This project aims to map the vulnerabilities of children in urban settings and evaluate the responses of urban local bodies (ULBs) to creating child-friendly cities. Urban environments often overlook the needs of children, particularly those from migrant or disadvantaged backgrounds, leading to limited access to essential services and increased vulnerability to various risks. Given the high rate of urbanisation in the country, there is a growing need to understand the roles and functions of city governments and better direct their efforts towards making cities sensitive to children’s needs.
The 74th Amendment to the Constitution enabled the creation of formal urban governments across India. It listed 18 functions for ULBs to have jurisdiction over and implement. Being strategically positioned to be the unit of government closest to the people through their local elected representatives, ULBs are meant to be primarily responsible for essential services like water supply, transport, safety, nutrition, etc. Ground realities, however, are quite different due to overlaps or clashes in the jurisdictions of multiple actors, minimising the role of ULBs.
In this context, the project aims to identify nine ULBs across three states to examine the municipal acts, policies, and finances to assess their commitment to child inclusiveness. Field-based assessments will delve further into children's specific vulnerabilities through engagements with stakeholders such as civil society organisations, local representatives, and community associations. Here, the implementation of existing programmes and initiatives for children will be evaluated. Furthermore, by comparing the approaches of different city governments, best practices and areas for improvement will also be identified, facilitating inter-city learning and collaboration.
The research will provide insights into the current landscape of urban child vulnerabilities and assess the effectiveness of ULBs in addressing challenges. Recommendations derived from the study may help inform policymaking, resource generation and budgeting, and governance strategies.