Creating the Inclusive City: Urban Poverty and Policy Directions in India

UChicago Center in Delhi

This symposium was organised as a roundtable discussion featuring panelists whose understanding of the current state of Indian cities and ideas about how to promote their inclusive development is drawn from the different perspectives provided by their work and position in the world. It promoted a dialogue among scholars, policymakers, activists, and front-line practitioners about the challenges, opportunities and possible directions that policy, research and practice on the ground can take to promote the development of cities that are vibrant, growth-oriented and equitable.

Panelists:

Ravi Srivastava - Professor Ravi Srivastava is former Professor of Economics and Chairperson, Centre for the Study of Regional Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi and full-time member of the National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector. His main areas of research and publication include labour and employment, migration, social protection, agriculture, rural development and rural poverty, and the informal sector.

Manoj Jha - Manoj Jha is an Indian politician who is a member of Rajya Sabha in the Indian Parliament and also the spokesperson of the Rashtriva Janata Dal. He has been a Professor at the Department of Social Work, University of Delhi. His research interests include political economy and governance, social action and social movements, majority-minority relations, and peace and conflict studies.

Kanchi Kohli – Kanchi Kohli is a researcher working on environment, forest and biodiversity governance in India. Her work explores the links between law, industrialization and environmental justice. She is presently a Senior Researcher at the Centre for Policy Research, and regularly teaches at universities and law schools in India on subjects related to biodiversity, environment and community development.

Moderator:

Mouleshri Vyas - Mouleshri Vyas is Professor at the Centre for Community Organisation and Development Practice, School of Social Work, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. Her research interests and practice areas include communities, development projects, and organising; urbanization; informal labour; social accountability and social protection.

This event was held in collaboration with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Mumbai.