Q. Why is this in news?
The United Nations has designated the first Monday of October every year as World Habitat Day (5th October 2020).
Q. What is World Habitat Day?
- It focuses on the state of human settlements and people’s right to sufficient shelter.
- It also aims to remind people that they are responsible for the habitat of future generations.
- The Global Observance of World Habitat Day 2020, is being co-hosted by UN-Habitat and the Government of Indonesia.
- UN-Habitat is a United Nations agency for Urban development that promotes sustainable human settlements.
Q. When was it first celebrated?
- World Habitat Day was first celebrated in 1986 with the theme “Shelter is My Right”.
- Nairobi (Kenya) was the host city for the observance that year.
Q. What is the Theme and focus of this year ?
- Theme: “Housing for All-A better Urban Future”.
- The focus is to promote sustainable housing management to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 11.
- Sustainable Development Goal 11 aims to make cities more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
Q. What is Global Scenario?
- Urban Population: Currently, around 55% of the world population is living in cities, and the number is growing every day.
- Slum Dwellers: Around 1.8 billion people are still living in the slums.
- Sanitation: Around 3 billion lack basic hand washing and sanitation facilities.
Q. What is Indian Scenario?
- Challenges: In a country of India’s size, diversity, and population, it is a staggering challenge to implement an ambitious urban agenda.
- Lack of Basic Amenities: Drinking Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Housing Condition, there is a shortage in slum areas especially.
- Public Health Infrastructure: Despite the huge growth in urban population density during the last two decades, there has been no commensurate improvement in the healthcare infrastructure.
- High Level of Pollution: The growing rate of air pollution due to vehicular traffic and huge construction and demolitions waste increase morbidity amongst the people living the cities.
- The large-scale migration from urban areas to the rural areas in the time of Covid-19 pandemic was a major challenge.
