blurry times  

Right after the development plan 14 consultation meetings a national symposium on urbanism was conducted by YUVA Urban under the broad theme of - Towards Inclusive and Equitable Cities. The series of roundtable discussions, talks and workshops was organised firstly to highlight issues relevant and to be considered in the present planning process and secondly to review other models that have been applied in community planning exercises in other parts of the country. Conducted in two days the events became partly a pause and at the same time a space for intense activity.

Day 1 - 25th March 2014, Tuesday #

Sessions attended on the first day started with Urban Planning and the Rights Discourse by Dutta Ishwalkar (Girni Kamgar Sangharsh Samiti). With this plenary presentation the next engagement was with Prasad Shetty (Collective Research Initiatives Trust) and Dinesh Naik (Deputy Chief Planner, MCGM) on Simplification of Basic Laws and Policy Instruments related to Urban Planning in Maharashtra. Presentations post lunch where stacked under Urban Planning, Governance and Participation by Amitabh Behar (President, YUVA & National Foundation for India), Jeremie Gaudin & Harriti Shah (Homes in the City, Bhuj), Indu Prakash (National Forum for Housing Rights & Shahri Adhikar Manch: Begharon Ke Saath, Delhi), Sushma Shetty (Aap ki Sadak, Delhi) and Aravind Unni (YUVA, Mumbai). Moderated by Sitaram Shelar these series compared citizens planning initiatives across the country in essence establishing varying communities and their responses to the same. The day ended with the visit to the Hanuman Theatre in Lalbaug.

Day 2 – 26th March 2014, Wednesday #

A walk along the Mithi River started the next day. Presentations on Urban and Regional Planning in Maharashtra were made by V K Phatak (Former Principal Chief Town & Country Planning Division, MMRDA), Brian Lobo (Shoshit Jan Andolan), Sharad Mahajan (Mashal, Pune) and Ratoola Kundu (Tata Institute of Social Sciences). Vertical City followed lunch. The documentary therefore became the introduction to the Presentation of the Malvani People’s Plan. These activities thus marked a personal involvement for the two days at the events held at Mahim Nature Park Conference facilities.