Leaderspeak | AatmaNirbhar Cities
How to make Indian cities ‘AatmaNirbhar’ The actions and initiatives of nations and their cities are closely connected. The fate of cities will depend on how they align their activities with national programmes to generate employment for their population, provide them opportunities to prosper, become resourceful, self-dependent for their requirement of energy, food and water, and tap the opportunities on offer in the circular economy activities. Indian cities, in particular, can look at the programs under AatmaNirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant) to make themselves AatmaNirbhar
Ranjit S Chavan | President, AIILSG
ur cities are more connected than ever. It has numerous advantages for cities. They can join hands with other cities to tackle similar challenges, share their experiences, learn from each other’s experiments and improve the quality of life for their citizens. The connected world has also resulted in a change in consumption patterns that have indeed provided people with several options to choose from but it has also increased carbon emissions considerably. Today, people can order any product from anywhere. People’s food choices have implications for the environment. Cities need to take responsibility to make people aware of their choices and consequences. If cities can achieve the goal of becoming self-sufficient in terms of their requirement for energy, food and resources, cities will be able to contribute positively to global goals. Although it may sound unreasonable because cities cannot have everything they need, they can surely reduce
32 March 2022 | www.urbanupdate.in
their dependence on other regions and countries for a majority of things their citizens require. The Indian government has been promoting the use of local products as part of the Make In India and AatmaNirbhar Mission. Cities can take this movement further by becoming self-sufficient. The mission is simple but not easy. The engagement and collaboration among government, private corporations and the public is essential to achieve the goal of selfreliant cities.
Reduce food miles
Eating locally produced food is a win-win for everyone—consumers, growers/producers, cities and also the environment. If citizens choose to eat local, the food has covered less than 150 km from the farm or processing unit to the consumers’ plates. Cities can promote the concept like that of the farmers’ market in which
