NIUA launches ITCN training programme

An ‘Infant Toddler and Caregiver-friendly Neighbourhoods (ITCN) Training and Capacity Building Programme’ was launched virtually on April 13 by the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) in partnership with Bernard van Leer Foundation (BvLF).

The programme is designed to help build capacities of city officials and young professionals for developing young children and family-friendly neighbourhoods within cities, said a press release issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).

Kunal Kumar, Joint Secretary and Mission Director (Smart Cities), MoHUA, launched the event. The attendees included Hitesh Vaidya, Director, NIUA; Rushda Majeed, India Representative, BvLF; Kakul Misra, National Programme Head- Centre for Digital Governance, NIUA and Utsav Choudhury, Team Leader – Building Accessible, Safe, and Inclusive Indian Cities, NIUA. Smart City CEOs, Municipal Commissioners and young professionals were also among the remote participants.

Speaking at the event, Kumar said a city designed for children is a city for everyone. He added that capacity building of cities to ensure data smart, infant toddlers and care givers friendly neighbourhoods is an investment into a future productive economy.

Vaidya said when we plan city from a child’s perspective, we not only invest for the present but also for next generations to cherish and enjoy the fruits of development.

Majeed said in partnership with NIUA, the Foundation aims to provide city officials and young urban planners with the right training, tools, and resources to make their cities more equitable, inclusive and friendly for young children and their families.