Engaging youth to create a better urban future.

World Habitat Day is celebrated annually on the first Monday of October. This year, 7th October marks World Habitat Day, a global initiative recognized by the United Nations to spotlight the importance of adequate shelter and to reflect on the condition of towns and cities.

The purpose of World Habitat Day is to ensure that everyone has the capability and accountability to influence the future of urban areas. It also seeks to convey that having a good living environment can eliminate obstacles to achieving opportunity, health, and success.

History :

World Habitat Day was established in 1985 by the UN General Assembly through resolution 40/202. In 1985 the United Nations designated the first Monday of October every year as World Habitat Day. The idea is to reflect on the state of our towns and cities and the basic right of all to adequate shelter. World Habitat Day was first celebrated in 1986 with the theme “Shelter is My Right”. Nairobi was the host city for the observance that year.

Significance :

• World Habitat Day is celebrated in many countries across the world to address the problems of rapid urbanization and its impact on the environment and human poverty.
• The day also intends to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat.
• The purpose of the day is also to highlight the world's shared accountability for the future of the human environment.

Housing Crisis in India :

• With 1.4 billion people, India is now the most populated country globally, posing a persistent challenge in providing affordable housing for low-income city dwellers.
• According to the 2011 census, the research found that over 95 percent of the shortage was in housing for low-income individuals.
• The 2011 census showed that India had over 1.7 million homeless individuals residing on streets, under bridges, in religious buildings, and at train stations.
• In 2020, a different research conducted by Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) revealed that the urban housing shortage in India increased by 54 percent to reach 29 million in 2018, up from 18.78 million in 2012.
• In 2012, the Technical Group (TG 12) set up by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (MoHUPA) for assessing the urban housing shortage estimated the need for 18.78 million ‘new houses’ and ‘houses needing enhancement’, based on their estimate of inadequately housed urban households across India.

Government Initiatives :

• Supported Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, in championing India’s urbanization agenda, through “India Habitat III National Report”.
• National Urban Policy Framework (NUPF) outlines an integrated and coherent approach towards the future of urban planning in India. The NUPF stands on ten sutras or guiding principles:

1. Cities are clusters of human capital.

2. Cities require a ‘sense of place’.

3. Not static Master Plans but evolving ecosystems.

4. Build for density.

5. Public spaces that encourage social interactions.

6. Multi-modal public transport backbone.

7. Environmental sustainability.

8. Financially self-reliant.

9. Cities require clear unified leadership.

10. Cities as engines of regional growth.

World Habitat Day serves as a critical reminder of the global challenge to provide adequate shelter and build sustainable urban environments. As we reflect on the state of our towns and cities, it is clear that ensuring everyone has access to decent housing is essential to fostering health, opportunity, and prosperity. In countries like India, where the housing crisis continues to grow amidst rapid urbanization, collective action becomes even more urgent. Through international initiatives and national frameworks, we can pave the way for inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urban futures, ensuring that no one is left behind.