Lok Sabha Question No. 1810 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-06
Subject: Provision for Children in Urban Planning
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: B.N. CHANDRAPPA, DODDAALAHALLI KEMPEGOWDA SURESH, NALIN KUMAR KATEEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

UN-STARRED QUESTION NO:  1810 TO BE ANSWERED ON MARCH 6, 2018

## PROVISION FOR CHILDREN IN URBAN PLANNING

No.1810         SHRI B. N. CHANDRAPPA:

SHRI D. K. SURESH:

SHRI NALIN KUMAR KATEEL:

Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to state

- (a) Whether it is true that adequate attention is not being paid by the Government towards the needs of children in urban areas during urban planning and governance and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) Whether it is a fact that steps have not been taken to fulfil the needs of children especially very young children of 03  years  whose  needs  are  special  and  particular  in  the urban governance and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has taken note of the fact that lack of provision of such services has an adverse impact on  the  health  of  children  and  if  so,  the  reaction  of  the Government thereto;
- (d) whether the Government has maintained or proposes to collect  aggregated data on vulnerable children in urban areas in the country and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the  steps  proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  to ameliorate  the  plight  of  the  children  facing  problem  in urban areas?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS (SHRI HARDEEP SINGH PURI)

- (a) Though the subject of Urban Development is under the domain of State/UT Governments concerned, the Ministry of Housing & Urban  Affairs  (MoHUA)  advises  State/UT  Governments  to regulate urban planning in ULBs by framing Master Plans and Bye Laws which also contain stipulations specific to children.

Further, the Ministry provides financial assistance to State/UT Governments through various Flagship Schemes such as Smart City Mission, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation(AMRUT)  and  Swachh  Bharat  Mission(SBM). These schemes ensure the provisions for children such as safe and  walkable  routes  to  schools,  girl  child  friendly  amenities, SMART classrooms, rational distribution of educational facilities throughout the city, creation of barrier free environment for children etc.

AMRUT Mission specifically addresses the needs of children in terms of play spaces. It mandates all AMRUT cities to create at least one children's park every year and establish a system for maintenance  of  parks,  playground  and  recreational  areas relying on People Public Private Partnership (PPPP) model.

As per the AMRUT SLIPs (Service Level Improvement Plans) and SAAPs (State Annual Action Plans) submitted, development of open  and  green  spaces  is  in  progress  in  almost  all  the  500 mission cities.

The  guidelines  of  Swachh  Bharat  Mission-Urban  (SBM-Urban) mention that 'Priority shall be accorded pro-actively to cover households  with  vulnerable  sections  such  as  girl  children, pregnant and lactating mothers.

- (b) The  Urban  and  Regional  Development  Plan  Formulation  and Implementation Guidelines (URDPFI Guidelines), 2014 issued by the  Ministry  of  Housing  &  Urban  Affairs  prescribe  norms  and standards  for  open  spaces  including  parks,  playgrounds  and recreation spaces. The child specific needs for children in 0-3 years age group are also addressed in the URDPFI Guidelines, 2014. For example, the guidelines mandate that for a population of 5000 there should be 1 anganwadi and 1 milk booth.

- (c) The deficiencies in the provision of facilities /services, need to be  assessed  by  Urban  Local  Bodies  and  Urban  Development Authorities who are responsible for implementation of Master Plans / Development Plans.
- (d) Ministry  of  Housing  and  Urban  Affairs  does  not  maintain  the aggregated data on urban vulnerable children.
- (e) As mentioned at part (a) above.

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