Draft:Urban Management Centre
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Urban Management Centre (UMC)
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Urban Management Centre (UMC) is a women-led organisation dedicated to creating inclusive societies and sustainable cities with the mission of "Making Cities Work for Everyone". From its inception, UMC has been under the leadership of Manvita Baradi, its founding director, alongside Meghna Malhotra, who serves as the deputy director. UMC collaborates with local, state and national governments and marginalised communities to enhance urban systems. It specialises in management improvements, capacity building and urban planning that ensures broad representation in development processes.
UMC champions integrated planning systems and works with city governments across India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Nepal and Indonesia to strengthen urban governance. The organisation provides technical assistance, supports capacity building through adult learning methodologies and facilitates peer-to-peer learning to diagnose and solve urban challenges. By leveraging the expertise of both in-service practitioners and international consultants, UMC implements innovative solutions in municipal development and urban management..[1]
History
[edit]In 1997, Urban Management Centre (UMC) was established as the India project office for the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), headquartered in Washington D.C. Initially serving as ICMA's operational base in India and subsequently in South Asia, UMC was registered as an independent entity in 2005, incorporated under Section 25 of the Indian Companies Act, 1956.[2] Urban Management Centre was established with Manvita Baradi at the helm as the founding director and Meghna Malhotra supporting as deputy director. Together, they have played crucial roles in shaping the organisation's development and broadening its influence across diverse sectors of urban management.
Over the years, UMC has collaborated with local governments across various countries, including India, the United States of America, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Nepal and Indonesia.[3] The organisation's core philosophy is to enhance the capabilities of local, state and national governments, recognising their pivotal role in direct citizen engagement and service delivery.
UMC has emerged as a prominent organisation in India focused on Urban Planning and Development. It has pioneered numerous urban planning and management initiatives that extend beyond traditional master plans, encompassing critical areas such as sanitation, climate change adaptation, urban transportation, public health and heritage conservation. UMC's policies ensure that vulnerable populations are not overlooked in urban planning processes.
The organisation's commitment to sustainable urban development is demonstrated through its active involvement in enhancing resilience and sustainability across 13 cities in four states of India. UMC’s efforts address the complex interactions between sanitation, climate change, disaster risk management and the needs of various marginalised groups, including sanitation workers, street vendors, migrants, women, children and the urban poor.
Major Programs and Initiatives
[edit]Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
[edit]Urban Management Centre (UMC) has been at the forefront of addressing climate change through its focused initiatives on Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation. Recognising the complex interplay between urban development and climate resilience, UMC has implemented several strategic projects across various regions.
- Climate Action Planning: UMC has played a pivotal role in formulating Climate Action Plans for cities like Chennai and Guwahati.[4] In Chennai, UMC, in partnership with C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, and is working towards integrating climate resilience measures into the city's master planning process for 2026-2046. This initiative prioritises low-carbon infrastructure, energy-efficient buildings and inclusive urban design.[5] For Guwahati, UMC is developing a comprehensive Climate Action Plan that aims for carbon neutrality by 2070, supported by a detailed Climate Change Risk Assessment.
- Healthcare Facility Resilience: Collaborating with WHO-SEARO, UMC has developed a guide and training modules based on WHO’s framework to enhance the climate resilience of healthcare facilities across 11 countries in the Southeast Asian region. This guide is designed to maintain healthcare operations during extreme climate events, emphasising the integration of environmental sustainability into health sector resilience. This involved country-level consultations, a tailored ready reckoner, apart from the specialised training modules for effective implementation.[6]
- Energy Conservation: In the realm of urban management, energy sustainability involves integrating efficient systems to reduce energy consumption citywide by improving service delivery systems and promoting energy-efficient buildings and transport. UMC has actively participated in this sector, having developed an implementation roadmap for the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) in Madhya Pradesh and supported the implementation of ECBC in Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) of Gujarat. UMC assists local governments in identifying institutional and financial barriers to implementing energy efficiency measures, strengthening policies and formulating strategic plans.[7]
- Disaster Management: Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) has become a critical concern for cities, as natural disasters compound the existing challenges of urban functionality. Guided by the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, which calls on stakeholders to undertake responsibilities in mitigation, early warning and post-disaster rehabilitation, UMC has engaged in significant projects such as the CityLinks Post-Tsunami Recovery Program in Cuddalore and Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, in collaboration with cities in Florida, USA. Additionally, UMC has contributed to the development of a Manual for the Development of Disaster Management Plans for ULBs in Andhra Pradesh.[8] The core team at UMC includes members skilled in disaster management training who have also worked with local bodies to devise communication strategies for their disaster management plans, demonstrating UMC's deep commitment to enhancing urban resilience through comprehensive planning and community engagement.
