**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer to Unstarred Question No. 898 posed in the Lok Sabha concerning the empowerment of urban staff and the promotion of gender equality in urban planning. It outlines the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)'s initiatives under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and AMRUT 2.0. The question was to be answered on December 4, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT):**
* Implemented by MoHUA and launched on June 25, 2015.
* Incorporates smart elements, components, and technologies.
* AMRUT guidelines provide for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) in water supply and sewerage projects.
* 258 water supply and 146 sewerage projects have been implemented with SCADA by States/UTs.
* **AMRUT 2.0:**
* Technology Sub-Mission encourages start-up ideas and private entrepreneurship for pilot projects.
* 1,415 water supply projects and 246 sewerage projects have been approved with SCADA by States/UTs.
* **Capacity Building:**
* MoHUA supports States/Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in capacity building through schemes like AMRUT.
* Capacity building targets ULB functionaries and elected representatives, including women.
* 57,134 functionaries have been trained under AMRUT, exceeding the target of 45,000.
* Capacity building programs are conducted for stakeholders, including contractors, plumbers, plant operators, students, women, and citizens under AMRUT 2.0.
* **Centres of Excellence (CoE) in Urban Planning and Design:**
* MoHUA has designated 4 Institutes as CoE in different regions.
* The centres impart certified trainings/courses to civil servants, town planners, municipal officials, practitioners/professionals, and young students.
* Each CoE has been provided with endowment funds of ₹250 crore.
* **AMRUT Funded Centre of Urban Planning for Capacity Building:**
* MoHUA has designated 6 institutes as AMRUT Funded Centres.
* The institutes conduct subject-specific training for municipal and planning officials to augment capacity building at State/Local levels.
* **Gender Equality:**
* MoHUA promotes gender-sensitive and inclusive urban planning.
* AMRUT Mitra initiative under AMRUT 2.0 involves women Self Help Groups (SHGs) in water demand management, water quality testing, water infrastructure operations, and other water sectoral projects.
* Women SHGs have led tree plantation drives in urban areas.
* Women SHGs have been involved in site identification, plantation of saplings, and maintenance for survivability of plants.
* 6,094 projects worth ₹377.81 crore have been approved under AMRUT Mitra.
**Impact Analysis**
**Urban Staff:**
*Impact:* Empowered through capacity building programs and training in advanced smart city technologies.
*Action Required:* Participate in available training programs and implement acquired knowledge in city planning and management.
**State/Urban Local Bodies (ULBs):**
*Impact:* Supported through various schemes to improve the capacities of ULB functionaries and elected representatives.
*Action Required:* Participate in and leverage capacity building activities.
**Women Self Help Groups (SHGs):**
*Impact:* Empowered and involved in water demand management, water quality testing, and tree plantation drives.
*Action Required:* Continue participation in AMRUT Mitra initiatives and implement sustainable practices in water management and environmental conservation.
**Civil Servants, State Town Planners, Municipal Officials, Practitioners/Professionals, Young Students:**
*Impact:* Benefit from certified trainings and courses provided by the Centres of Excellence.
*Action Required:* Enrol in relevant training programs and apply learned skills in urban planning and design.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA): Primary entity responsible for implementing the AMRUT scheme and related urban development initiatives mentioned in the document.
Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT): A scheme by MoHUA aimed at sustainable urban development and improving urban infrastructure.
AMRUT 2.0: A phase of the AMRUT scheme focused on technology adoption, private entrepreneurship, and expanded scope.
AMRUT Mitra: An initiative under AMRUT 2.0 involving women Self Help Groups (SHGs) in water management and urban planning.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 898
TO BE ANSWERED ON DECEMBER 04, 2025
EMPOWERMENT OF URBAN STAFF FOR BETTER CITY
PLANNING MANAGEMENT
NO. 898. SMT. BIJULI KALITA MEDHI:
Will the Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs be pleased to state:
(a) the manner in which the Government envisions the future of
urban staff working in harmony with advanced smart city
technologies; and
(b) the details of specific programmes aimed at promoting gender
equality and the empowerment of women in urban planning roles?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
(SHRI TOKHAN SAHU)
(a) & (b): Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) is implementing
Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), which
was launched on 25 June 2015. Smart elements, components and
technologies are part of AMRUT projects and this aims to promote
sustainable urban development. AMRUT guidelines provides for smart
elements such as Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) as
part of the water supply and sewerage projects. As reported by
States/UTs 258 Water supply projects and 146 Sewerage projects have
been implemented with SCADA.
Technology Sub-Mission is an important component of AMRUT 2.0
to encourage start-up ideas and private entrepreneurship and
commissioning them into the pilot projects. As reported by States/UTs
under AMRUT 2.0, 1,415 water supply projects, 246 Sewerage projects
are approved with SCADA.
MoHUA is supporting States/ Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in capacity
building activities through various Schemes of the Ministry such as Atal
Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), for
improving the capacities of ULB functionaries, elected representatives,
etc., which includes all sections of the society including women. Under
AMRUT, against the target of 45000 functionaries, 57134 functionaries
have already been trained so far.
…2/--2-
Under AMRUT 2.0, capacity building programs are conducted for all
stakeholders including contractors, plumbers, plant operators, students,
women and citizens.
MoHUA has designated 4 Institutes in different regions as Centre of
Excellence (CoE) in Urban Planning and Design, which inter alia impart
certified trainings/ certified courses to Civil Servants, State Town
Planners, Municipal Officials, practitioners/professionals, young students
etc. These centres have been provided endowment funds of ₹ 250 crore
each.
Besides, MoHUA has also designated 6 institutes as AMRUT Funded
Centre of Urban Planning for Capacity Building. The role envisaged for
these institutes inter alia include subject specific trainings to Municipal
officials/ Town and Country Planning officials, augmenting capacity
building of State / Local authorities and hand hold them in urban planning.
MoHUA promotes gender sensitive and inclusive urban planning.
Under AMRUT 2.0, Ministry has also launched AMRUT Mitra initiative
which involves women Self Help Groups (SHGs) in water demand
management, water quality testing, water infrastructure operations, and
other water sectoral projects. In convergence with NULM, Women SHGs
have led tree plantation drives in urban areas through AMRUT Mitra
initiative under AMRUT 2.0. Women SHGs have been involved in site
identification, plantation of saplings, and maintenance for survivability of
plants. So far, 6,094 projects worth ₹377.81 crore have been approved
under AMRUT Mitra.
*****