Political

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-HABITAT, is the United Nations agency for human settlements. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all.

Amity School of Rural Management, one of the leading institutions of Amity University, Uttar Pradesh distinguishes itself as a management institute with a mandate of developing rural management professionals. The school is committed to create rural entrepreneurs and rural managers for a strong conceptual and analytical framework on rural development issues.

Over 4,000 families in India face serious risk from threats of leaks from Vedanta's red mud pond as the rainy season begins in June. Levels within the pond have already risen, amidst reports of two leaks in the last two months, threatening the communities' safety, health and livelihoods.

On 5 April and 16 May 2011, following heavy rain, local communities in Orissa state reported leakages from the 28-hectare red mud pond, owned and operated by Vedanta Aluminium, through its walls, polluting local streams and creating anxiety among the communities at the downstream villages of Lanjigarh, Bundel and Basantpada.

This report of a study commissioned by the Institute of Development Studies on the Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) site presents the findings of the survey that was conducted in Himachal Pradesh to assess the progress made by the state in rural sanitation, in the context of the sanitation revolution, which is said to have occurred in the state of Himachal Pradesh in the last few years. 

Himachal Pradesh has a population of about 6.9 million and is over 90% rural. It has a relatively good record on human development indicators and access to public services. However, it showed a dismal awareness on the sanitation front till a few years ago.For example, in 2004, household toilet coverage in rural areas of Himachal Pradesh was estimated at about 28%. In early 2005, the Government of Himachal Pradesh adopted a new strategy to secure better rural sanitation results, which included:

Two important metro cities of India, viz. Bangalore and Chennai are discussed. The aim of the study was to understand the problems of increasing flooding incidences in urban areas and related contexts of urban development and ecological issues. Data of secondary origin have been collected and interpreted in the context of flood risks and urban management. The paper also conveys wider issues and lessons for flood challenges in Indian cities and towns.

The purpose of the survey is to reflect on the experiences of professionals, researchers, policy managers and farmers on dissemination and sustainability of SRI practices and principles. This survey seeks to build on the experience of SRI professionals to look at the future role of SRI on household food security and poverty reduction, the institutional framework to expand SRI. In addition, the extent to which soil health, water stress, adoption/dis-adoption and capacity building issues have been accommodated within SRI policy will also be explored. 

Organizer: National Alliance of People's Movements

Venue: Constitution Club, Rafi Marg, New Delhi

Description:

This public convention is an attempt to once again allow all of us to join the dots that link our struggles against deeply entrenched structures of oppression and corruption in our society with a view towards total revolution.

Organizers:

• Centre for Media Studies (CMS)
• Forum for Better Hyderabad

Venue: Hyderabad Press Club, Somajiguda, Hyderabad

 Residents of L&T South City and Brigade Millenium in JP Nagar, Bangalore formed a citizen initiative to save the neighbouring Puttenahalli Lake from becoming a dumping ground for construction debris and waste. A team from India Water Portal visited the lake in June 2011 to see the progress and challenges faced by such citizen initiatives.

Organizers: 

• Sphere India
• National Disaster Management Authority(NDMA) 
• IAG Ladakh

Venue: International Conference Centre, YMCA, Jai Singh Road, New Delhi

Objectives:

To bring together the key stakeholders to facilitate a comprehensive planning exercise on reconstruction and rebuilding of Ladakh with the objective to:

• Draft policy framework for recovery and reconstruction work in Ladakh
• Consensus on joint strategies, processes and standards for shelter, land reclamation, restoration of canals and rebuilding infrastructure
• Deliberate on means of sustainable livelihood in the region
• Plan disaster risk reduction activities and processes for the region