- Transportation: Urban environments face complex challenges, including managing an increasing number of vehicles and supporting overburdened public transportation systems. In response, envisioning cities that apply sustainable transportation principles is essential for addressing air quality issues and driving economic growth. UMC recognises the continuous need for development and supports Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in adopting sustainable practices. To facilitate this, UMC conducted a Training Needs Assessment for City Managers from Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, focusing on Urban Transport.[9][10]
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
[edit]Addressing the global issue of large populations suffering because of unsafe access to water and sanitation, UMC works towards providing equitable access to water and sanitation whilst also ensuring the safety and dignity of those working to provide such services.
UMC has worked on several sanitation workers’ safety programs across different states of India. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Government of Odisha launched the Garima Scheme in 2020, which has been a standout project where UMC was a knowledge and technical partner in successfully scaling the program across the state. Sanitation workers are amongst the most marginalised and excluded communities in India, and to equip them with the knowledge, safety devices and PPE – UMC has set up dedicated Technical Support Units in Odisha at the state and city levels with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Under this scheme, H&UDD, Odisha along with UMC as their technical support, enumerated sanitation workers in 115 urban local bodies using the Sanitation Workers Health Welfare and Safety (SHWAS) mobile application.[11] As an extension of the work done under Garima scheme, H&UDD is training college graduates on the sanitation value chain as part of The Urban Learning Internship Program (TULIP)[12][13]
Following the successful implementation of the Garima scheme in Odisha, and in an effort to implement progressive measures in the space of urban sanitation, the Government of Tamil Nadu along with the support from the UMC also launched Sanitation Workers Development Scheme in 2022, focusing on various welfare measures to provide benefits to sanitation workers and their families.[14][15][16]
The Government of India is scaling this initiative to the national level with National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) through the National Safai Karamchari Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC) as the implementing agency and with technical support from UMC.[17]
Capacity Building Educational Initiatives and E-Learning
[edit]Urban Management Centre (UMC) has been instrumental in supporting governments at all levels through various initiatives, including the development of educational video modules for government functionaries. These modules are designed to be straightforward and concise, facilitating efficient learning. Upon successful completion of certain courses and associated tests, participants can even receive certificates from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India.
UMC has also collaborated with the Government of India to create online courses featuring these video modules, which are accessible on the Urban Livelihoods e-Learning and Resource Network (U-LEARN) portal. Additionally, UMC has developed courses for the Swachh Bharat Mission Portal, which include case studies from various parts of India.
The courses on the U-LEARN portal are particularly aimed at individuals at the initial stages of forming or advancing Self-Help Groups (SHGs), with a focus on fostering self-sustainability. These educational resources are part of UMC's broader effort to enhance capacity building and improve service delivery in urban management.[18]
Heritage Management
[edit]Since its establishment, Heritage Management has been a core strength of Urban Management Centre (UMC). Heritage encapsulates the history, traditions and culture of communities through architecture and urban forms. UMC's team, comprised of architects, urban designers, archaeologists and urban planners, is dedicated to heritage conservation.
UMC advocates viewing old buildings and urban plans as assets rather than liabilities, believing that conflicts between conservation and development can be mitigated through the functional integration of urban spaces via comprehensive planning and research.
UMC has supported government efforts in listing, documenting and grading heritage assets, preparing heritage management plans, drafting heritage-specific bylaws around Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) protected monuments and offering design and construction guidance to develop heritage precincts. They promote making heritage conservation a fundamental aspect of urban planning and management at local government levels.
