75^th Session of the United Nations General Assembly 

Second Committee

Agenda Item: 21 Follow-up to the implementation of the New Urban Agenda and strengthening of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)

INDIA STATEMENT 

By Mr.  Siddharth Malik, First Secretary 

October 15, 2020

Mr. Chair, 

We would like to thank the Secretary-General for his reports under this agenda item 21. India associates itself with the statement made by Guyana on behalf of the Group of 77. 

Mr. Chair, 

Urbanisation is a rapidly expanding global phenomenon with more than half of the world's population already living in urban areas. Much of the projected urban expansion will take place in developing countries. 

Though urbanisation has provided new jobs, contributed to poverty reduction and has created engines for accelerating economic growth. The pace of urbanisation has brought with it enormous challenges, in the form of demand-supply gaps in housing, infrastructure, employment and services and has led to environmental degradation. The social changes brought by urbanization have had an impact on family structures. 

Urban areas have even become the epicentre of the pandemic with 90% of all reported cases. The shutdown measures in urban areas had economic impact especially in the informal sector of the cities. 

Thus it becomes necessary that the urban growth centers are managed to reap the economic benefits while minimizing environmental damage and face challenges of overburdened infrastructure. In this context, the New Urban Agenda provides the roadmap for building cities that can serve as engines of prosperity and centres of innovation and social well-being while protecting the environment. 

Mr. Chair, 

Urbanization in India has become an important and irreversible process, and it is an important determinant of national economic growth and poverty reduction. Urban areas generate over 2/3rd of the country's GDP and account for 90% of government revenues. The ongoing efforts in India to manage its rapid urbanisation through innovative and dynamic measures have coincided with the international efforts to chart a New Urban Agenda. By 2030, 40% of our population is expected to reside in urban spaces. We are, therefore, fully conscious of the challenges and opportunities offered by the ongoing urbanization. 

We have launched various programs and initiatives that are in tune with SDG 11 in promoting inclusive and sustainable urbanization.

Under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) we aim to ensure universal coverage of drinking water supply, improve waste management and switch to sustainable urban transport. The Mission spans across 500 cities, covering more than 60% of urban population. 

India has launched the 'Smart Cities' Mission with the objective of promoting cities that provide core infrastructure and give a decent quality of life to its citizens, a clean and sustainable environment and application of ‘Smart’ solutions. Since the launch of the Mission, more than 5,000 projects worth more than USD 26.7 billion are at various stages of implementation.

The Prime Minister’s scheme on Affordable Housing for All by 2022 is the world’s largest housing programme for the poor under which we aim to build 11 million affordable homes for urban poor. 3.5 million houses have been completed, with the remaining at different levels of progress.

Climate change impacts increase the vulnerability of cities and put further stress on the adaptive capacities of the poor living in them. India has launched the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) in 2017, which supports a transition towards green buildings by increasing energy efficiency and aims to reduce energy consumption by 50% by 2030. 

Mr. Chair, 

The COVID-19 crisis has compounded the vulnerabilities faced by the migrants and the urban poor. We have announced  a well-designed economic package and relief for both labour and SMEs. Under PM’s Program for the Welfare of the Poor we have announced a package of US$ 24 billion this includes transfer of US$ 4.2 billion in bank accounts of 200 million poor families. To ensure sufficient food is available for the poor and needy during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have announced the world’s largest food security scheme, the PM’s Foodgrain Program for the Welfare of the Poor. As part of the program, the eligible beneficiaries will receive free food grain and will benefit around 800 million people.

Mr. Chair,

We welcome the introduction of a change in management process and a restructuring exercise of UN-Habitat which resulted in the launch in of a new organizational structure. At the same time, we also feel that the concerns about UN Habitat’s declining funding need to be effectively addressed. 

Mr. Chair,

There is an urgent need to rethink and transform cities to respond to the reality of COVID-19 and potential future pandemics, and to recover better, by building more resilient, inclusive and sustainable cities. 

We need to make large-scale public investments in sustainable infrastructure such as affordable housing and facilitate public services such as health care during the pandemic especially for the urban poor and other vulnerable groups. To reduce congestion and the interlinked problems that come with urbanization, integrated and spatially distribution with an emphasis on small and medium cities and towns, along with promotion of linkages with rural areas, are some of the ways that can be envisioned.

Our endeavour is to have a collaborative approach with urban local governments, private sector and the urban community, towards making our cities modern, efficient and sustainable for all population groups who are residing in the urban and peri-urban areas, with unmatched ease of living for all.

I thank you.