ARCS 5.0 : Fit for the Future – urban strategies for the new normal
School of Human Settlements, Xavier University, Bhubaneswar successfully organized the 5th Annual Research on Cities Summit (ARCS 5.0) with the theme Fit for the Future: Urban Strategies for the New Normal from 10th to 12th February 2021. The ARCS is an annual Conference organized by the School of Human Settlements, Xavier University Bhubaneswar, for academics, professionals, and policy designers to share research and experience on planning and managing human settlements and urbanization. Due to the ongoing pandemic, this year the event was held in an online platform. The event stimulates the development and exchange of knowledge to develop safe, sustainable, and just settlements.
The Covid-19 pandemic has brutally exposed fault-lines in our cities. As the cities across the world huge losses in-terms of lives and livelihoods, deep-seated inequalities regarding access to health care, shelter, water, sanitation, safe mobility, and digital infrastructure has come out in the open like never before. But post-COVID-19 recovery also offers a great opportunity to re-imagine our urban future towards greater sustainability. We need a new roadmap to make our cities resilient against future shocks. The Fifth Annual Research on Cities Summit ARCS 5.0 by the School of Human Settlements, Xavier University, Bhubaneswar discussed, debated, and deliberated over the urban strategies for the new normal, so as to make our cities Fit for the Future. The conference was held through online mode on 10,11 and 12 February 2021.