UMC was closely involved with the Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) scheme, a Government of India initiative aimed at integrating urban planning, economic growth and heritage conservation. The scheme's objective is to restore, revive and fortify the heritage essence of cities, transforming them into cultural and heritage destinations. It emphasises the development of civic infrastructure around heritage sites. Collaborating with the Dwarka City Level Advisory and Monitoring Committee (CLAMC), UMC is instrumental in preparing a sustainable civic infrastructure development plan focusing on the temple complex and other heritage assets in the area. This involvement underlines UMC's commitment to sustainable urban development and heritage conservation.[19]
In 2011, the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) prepared the final draft policy for preserving 2,991 heritage structures in the city, identified by UMC as having heritage value.[20] Additionally, UMC is advancing their Heritage Zonal Plans (HZPs) for the walled city of Ahmedabad in collaboration with UNESCO and the Ahmedabad World Heritage City Trust (AWHCT). These plans focus on revitalising heritage along a 5 km stretch that includes significant structures such as Shahpur Fort Wall, Siddi Saiyyed Mosque precinct and connects historical sites from Lal-Darwaja to Tilak Baug, Gurjari Bazaar and Vasant Kunj precinct that connects to Manek Buraj, marking the historic entry to old Ahmedabad.
UMC's ongoing Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Vasant Kunj precinct and the street stretch from Lal-Darwaja to the Siddi Saiyyed Mosque precinct involves acting as project management consultants to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, aiming to preserve historical significance while facilitating the city's modern economic development.
Livelihood and Poverty Alleviation
[edit]Cities have historically attracted migration due to the availability of livelihood opportunities. However, accommodating such migration often results in resource shortages. To address these challenges, Urban Management Centre (UMC) incorporates a focus on the urban poor in all its research, programs and projects. This approach aims to enhance outcomes and promote equality by assisting local governments in ensuring equitable service delivery to impoverished urban settlements.
UMC supports the execution of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) that aims to reduce poverty and vulnerability of the urban poor households by enabling them to access gainful self-employment and skilled wage employment opportunities.[21]
Housing and Urban Development Department (H&UDD), Government of Odisha and UMC signed an MoU in 2023, to provide technical support for capacity building of Odisha’s flagship programme “Mukhyamantri Karma Tatpara Abhiyaan” (MUKTA) that aims to provide wage employment opportunities to the urban poor, the wage seekers, through the creation of community assets.[22][23]
List of UMC Publications
[edit]| No. | Publication Name | Year | ISBN | Authors/Publisher |
| 1 | Turning Tides – A Journey Towards Safety and Dignity
for Sanitation Workers in Urban India |
2023 | 978-93-6128-539-4 | Manvita Baradi and
Meghna Malhotra |
| 2 | Prachin Sthapatyo Par Na Abhilekh - Ek Adhyayan | 2023 | 978-93-5913-634-9 | Munindra Joshi, Manvita Baradi and Anurag Anthony |
| 3 | Amdavad Na Shilalekh - Ek Adhyayan | 2022 | 978-93-5659-605-4 | Munindra Joshi, Manvita Baradi and Anurag Anthony |
| 4 | A Tale of Surat's Heritage: Exploring Surat Fort and Inner City | 2021 | 978-93-5493-821-4 | Manvita Baradi and
Meghna Malhotra |
| 5 | What Works in Sanitation: A few leading practices from Odisha | 2020 | 978-81-935902-6-3 | Urban Management Centre
and USAID |
| 6 | What Works in Sanitation: A few leading practices in sanitation from Urban Rajasthan | 2020 | 978-81-935902-7-0 | Urban Management Centre
and USAID |
| 7 | Map Book - Water and Sanitation in Urban Rajasthan
2018-2019 |
2020 | 978-81-935902-5-6 | Urban Management Centre
and USAID |
| 8 | Sanitation and Livelihoods: Mobilising Community Groups
for Sanitation Livelihoods |
2019 | 978-81-935902-4-9 | Urban Management Centre |
| 9 | The Critical Role of Community Based Organisations in
Urban Sanitation and Waste Management: A Compendium of Case Studies |
2019 | 978-81-935902-1-8 | Urban Management Centre |
| 10 | Pragati Didi's Tips: Financial Prosperity for Sanitation Workers - Trainer's Manual | 2019 | - | Urban Management Centre |
