New Delhi: Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu on Friday expressed concern over “harsh urban realities” adversely affecting “brain development and perspectives” of youngsters especially the poor and stressed on the need for child-friendly infrastructure.
Inaugurating a two-day conference on ‘Building smart child-friendly cities in India for 21st century’ here, Naidu asked urban planners, architects and all stakeholders to aim at creating an enabling environment for children for their all round development.
He stressed on the need for providing adequate open spaces and play centres to nurture creative faculties of children.
“Inclusive and children sensitive urban development strategies are the need of the hour,” he said.
Naidu also expressed concern over disproportionate appropriation of urban space and opportunities by the rich at the cost of the poor and the same needs to be addressed to all stages of urban planning and execution.
“Of the 158 million children in the country, about 26 per cent which means 41 million live in urban areas and 8 million of them in slums.”
The conference is organised by Bernard Van Leer Foundation and supported by Urban Development Ministry, National Institute of Urban Affairs and School of Planning and Architecture.
