Social Inclusion Research Articles

Energy innovation funding and social equity: Mediating role of just energy transition

Public investments in research, development, demonstration, and deployment in energy systems are crucial for accelerating the adoption of new energy technologies that can support a low-carbon just energy transition and promote the fair and equitable distribution of benefits and costs, improving social equity. However, the impact of energy innovation funding on social equity through progressing the just energy transition has not been explored in prior research for advanced economies. Thus, this research quantitively examines how energy innovation funding affects social equity in 23 developed economies for the period of 1995–2020. Employing a fixed effect, augmented mean group, and a system-generalized method of moments technique along with a mediating model, this study finds that increasing energy innovation funding significantly improves social equity directly as well as indirectly via accelerating energy justice in advanced economies. Therefore, proper allocation and utilization of public energy innovation budgets are necessary to promote clean energy technologies, advance the just energy transition, and improve social equity, inclusion, and community engagement. This study emphasizes the importance of policy interventions that promote a just energy transition and energy innovation funding to build resilient and inclusive energy systems that improve social equity while achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7, affordable and clean energy.

Bridging Communication Gaps: A Literature Survey on Assistive Technologies for Individuals with Disabilities in India

Communication barriers faced by individuals with disabilities, particularly in India, pose significant challenges to social inclusion and interaction. This paper presents a comprehensive literature survey on existing research and developments in assistive technologies aimed at overcoming these barriers. Focusing on communication aids for the blind, deaf, and mute populations, this survey explores innovative solutions, evaluates their effectiveness, and identifies areas for future research

Exploring vocational outcomes, quality of life, and social inclusion in patients with spinal cord injuries following vocational rehabilitation in India

Study designWe conducted a mixed-methods sequential explanatory study. In India, most spinal cord injuries (SCI) occur within low socioeconomic status populations, typically resulting in poor vocational outcomes post-injury and difficulty reintegrating into the community. This study will increase our understanding of how vocational rehabilitation affects patients with SCI.ObjectivesThis study aims to understand the factors affecting vocational outcomes, quality of life and social inclusion for patients who have completed the Amar Seva Sangam (ASSA’s) rehabilitation program, by examining both quantitative and qualitative measures.MethodsConducted at the University of Toronto, we used self-administered questionnaires via REDCap for quantitative data collection and semi-structured interviews for qualitative data collection to capture aspects of lived SCI experience for five participants.ResultsThirty-two participants completed the quantitative phone questionnaire of which 17 were paraplegic and 15 were quadriplegic. Four themes emerged including physical barriers to employment, social inclusion of SCI patients, low income, and state of mental health.ConclusionThis study provided a detailed examination of demographic information and lived experiences of ASSA participants. The findings will be relevant and applicable to both clinical and public health sectors in SCI rehabilitation in India and other low- and middle-income countries by directing rehabilitation programs to better address areas of function that allow patients to find success following rehabilitation.

Rebuilding Nursing Culture Through Application of Social Identity Theory and Inclusivity in Health Care Systems: An Exemplar.

This article explores leader practices for rebuilding health system nursing culture by leveraging feedback from clinical nurses and applying Social Identity Theory (SIT) and inclusivity frameworks. An enriched nursing culture is the foundation of quality patient care, and as healthcare systems evolve, it becomes increasingly essential to foster a cohesive and inclusive environment in every aspect of employment practices. Social Identity Theory, which emphasizes how individuals define their self-concept through group affiliations, offers a lens to understand the interplay of identity, values, and behavior within nursing teams. Inclusivity practices are pivotal in creating a welcoming and diverse health care workplace. By employing these approaches, health care systems can rebuild and strengthen their nursing culture, improving retention, onboarding, job satisfaction, teamwork, and enhancing the quality of care provided to patients. This article delves into practical strategies and application of SIT and inclusivity practices to restructure and revitalize nursing culture, emphasizing the positive impact on health care outcomes. An exemplar demonstrating the impact of the voice of the clinician in program development highlights the application of SIT and inclusivity to create culture. It concludes with leader practices for rebuilding nursing culture to include contingent labor as part of the care team.

