Child-friendly urban planning needed, says Smart City CEO

Panaji: There is an urgent need for child-compliant urban planning, public space design, and policymaking, as by 2050, almost 70% of children would live in urban areas in India, said Sanjit Rodrigues, managing director, Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL).
“By 2050, almost 70% of children would live in urban areas in India. This is a significant proportion and highlights the urgent need for child-compliant urban planning, public space design, and policymaking.I am particularly interested in understanding the equity in our open spaces, considering all children, and whether these spaces are universally accessible,” Rodrigues said.
The Smart City project is committed to implementing child-friendly guidelines and to showcase Panaji as an example, he said.
Rodrigues was speaking at a workshop in Panaji, hosted by International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) South Asia and IPSCDL.
ICLEI presented findings of its previous studies on how children (aged 0-5) and pregnant women are disproportionately affected by climate change, air pollution, and inadequate access to public spaces that cater to the requirements of early childhood development (ECD) services.
This workshop in Panaji was the fourth in a series, following the first three held in Guwahati, Kochi, and New Delhi, respectively where stakeholders discussed climate-resilient and child-friendly public spaces.
Peter Borges, who is thechairperson of Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, said, “Children living on the streets or in precarious situations face enormous risks, often overlooked in city planning. We also need to rethink how we define and create child-friendly spaces, considering physical inclusivity for children with disabilities and other vulnerabilities.”