Speakers
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Anand IyerChief Policy and Insights Officer, JanaagrahaAnand is an architect with over 22 years of experience spanning government, private sector, consulting, academia, and professional practice in urban development, land, infrastructure, and design. At Janaagraha, he leads policy work in urban governance, climate, health, and equity. He has previously held senior roles at the National Institute of Urban Affairs, Aspen Infrastructures, and Vastu Shilpa Foundation. His core focus areas are urban governance, land and building development, and climate action.
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Ankita KhuntiaManager, State Program (Odisha), JanaagrahaAnkita Khuntia is the Manager, State Program (Odisha) at Janaagraha. With over a decade of experience across government collaborations, development programs, and civil society partnerships, she focuses on participatory urban governance, women’s leadership, and community-led slum transformation. She has led key initiatives under the Jaga Mission, the Councillors’ Leadership Development Program, and Women’s Economic Empowerment. A Civil Engineer with a Master’s in Structural Design, Ankita combines technical expertise with social insight to advance inclusive and citizen-driven urban development.
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Arjun BarikMember, Slum Dwellers Association – Maa Mangala SahiArjun Barik is an active member of the Slum Dwellers Association (SDA) of Maa Mangala Sahi. He has been closely involved in community development initiatives under the Jaga Mission, contributing to the maintenance of community assets and improving local infrastructure. Arjun represents the spirit of citizen participation, working to make his settlement cleaner, safer, and more livable for all residents.
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Maruvada SrinivasFormer Executive Officer, Konark NACMaruvada Srinivas is an accomplished urban administrator with rich experience in municipal governance and public service delivery. As Executive Officer of Konark NAC, he played a pivotal role in strengthening local governance systems, upgrading civic infrastructure, and promoting citizen-focused urban management in one of Odisha’s key heritage towns. He worked closely with community institutions and government missions such as Jaga Mission and Swachh Bharat Mission, advancing sustainable, inclusive, and participatory urban development.
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Sangramjit Nayak, IAS (Retd.)Former Director, Municipal Administration & Mission Director, Jaga MissionShri Sangramjit Nayak is a veteran administrator with over three decades in public service, having led key departments such as Revenue, Women & Child Development, Energy, Finance, and Agriculture. As Director of Municipal Administration and Mission Director of Jaga Mission, he spearheaded initiatives in land rights, slum upgradation, and inclusive urban governance, strengthening community participation and institutional collaboration. A dedicated mentor and speaker, he continues to engage with youth on governance and social transformation.
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Shishir Ranjan DashLead Urban Habitat, Tata Steel FoundationShishir Dash leads the Urban Habitat portfolio at Tata Steel Foundation, where he focuses on inclusive urban development and strengthening community-led solutions in housing, infrastructure, and basic services. His work emphasizes sustainable models that improve the quality of life for urban poor and marginalized communities.
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Subhadra ChhatoiPresident,Slum Dwellers Association – Phuleswari BSubhadra Chhatoi is the President of the Slum Dwellers Association (SDA) of Phuleswari B, where she has been instrumental in improving housing, sanitation, and basic services through active community participation under the Jaga Mission. Under her leadership, the SDA has taken ownership of community assets and promoted collective decision-making. Subhadra has also encouraged greater involvement of women in local governance, fostering a sense of responsibility and confidence among them to contribute to the development of their settlement.
Local Time
- Timezone: America/New_York
- Date: Nov 11 2025
- Time: 5:30 am
Slums are Solvable (Part 05): Inclusive Urban Development and Lessons for Other States and Countries
Slums are Solvable Webinar Series
Recognising the scaling potential of the Jaga Mission and its excellency in promoting the coordination of key stakeholders in the development and distribution of resources, knowledge sharing, and joint implementation.
The agencies included are INHAF, Tata Steel Foundation, the Centre for Policy Research, and Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship & Democracy, along with the UN-Habitat and Cities Alliance, have come together to organise a webinar series to provide input and insights to local, national, and international debates on how to facilitate and scale participatory and integrated approaches for slum transformation.
• The primary overall objective of the series is to deep dive into the detailed policy and programmatic work undertaken under the Jaga Mission to solve challenges faced by slum dwellers. By assembling this information, the webinar series will also act as an archive of this work. The organizing committee is also keen to try to raise resources to produce a publication out of this effort.
• This webinar series will also act as an opportunity for stakeholders across the sectors of housing and basic services, especially from Indian cities, to familiarize themselves with practical planning and management instruments that are available and that can be employed to rapidly solve issues related to inadequate housing and transform poor habitats in slums at scale.
Webinar 05: Slums are Solvable: Inclusive Urban Development and Lessons for Other States and Countries
The fifth webinar, “Inclusive Urban Development and Lessons for Other Cities and States,” will highlight how Odisha’s slum titling, upgradation, and housing model not only benefited communities but also shaped a unique framework for inclusive urban development. It will discuss how decentralization, empowerment and the central role of participation of community throughout the whole process, contributing to the emergence of an unique participation model, which was a core pillar for success of the programme, resulting in cities that are nowadays slum-free and have taken some proactive solutions to prevent the dependence of the poor on informal settlements. It will also reflect on the broader implications and lessons this large-scale exercise offers for other states in India and cities globally.