| 11 | Pragati Didi's Tips: Financial Prosperity for Sanitation Workers | 2018 | 788-19-35902-3-2 | Urban Management Centre |
| 12 | Lesser-Known Stepwells In and Around Ahmedabad -Gandhinagar Region | 2017 | 978-81-909120-9-9 | Urban Management Centre |
| 13 | The ABC of Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) Improvement in Schools: Under the Urban Water and Sanitation for Health (WASH) Alliance | 2017 | 978-81-909120-9-9 | Urban Management Centre
and USAID |
| 14 | Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for
Routine Water Quality Surveillance in Municipalities of Gujarat |
2015 | 978-81-909120-7-5 | Urban Management Centre |
| 15 | Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Faecal Sludge Management for Municipalities of Gujarat | 2015 | 978-81-909120-8-2 | Urban Management Centre
and USAID |
| 16 | Map Book - Water and Sanitation in Urban Gujarat 2013 | 2014 | 978-81-909120-6-8 | Urban Management Centre |
| 17 | Training Needs Assessment of City Managers
in Urban Transport in Gujarat |
2013 | 978-81-909120-5-1 | Urban Management Centre |
| 18 | Training Needs Assessment of City Managers
In Urban Transport in Madhya Pradesh |
2013 | 978-81-909120-3-7 | Urban Management Centre |
| 19 | What Works in Water and Sanitation:
Case Studies from Urban Gujarat |
2013 | 978-81-909120-4-4 | Urban Management Centre |
| 20 | Best Practices Sangrah
(Published in Gujarati under the PAS program) |
2012 | 978-81-909120-2-0 | Urban Management Centre |
| 21 | At the Core - Understanding Built Heritage of Surat and Rander | 2011 | 978-81-909120-1-3 | Manvita Baradi and
Meghna Malhotra |
| 22 | Afghanistan Urbanscapes | 2010 | 978-81-909120-0-6 | Manvita Baradi and
Meghna Malhotra |
| 23 | Mega Cities… Poised for Change | 2007 | - | MCA, USAID, UI, ICMA and Urban Management Centre |
| 24 | Inclusive Development through Partnership and Reforms
Urban Management in Gujarat 2001-2006 |
2007 | - | GUDC and
Urban Management Centre |
| 25 | Institutionalizing City Manager’s Associations in India,
A Tool Kit: |
2005 | - | Internation City/County Management Association |
A Recent List of UMC Films
[edit]| No. | Film Name | Year | Duration |
| 1 | NAMASTE Scheme | Tutorials | 2023 | 25 Minutes |
| 2 | A Film on Odisha's GARIMA Scheme | 2023 | 5 Minutes |
| 3 | Flowing Futures - Ama Pokhari's Social and Environmental Renaissance -
A film on Odisha's Ama Pokhari Initiative |
2023 | 4 Minutes |
| 4 | Urban Transformation through MUKTA | A Film on Odisha's MUKTA Programme | 2023 | 5 Minutes |
| 5 | Hai Na, Surakshit Zindagi (Not Just a Waste Picker) | 2022 | 7 Minutes |
| 6 | Sanitation Workers Development Scheme, Tamil Nadu | English | 2022 | 2 Minutes |
| 7 | Shwaas: Visibilising the Invisible | 2022 | 4 Minutes |
| 8 | Subidha Sakhi: Facilitating Entitlement Delivery for Urban Poor | 2022 | 4 Minutes |
| 9 | Tutorial on Emergency Response Sanitation Unit | 2021 | 7 Minutes |
| 10 | MISAAL (Moving India Towards Sanitation for All) - A Film in 9 Episodes | 2021 | 120 Minutes |
| 11 | Khabar Rahe: A film for Citizens’ Awareness on Safety of Sanitation Workers | 2021 | 8 Minutes |
| 12 | Zindagi Bula Rahi Hai - A Film to Encourage Sanitation Workers to Use Personal Protective Equipment | 2021 | 8 Minutes |
| 13 | Enhancing the Role of MEPMA SHGs in Sanitation Success of Warangal Municipal Corporation | 2021 | 9 Minutes |
| 14 | Empowering the Transgender Community in Warangal | 2021 | 3 Minutes |
| 15 | PM SVANidhi - Capacity Building for all Stakeholders (English) | 2020 | 11 Minutes |
| 16 | PM SVANidhi - Capacity Building of Street Vendors (English) | 2020 | 14 Minutes |
| 17 | PM SVAnidhi - Capacity Building of ULB Functionaries (English Subtitles) | 2020 | 15 Minutes |
| 18 | PM SVANidhi - Creating Awareness among Street Vendors (English Subtitles) | 2020 | 9 Minutes |
| 19 | Role of DAY-NULM SHGs in COVID Response | 2020 | 7 Minutes |
| 20 | Safety for Sanitation Workers_COVID-19 | 2020 | 3 Minutes |
| 21 | How Can Sanitation Workers Ensure Their Safety During COVID Outbreak | 2020 | 3 Minutes |
| 22 | GARIMA - For the Safety and Dignity of Core Sanitation Workers & their Families by the Odisha Govt. | 2020 | 3 Minutes |
| 23 | Community Engagement Process for AMC | 2020 | 3 Minutes |
Awards and Recognition
[edit]- On 18th July 2024, Urban Management Centre (UMC) was awarded the 'Best Development Partner' for Women’s Economic Empowerment at the #SPARK Awards 2023-24, hosted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. This accolade honours UMC's significant contributions to empowering women through sustainable economic strategies and impactful urban interventions, specifically in Odisha under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM).[24]