Inquiry-Based Chemistry Education Activities in a Non-formal Educational Setting for Gifted Students

Student giftedness is a complex, developmentally dynamic and contextual phenomenon that teachers confront every day. In the classroom, teachers often meet students who have exceptional potential or achieve very high learning goals. The aim of this study is to illustrate the evaluation of inquiry-based learning activities in a specific context (Diversity in Science towards Social Inclusion learning modules) implemented in a non-formal educational setting for gifted students in relation to their level of individual interest and their autonomous and controlled motivation, comparing different groups of students. We investigate how these activities affect the students’ attitudes towards inquiry-based learning, their situational interest and their interest in science careers. A total of 264 Slovenian lower secondary school students participated in the study. The students participated in non-adapted and adapted activities based on the inquiry-based learning approach. The data were collected using pre- and post-activity questionnaires. Participation in the study, which took place in the period between the 2021/22 and the 2022/23 school years, was voluntary. The data was collected anonymously and used for research purposes only. The results show several statistically significant differences in how students’ level of individual interest, autonomous motivation and controlled motivation for learning chemistry affects their attitudes towards inquiry-based learning, their situational interest in Diversity in Science towards Social Inclusion activities and their interest in science careers. For the gifted and non-gifted students who participated in “Forensics Science” lab activities before and after the adaptations to the modules, the results related to their attitudes towards inquiry-based learning and situational interest are also reported. Thus, the results of the study provide useful insights for researchers in the field of chemistry education as well as for chemistry teachers in lower and upper secondary schools. The presented study is a good example of best practices that chemistry teachers can apply in teaching chemistry, thus enabling all students, not only the gifted ones, to learn chemistry using the inquiry-based learning approach.

Diversity and Inclusion in Science Education: Why? A Literature Review

In the last twenty years, there has been a consensus around the world that effective science education is vital to economic success in the emerging knowledge age. It is also suggested that knowledge of science and scientific ways of thinking is essential to participation in democratic decisionmaking. Students may recognise differences and advocate diversity, but assimilating those ideas requires the creation of conditions in which students can think deeply about situations that require tolerance. Schools in many countries and regions of the world are places shaped by cultural diversity. One may observe that in many schools there are social developments like migration and demographic and value change, consequently increasing the diversity of students. The issue of diversity in science education is therefore tackled according to many aspects, e.g., culture, language, scientific literacy and gender. The aim of the present literature review is to align the ERASMUS+ project Diversity in Science towards Social Inclusion with studies and views regarding diversity and inclusion in science education. The main goals of this project were to promote inclusive education and to train and foster the education of disadvantaged learners through a range of measures, including supporting education staff in addressing diversity and reinforcing diversity among education staff. Practices dealing with dimensions of diversity and inclusion in science education are developed and the partners shared the good practices that they developed.

Sharing for Health, Inclusion, and Sustainability: The Co-Production of Outdoor Equipment Lending in Norway

This study analyses the promotion of public health, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability in two Norwegian cities through the co-production of outdoor equipment-lending outlets. Building on seminal insights from Elinor Ostrom, we investigate how the co-production of equipment-lending initiatives can bridge the divide between government, civil society, and the market. Engaging citizens in outdoor activities to promote public health, social inclusion and sustainability is a political focus area in Norway, but the activities often demand access to expensive equipment. Since the 1990s, many Norwegian municipalities have organised lending outlets for outdoor equipment, often relying on volunteer work. The emergence of BUA, a nationwide NGO aimed at engaging children and youth in outdoor activities, added the goal of environmental sustainability as a foundation for equipment-lending outlets. Additionally, it became a catalyst for the articulation of a diverse array of partnerships for the co-production of equipment lending as a public service. This study draws on fieldwork and in-depth interviews with users, staff, volunteers, and institutional partners at two lending outlets, in Kolbotn and Tromsø, in south-eastern and northern Norway. We focus on the co-production of BUA as a public service and discuss how the interplay of various actors leads to the achievement of societal and environmental goals, and subsequently how equipment-lending initiatives can facilitate collaborative consumption practices with the potential to reduce consumption.

