-based or substantive equality approach to address structural discrimination and violence against these groups in cities.

Inadequate participation, consultation, and information. Though every city has reported some form of engagement with residents in the development of Smart City Proposals, people’s participation, especially from low-income communities, has not been adequate. There is also no means of ascertaining whether inputs collated during public consultations have been factored into the final proposals and selection of ‘smart city’ projects in each city.

Absence of human rights-based standards and monitoring indicators. The lack of adequate standards to guide project development and implementation, including for housing, water, sanitation, health, and environmental sustainability, raise questions about whether the Mission will be able to deliver on its aims and ensure the fulfilment of fundamental rights.  Threat of forced evictions, land acquisition, and displacement. While housing for economically weaker sections (EWS) and low-income groups (LIG) has been identified as an area of concern in almost all proposals, none of the cities have recognized housing as a human right or included standards of ‘adequate housing’ for their projects. The goal of several cities to become ‘slum-free’ without including concomitant indicators—such as the number of houses demolished or the number of homeless persons recorded in the city every year—to assess realization of this target, could promote evictions and the destruction of low-income settlements under the guise of creating ‘cities without slums.’ Evictions are being reported in several ‘smart cities.’ In 2017, HLRN documented forced evictions and demolitions of homes in 32 of the 99 ‘smart cities.’ While some evictions were directly linked to ‘smart city’ projects, others were carried out for reasons ranging from ‘city beautification’ to ‘slum clearance.’

Eight of the 99 cities have proposed greenfield development. This could increase land acquisition, resulting in the loss of farmland and the displacement of farmers and other rural communities.

Likelihood of increased segregation and gentrification. The cost of developing these ‘smart enclaves,’ will also have to be borne by the city residents living in these areas, not all of whom may be wealthy. Initiatives to increase user charges for essential services, including of water, have already been proposed in cities like Pune. With improved services and amenities in the ‘smart city,’ housing prices could rise, fueling the threat of market-led evictions and gentrification of ‘smart’ neighbourhoods.

Dilution of democracy and the privatization of governance. The Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to implement the Mission has been incorporated under the Companies Act 2013. This is a violation of The Constitution (Seventy-fourth Amendment) Act 1992, which divests power in local governments and urban local bodies. The SPV’s competing governance mechanism could substantively dilute local democracy with the private sector playing a greater role in city management.  Risks of digitalization and threats to privacy. The rise in digitalization could exacerbate India’s already great digital divide if adequate safeguards are not adopted. Furthermore, the tendency of technology to capture personal information and household-level data gives rise to concerns about the smart city’s propensity to violate people’s right to privacy. In addition, the rights to information and security are also threatened by increased surveillance.

Increased corporatization of cities with high dependence on foreign investment. It is estimated that 80 per cent of total capital outlay for ‘smart city’ development would be required from the private sector. The selected cities are, thus, raising funds through a variety of Public Private Partnership (PPP) models. Several foreign governments and multilateral agencies have also proposed large amounts of funding for the Mission. However, the actual amount of remittances received and the conditionalities attached to these investments are not known. There is thus a concern about the level of control that local governments will have over decisions and Housing and Land Rights Network , Press Release, 22 June 2018 3 outcomes related to ‘smart city’ projects. These trends highlight the transition towards the corporatization of Indian cities, with grave potential implications for residents.

Environmental concerns. Though there is a stated focus on environmental sustainability within Smart City Proposals, the paradigm of development being adopted by the Mission could result in the growing ecological footprint of ‘smart cities.’ It could also pose threats of increased ewaste and loss of forest cover in the pursuit of greenfield development and city-based infrastructure projects.  Apparent lack of convergence with other schemes. Urban development in India is also being governed by several other schemes:

Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Swachh Bharat Mission, the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) or Housing for All–2022 scheme, and the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM), among others. A review of these schemes reveals a multiplicity of targets and overlapping areas of intervention. Ninety-two of the 99 selected ‘smart cities’ are also covered under AMRUT, while most of the housing projects in ‘smart cities’ are PMAY projects and shelters for the homeless are being funded by NULM. The question then is: What is the value added by the Smart Cities Mission?  Positive developments have been reported in a few cities. These include restoration of heritage sites in Gwalior, solar energy achievements in Diu, child-friendly initiatives in Bhubaneswar, a waste management project in Jabalpur, and toilet construction in Kakinada.

