On 15th – 16th January, 2025, Knowledge Partners of UP Akankshi Nagar Yojana met in Lucknow to discuss field insights and the way forward for the coming year. Participants included, Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy, Mantra for Change, Samyak and Samhita.  

The meeting had a two pronged agenda: (i) to discuss the findings from the landscaping study which each partner had undertaken and (ii) to discuss the next steps and possibilities of developing a joint action plan based on the findings of the landscaping study. In addition, the partners also shared their overall experiences of working in the 100 ‘aspirational’ cities, observations from the field and early insights on some of the possible solutions that could address the observed gaps in areas of health, nutrition, urban governance, waste management, livelihoods and education.

Some of the key outcomes of the deliberations from the day was the overall consensus on the following: 

  • The need to build capacities and strengthen the newly formed Nagar Panchayats in these aspirational cities or Akankshi Nagar, to lay the foundations of a strong city
  • Importance of facilitating inter-departmental convergence across all the related Departments associated with the UP ANY, to accelerate improvements in the KPIs identified by the government The role of Knowledge Partners was identified to be critical in this aspect. 
  • The need to strengthen planning, especially inter-departmental planning, which is localised, need-based and context-driven, addressing the needs of the city.

City Action Plan: A place-based, city-level planning approach enables ULBs to transition from fragmented interventions to a long-term, data-driven vision, addressing systemic issues, optimizing resource allocation, and fostering sustainable urban growth through structured City Action Plans

Accordingly, it was decided by all members present in the workshop that the most effective tool to drive the above mentioned points would be to develop a comprehensive City Action Plan. 

The second day of the workshop witnessed intensive deliberations of the possible framework for the City Action Plan and manner in which it can be integrated within the existing planning and governance processes of the Urban Development Department. Thereafter, a structured, consultative framework was co-developed, integrating sectoral and thematic interventions with stakeholder mapping and prioritisation matrix.