Migrants Subjective Well-being in Big Cities of China: Based on Self-rating Social Status and Social Integration

Promoting subject well-being of migrants could give full play to the advantages of talent's resource. Social position and social inclusion of migrants could be the key to pursue a people-centered, new type of urbanization and bring about rural migrants settling in cities. There is a lack of studies focusing on social comparison and social inclusion of migrants with the point of geographical features. Using the data collected from China Migrants Dynamic Survey in 2014, the relations among object socioeconomic status and self-rating social status as well as subject well-being of migrants in one municipal district and seven prefecture-level cities of China was examined by adopting multilevel linear regression model, which includes both mediating variables and moderating variables. Several conclusions are drawn as follows: 1) Migrants subjective well-being is affected by their objective socioeconomic status. Whilst migrants comparing themselves with local relatives and colleagues, as we call it self-rating social status, plays a part in mediating relations between object socioeconomic status and subject well-being, especially when the object socioeconomic status refers to migrants household monthly income, certain types of occupations (including civil servants, clerks and the self-rated) and homeowners in the host city. 2) When compared their socioeconomic status with locals in the host cities, including economic status and respect for themselves, the deeper the migrants are merging into cities and social networks, the weaker the relationship between self-rating social status and subjective well-being will be. In other words, social inclusion among migrants do negatively regulates the relations above. 3) However, there is no evidence that the higher the acceptance degree of local residents in host cities to migrants, the deeper the impact of the respect for migrants on subjective well-being will be. Obviously, the acceptance degree of local residents could not significantly moderate the relations between respect for migrants and their subject well-being. Based on the above research conclusions, this paper suggests that for building a harmonious society and improving the quality of urbanization, equal treatment of migrants and locals should be identified and dealt with. Furthermore, Therefore, we must speed up migrants to blend into the society in the cities.

Social Inclusion for a Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Qualitative Case Study

ABSTRACT Social participation is a vital aspect of childhood, especially for the development of social-emotional skills. Many childhood social interactions take place at play areas and other recreational or leisure facilities, such as aquariums, zoos, amusement parks, etc. Children with disabilities, especially children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other social disorders, often face social exclusion at such locations due to physical and societal barriers. Although much research has been conducted and regulations are in place that address most physical considerations at play areas, guidelines that facilitate social inclusion for children with ASD and other social disorders are currently lacking. We conducted a case study to investigate the social-emotional experience of a child with ASD based on our observations and the perceptions of his caregiver. The findings suggest that play area design can both facilitate and create barriers to social inclusion. We employed the results and our observations to postulate usable guidelines for the stakeholders and designers of play areas and to suggest practical applications for occupational therapists and avenues for future research.

Boundary Interweaving: The Boundary-Making Strategy for Multicultural Coexistence in Marketing Systems

Multicultural interactions bring individuals from varied cultural backgrounds together, leading to situations that either foster or impede social cohesion. This issue is critical as social cohesion significantly influences quality-of-life (QOL), which, together with marketing systems, forms the core of macromarketing. Our research contributes by introducing “boundary interweaving” – a novel concept in boundary-making strategy that aims to improve QOL and cultural well-being within marketing systems. Boundary interweaving is a process wherein two or more cultural boundaries interweave together to create a new, unique cultural boundary. Integrating marketing systems and boundary-making theories, this study on ethnic minority marketing shifts from the traditional single-level focus to explore multi-level interactions among market actors. Employing discourse analysis of a documentary and news articles, particularly focusing on food narratives from wet markets and adjacent hawker stalls, we examine interactions between market actors consisting of government, politicians, mass media, sellers, and consumers. Our findings reveal that interactions among market actors exemplify boundary interweaving within the realms of space, language, and foodways. Rather than delineating us and them among different ethnic groups, this paper demonstrates that joint efforts by market actors across macro-, meso-, and microlevels can facilitate the integration, social inclusion and coexistence of diverse ethnic cultures within the marketing system. Boundary interweaving fosters cultural well-being, promotes a sense of belonging and facilitates social cohesion among different ethnic groups. This study highlights the influence of culture on the functioning, growth, and evolution of a marketing system.

