The way cities respond to urban poor now would pave the way for the future generations to come. Cities that do not exclude, provide opportunities for growth and social and economic well-being.
People rush to the cities for better opportunities, but as cities grow, so do the challenges, including urban poverty, and access to housing and tenure security, services and infrastructure, and finances and technology.
Keeping these challenges in view, the NED University of Engineering & Technology (NEDUET) held its 6th International Conference on Urban and Regional Planning (CURP) at the City Campus, under the theme ‘Cities and the Poor’.
Giving an overview of CURP in her welcome address on day one, Department of Architecture & Planning Chairperson Dr Anila Naeem said: “The debates and discussions for technical sessions for this year’s conference are focused on the issues of the marginalised existence of the underprivileged masses struggling for sustenance on a daily basis.”
From basic amenities and infrastructure services to health care, education and housing, the challenges of survival of the poor in the cities are enhanced, and she expressed hope that the conference deliberations would provide useful leads to tackle the situation for the larger benefit of society.
Eight research papers were presented under the themes of ‘Social Inclusivity of Poor Communities’ and ‘Spatial Planning and Development Stance’, along with other reports.
The two-day event looked at the growing human settlements around the globe via the lens of domestic and international researchers, as well as technocrats, architects and planners.
They presented the cities as reservoirs of opportunities for economic well-being, human and social development, as well as places where the poor get abandoned, excluded and/or spatially marginalised.