However, in the absence of a comprehensive assessment framework, it is difficult to ascertain the progress of the Mission, especially with regard to key indicators and outcomes. Recommendations The analysis of the Smart Cities Mission—undertaken by HLRN—reveals the glaring absence of a human rights-based approach to the Mission as well as a neglect of the urban poor and marginalized. While it may be too late to reverse the process that the Mission has embarked on, it is not too late to change the direction of its trajectory by implementing measures to ensure a greater focus on human rights, equality, and social justice. Housing and Land Rights Network has, thus, proposed some recommendations to the government as well as other involved actors.

The Smart Cities Mission needs a human rights-based implementation and monitoring framework to assess the achievement of targets and to ensure that all ‘smart city’ projects comply with national and international law and promote human rights and environmental sustainability. While the Livability Index, announced by the government, is a move in the right direction, it should incorporate human rights indicators, so as to meaningfully assess the quality of life and standard of living in Indian cities, including ‘smart cities.’  Implementation of the Mission should align with India’s international commitments, including under the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030, the Paris Agreement, and the New Urban Agenda. It should also aim to implement recommendations from India’s third Universal Periodic Review.

The Mission must develop a special focus on the needs, concerns, and human rights of marginalized individuals, groups, and communities, including children, women, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, migrants, homeless persons, domestic workers, persons with disabilities, religious and sexual minorities, and other excluded groups.  Meaningful participation and engagement should be a priority in the selection and execution of ‘smart city’ projects in all cities. The free, prior, and informed consent of all persons likely to be impacted by ‘smart city’ projects should be obtained prior to project selection.

Human rights-based impact assessments and environmental impact assessments should be mandatory for all ‘smart city’ projects, before they are approved.

Strict measures must be put in place to ensure that implementation of ‘smart city’ projects does not result in the violation of any human rights, including the rights to adequate housing, work/livelihood, security of the person and home, water, sanitation, health, food, privacy, information, must be protected.

The provision of adequate affordable housing in all cities must be strengthened while allying with the targets of PMAY/Housing for All–2022. Cities should define ‘affordable housing’ with clear income-based criteria. ‘Rehabilitation’ and ‘slum-free city’ projects should not be used as an excuse to demolish low-income settlements. Measures must be taken to prevent forced evictions, forced relocation, and displacement.  Efforts must be made to protect the right to privacy, and to prevent surveillance and misuse of big data. India needs appropriately-nuanced data legislation to check against the growing threats of digitalization.

The body created to implement the Mission, the Special Purpose Vehicle, must work within the framework of democracy provided by the Constitution of India and must respect and not circumvent democratically elected local governments and institutions.  The role of the corporate sector associated with ‘smart city’ projects, including multinational companies, should be regulated to ensure compliance with national and international laws. Privatization of essential services must be prevented.  Improved convergence of all government schemes along with better inter-ministerial coordination is required. Common core human rights indicators should be developed to ensure harmonized monitoring of all national urban schemes.

Progressive court judgments, including those upholding the rights to privacy and housing, should be complied with. Authorities should also implement recommendations of UN treaty bodies and Special Procedures, including those of the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing pertaining to the Smart Cities Mission. Given the many concerns and challenges related to the Smart Cities Mission, HLRN hopes that all involved agencies—state and non-state—will consider implementing the recommendations presented above.

As Shivani Chaudhry, Executive Director, Housing and Land Rights Network, emphasized, “Though some ‘smart city’ projects may have positive outcomes, the question is whether such a super structure of the Smart Cities Mission—with a competing governance model, private consultants, and large funds— was needed to get cities to perform their mandated roles? Are we headed towards creating ‘smart enclaves’ or inclusive cities? Are ‘smart cities’ the way for India to meet its legal and moral obligations, including implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, or would a more equitable paradigm focusing on the entire country have been a more prudent alternative? The Mission requires a fundamental re-envisioning exercise that places people, not technology and profit, at the centre.” Housing and Land Rights Network believes that it is important for the Indian government, at both the central and state levels, to adopt a strong human rights approach in all its policies and schemes, including the Smart Cities Mission.

A focus on creating ‘human rights habitats’ instead of ‘smart cities’ would ensure that the poor and marginalized are not excluded, their democratic participation in governance is guaranteed, their fundamental rights are upheld, and that improved living spaces are created for all.

The report—India’s Smart Cities Mission: Smart for Whom? Cities for Whom?—is available at: http://hlrn.org.in/documents/Smart_Cities_Report_2018.pdf