Religio-political influence on social work practice in contemporary India

ABSTRACT This paper aims to explore the intricate relationship between religio-political influence and its impact on social work in contemporary India. The escalating trends of majoritarianism, homogeneity, the instrumentalization of religion for political power, growing inequality, and the prevalence of caste-based violence have contributed to an alarming increase in intolerance among various religious, ethnic, and linguistic groups. These challenges, primarily driven by religio-political factions in India, pose significant obstacles to effective social work practice and intervention. The question arises: Can social work disentangle itself from religion and religio-political influence, or should a new narrative be developed within social work practice to address these concepts? This article underscores the pressing need for a fresh perspective that integrates religion, religio-politics, and their influence on social work. New narrative can facilitate the development of effective strategies and interventions that mitigate the adverse effects of religio-political factions while promoting social justice and inclusivity. In conclusion, this paper emphasizes the necessity of reimagining the relationship between religion, religio-politics, and social work in India. Thus, social work can play a crucial role in fostering positive societal change, addressing inequality, and countering the rising tide of intolerance fueled by religio-political influences.

The Role of Actuaries in Sustainable Development Goals

Purpose: The general purpose of this study was to investigate the role of actuaries in Sustainable Development Goals.
 Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library.
 Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to the role of actuaries in Sustainable Development Goals. The study underscored the indispensable role of actuaries in advancing sustainable development goals (SDGs) across multiple sectors. Actuaries contribute significantly to promoting environmental sustainability by assessing and managing risks associated with climate change, while also fostering social equity and inclusivity through the design of insurance and pension schemes. Moreover, they facilitate long-term investment and infrastructure development aligned with SDGs 8 and 9, and support health and well-being initiatives, particularly in healthcare financing and risk assessment. Overall, through their expertise in risk assessment, financial management, and strategic decision-making, actuaries play a critical role in driving transformative change towards a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Stakeholder theory, Institutional theory and Systems theory may be used to anchor future studies on the role of actuaries in Sustainable Development Goals. The study provided recommendations aimed at enhancing the contributions of actuaries to sustainable development agendas. It advocated for increased awareness among actuaries about their role in supporting SDGs, fostering collaboration between stakeholders, integrating sustainability considerations into actuarial practices, and promoting transparency and accountability within the profession. These recommendations emphasized the importance of aligning actuarial efforts with sustainability goals, leveraging collective expertise, and ensuring ethical and responsible decision-making. By implementing these recommendations, actuaries could play a more proactive and impactful role in advancing sustainable development goals and addressing societal challenges.
 Keywords: Actuaries, Sustainable Development Goals, Contributions, Recommendations, Awareness, Collaboration, Sustainability Considerations, Transparency

Implementation of an inclusive approach in African countries as a direction of international cooperation within the SDGs

The article analyzes the implementation of the principle of social inclusion in relation to people with disabilities in African countries. The features characteristic of the crisis countries belonging to the Sahel zone are described. The paper outlines the ways of possible cooperation with the Russian Federation on the way to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, i.e. ensuring an inclusive and fair right to social ize people with disabilities through education and encouraging learning opportunities for people with disabilities. The interaction of the countries can be aimed at training personnel for the special education system of African countries, developing adapted educational programs for people with disabilities, and organizing early care for children with developmental disorders of sensory systems. These programs require political, economic, scientific, technological, and socio-cultural cooperation between Russia and African countries. According to the United Nations, the African continent includes 54 independent states. Most of them were colonized and had external control of major European countries — Great Britain, France, and others. In the middle of the 20th century, the process of gaining the independence of African countries began. African countries have a large gap in socio-economic indicators and are heteroge neous. Among them, progressive countries can be distinguished — those with positive experience in achieving the SDGs. Such countries include the Republic of Seychelles, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Tunisia, and so on. Along with progressive countries, there are countries that have many socio-economic problems and low per capita incomes. In addition, health and education systems have not been formed in such countries. Such countries include Niger, Mali, Chad, Gabon, and others. Therefore, cooperation within the framework of BRICS will allow organizing interaction aimed at more effective implementation of the inclusive model in A frican countries.

