User:Chinmay UMC/sandbox

= Urban Management Centre (UMC) = 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". 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.

History
In 1994, 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. From its inception, the organisation has been led by Manvita Baradi, the founding director and supported by Meghna Malhotra as the deputy director, both of whom have significantly shaped its development and expanded its impact across various urban management sectors.

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. 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.

Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
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. 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. 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.
 * 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.
 * 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. 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.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
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. 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).

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.

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.

Capacity Building Educational Initiatives and E-Learning
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.

Heritage Management
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.

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. 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
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.

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.

Awards and Recognition

 * UMC's episodic film, ‘Misaal’ won ‘Best Communication in Sanitation: Traditional and Digital’ at the 6th ISC-FICCI Sanitation Awards 2022.
 * 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.