New Delhi: In the World Urban Forum to be held in Cairo in the first week of November, India has an opportunity to apprise the world about its ways of dealing with the challenges of urbanization and to learn from other countries.

The theme of this forum, which will be held from 4th to 6th November, is 'Starting from Home'. Here, home means adopting a local approach to face challenges and finding solutions accordingly. The most important theme of the forum is housing for the future in cities.

'In five years more than half the population will be in cities'

There are five other points for discussion in the forum. According to Hitesh Vaidya, former head of the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), 'India is very important for this forum because the pace of urbanization in our country is the highest compared to any other country. In the next five years, more than half of our population will be living in cities.'

Vaidya says that India should participate in this forum as a country like Germany, and not just on the basis of a ministry or an organization. The PM Awas Yojana has presented an important solution to the housing problem in cities. It can become an example for the rest of the world. Similarly, the Smart City Mission has presented a model of environmentally friendly urban development planning with area-based development.

India can set a new urban order

NIUA is also participating in the forum and has been assigned the responsibility of organising an interactive session. NIUA will also be putting up an exhibition in the India Pavilion showcasing how it is working to transform Indian cities through advocacy, research and capacity building.

This forum was formed by the United Nations in 2001 to study the impact of rapid urbanization on people, cities, economy and climate change. According to Hitesh Vaidya, after successfully leading the G-20 and Urban-20, India can also lead the world in advocating proper development of cities. The days of looking towards developed countries in the matter of urbanization are over. India can set a new urban order in which the views of all countries are heard and understood.