(South) African perspectives on the prevention, monitoring and combating of hate victimisation

Purpose This paper aims to provide an overview of South African perspectives on preventing, monitoring and combating hate victimisation, towards informing international understandings. Design/methodology/approach Using a general review approach, this paper provides a historical examination of measures proposed by the South African Government and civil society since 1994, to prevent, monitor and combat hate crime, hate speech and intentional unfair discrimination. Findings Regardless of a constitutional commitment to social inclusion, diversity and minority rights, significant progress remains lacking after almost three decades of related advocacy, lobbying and limited government intervention. Findings of the South African Hate Crimes Working Group (HCWG) longitudinal Monitoring Project emphasise the need for decisive legal responses to hate victimisation. Social implications A Bill, recognising hate crime and hate speech as distinct criminal offences, has been in development for almost 15 years and will soon serve before Parliament. Enactment of this legislation will be ground-breaking in Africa. Originality/value This paper contributes to the field of hate studies by providing an overview of the journey towards current conceptual understandings of hate in (South) Africa. It sets the stage for evaluating the potential of the redesigned HCWG monitoring tool, which holds promise for early identification and intervention in hate hotspots and targeted sectors. This instrument can establish trends not only in South Africa but also across the African continent.

Rural Development Strategies through Livestock Policy

Purpose: The main objective of the study was to investigate the rural development strategies through livestock policy.
 Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library.
 Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to rural development strategies. The study underscored the significance of livestock farming as a crucial component of rural development strategies worldwide, emphasizing its multifaceted role in providing income, employment, food security, and cultural heritage, particularly in developing countries. It highlighted the need for context-specific and evidence-based livestock policies tailored to diverse socio-economic, environmental, and cultural realities, promoting sustainable resource management and addressing rural poverty and inequality. Additionally, it emphasized integrating holistic development objectives such as gender equity, social inclusion, and climate resilience into livestock policy frameworks to maximize social, economic, and environmental benefits. Lastly, the study stressed the importance of continuous monitoring, evaluation, and adaptive management in livestock policy implementation to foster learning-oriented processes and enhance resilience and responsiveness to evolving dynamics in rural areas. Overall, the study highlighted the pivotal role of livestock policy in shaping rural development trajectories and improving the well-being of rural communities.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Dependency theory, Institutional theory and Political Ecology theory may be used to anchor future studies on rural development strategies. The study yielded several recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of livestock policy interventions in promoting rural development. These recommendations included prioritizing inclusive livestock extension services, improving access to credit and financial services, integrating climate-smart livestock practices, supporting value-adding and market access initiatives, investing in livelihood diversification, and promoting participatory policy processes. By implementing these recommendations, policymakers and stakeholders aimed to enhance the resilience, sustainability, and inclusivity of rural development efforts, ultimately improving livelihoods and fostering sustainable rural transformation.

Social excluder's face reduces gaze-triggered attention orienting.

Social ostracism, a negative affective experience in interpersonal interactions, is thought to modulate the gaze-cueing effect (GCE). However, it is unclear whether the impact of social exclusion on the GCE is related to the identity of the cueing face. Therefore, the present study employed a two-phase paradigm to address this issue. In the first phase, two groups of participants were instructed to complete a Cyberball game with two virtual avatars to establish a binding relationship between a specific face's identity and the emotions of social exclusion or inclusion. In the second phase, these two virtual avatars (exclusion faces/inclusion faces) and two new faces (control faces) were used as cueing faces in the gaze-cueing task. The results found that, for the exclusion group, the magnitudes of the GCEs for the exclusion and exclusion-control faces were similar in the 200 ms stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA) condition, while the exclusion face's GCE was significantly smaller than that of the exclusion-control face in the 700 ms SOA condition. In contrast, for the inclusion group, the GCEs for inclusion and inclusion-control faces in both the 200 ms SOA and 700 ms SOA conditions did not significantly differ. This study reveals that the effect of social exclusion on the GCE is related to the identity of the cueing face, with individuals more reluctant to follow the gaze direction of excluder and shift their attention and provides experimental evidence that the perception of higher social relations can exert a top-down impact on the processing of social spatial cues.