- UMC's episodic film, ‘Misaal’ won ‘Best Communication in Sanitation: Traditional and Digital’ at the 6th ISC-FICCI Sanitation Awards 2022.[25]
- UMC was awarded the INTACH-SATTE (The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage–South Asia Travel Tourism Exchange) Award-2011 under the category of ‘Exemplary work done or the Preservation and Promotion of Historic Towns’ for its work on heritage conservation in Rander, Surat in Gujarat.
- UMC's project ‘The CityLinks Post Tsunami Recovery Initiative’ was adjudged best practice by the Dubai International Award for Best Practices in 2008.
External Links
[edit]Urban Management Centre (UMC) Website
See Also
[edit]International City/County Management Association
- ^ "Sanitation Alliance | Urban Management Centre". www.susana.org.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Presenting the Urban Management Centre". www.icma.org. August 15, 2012.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Study Tour Shares Best Practices". www.icma.org. Dec 12, 2011.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Chennai Corporation comes up with six strategies to combat congestion and pollution". www.thehindu.com. June 8, 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Chennai Corporation officials have articulated that the Chennai Climate Action Plan is geared towards building a robust evidence base regarding the city's carbon emissions and climate risks". www.mypunepulse.com. June 10, 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Operational framework for building climate resilient health systems". www.who.int.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Advancing Buildings Energy Efficiency in India" (PDF). www.carbse.org.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "A Manual for the Development of Municipal Disaster Management Plans for Floods, Cyclones, Earthquake and Fire hazards". www.academia.edu.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Training Needs Assessment in Sustainable Urban Transport Gujarat Urban Management Centre". www.academia.edu.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Training Needs Assessment in Sustainable Urban Transport, Madhya Pradesh". www.academia.edu. 2013.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Explained: How GARIMA Scheme Is Empowering Sanitation Workers In Odisha". www.indiatimes.com. December 17, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "The Urban Learning Internship Program".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Certificate Course On Sanitation Commences In Bhubaneswar". www.ommcomnews.com. December 15, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "UMC launches scheme to prevent deaths during sanitation works in TN". www.dtnext.in. December 25, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "TN CM Stalin launches scheme to uplift sanitation staff". The New Indian Express. December 10, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Over 53,000 Sanitation Workers to get empowered through new scheme". Times of India. December 10, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Scheme Guidelines" (PDF). www.nskfdc.nic.in.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "TUTORIAL ON EMERGENCY RESPONSE SANITATION UNIT | SUBTITLES". www.u-learn.in/.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) Dwarka, Gujarat". www.academia.edu.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Surat's draft heritage policy ready". www.indianexpress.com. March 31, 2011.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Extending technical support to the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) for convergence with Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM)". www.susana.org.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Housing & Urban Development Dept Inks MoU With Urban Management Centre". www.ommcomnews.com. February 23, 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Bureau, OB (Feb 23, 2023). "Odisha Govt Signs MoU With UMC For Technical Support To MUKTA Programme". odishabytes.com.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "MoHUA organises "Utkrishtata ki Ore Badhte Kadam" event, awarding best performers under PM SVANidhi and DAY-NULM". www.pib.gov.in. July 18, 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Winners of 7th ISC-FICCI Sanitation Awards 2023". www.indiasanitationcoalition.org.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)