Fighting Fake News Proliferation Through Digital Literacy in Africa: Perspectives from Nigerian Netizens

ABSTRACT The emergence of social media and the Internet came with wide acceptance and enthusiasm. Yet, scholars and analysts are worried that despite their inherent benefits, one of the major drawbacks of these platforms is that they enable the propagation of fake news. While fake news is not confined to these platforms, it has become a serious issue for contemporary society given that these platforms allow people to obtain, convey, and spread information for social inclusion, democratic engagements, and other purposes. The degree to which disinformation can sabotage these prospects reinforces arguments regarding what ought to be done to mitigate digital dysfunction. Despite this concern, there are more anecdotal perspectives than empirical enquiries into fake news and digital literacy in the African (Nigerian) context. Therefore, using the Inoculation and Message Interpretation Process theories as our theoretical frameworks, and Focus Group Discussion as our research method, we explored the extent to which digital literacy or lack of it shaped the Nigerian netizens’ propensity to share fake news. Although sharing is not believing, as the participants suggest, the concerns about fake news proliferation across social media and the Internet warrant crucial conversations about how to encourage basic literacy in today's digital world, particularly in Africa. Thus, while the authors support the idea of digital literacy, they also caution that in itself, digital literacy is insufficient and may not go far enough in stopping fake news proliferation, yet it helps to minimise the spread.

Women Directors: An Empirical Test of Critical Mass Hypothesis

This paper offers integrated theoretical-based empirical evidence regarding the role of female directors in promoting corporate common good using resource dependency model built on critical mass hypothesis. Using panel regression involving 220 firm-year observations from 2011 to 2021, the paper empirically assesses the moderating impacts of diversity and social inclusion policy, and gender-based power separation in determining the direction of causality between composition of female directors and foreign capital importation by the top 20 commercial banks in Nigeria. With approximately 30 per cent female director representation in the sampled banks (i.e., optimal gender threshold), the paper offers support to critical mass hypothesis and validates intrinsic benefits of women in corporate boardroom. The empirical result shows that female director representation in boards with strong diversity and social inclusion policy and greater independent non-executive directors, is positively linked to resource dependency role of foreign capital importation. Diversity of power separation is found to be detrimental to such board tasks due to overwhelming tokenism effect that surrounds gender-based power delineation. These key findings are statistically significant and robust to a series of iterated sensitivity tests. In addition to offering emerging market contributions to the growing literature on critical mass theory application, findings from this study demonstrate the inherent value of combining multiple governance theories (such as resource dependency and critical mass models) and the dynamic research framework opportunities it offers for robust empirical testing.

Bangladesh's pathways to climate-resilient development: A methodical review

Climate resilient development pathways (CRDP) are procedures that reinforce sustainable development and reduce poverty and inequalities while meeting adaptation and mitigation targets. The study systematically assessed Bangladesh's efforts to combat climate change and evaluated its progress toward CRDP with a degree of confidence approach. It also assessed climate change vulnerability, national climate change plans and policies, climate finance conditions, and environmental sustainability. The study revealed that the recent climate change plans and strategies have transformative, social inclusiveness, gender responsiveness, climate resilience, institutional flexibility and coordination, and target setting and monitoring attributes from a moderate to large extent. However, to implement its recently developed climate plans like the Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan, Delta Plan, NAP, and NDC, where funding is essential—the nation needs USD 533.7 billion. The study suggests that though the country has implemented several plans and strategies in recent decades, uneven progress has appeared in some important socio-economic and environmental indicators as well as SDGs which signifies low return against investment. It can be concluded that ensuring maximum socio-economic and environmental return on investment, long-term climate finance, strengthening local govt. organizations, adopting region specific and holistic approaches with private sector engagement would advance CRDP attainment as well as a nature positive economy and system transition in Bangladesh.

Creating safe and inclusive spaces for children: A catalyst for positive societal impact in Kolkata's neighbourhoods

The establishment of environments that are suitable for children is of utmost importance in fostering communities that are both healthy and content, particularly in regions undergoing rapid urbanisation, such as Kolkata, India. The objective of this research was to ascertain the key areas of focus for the enhancement of child-friendly localities in Kolkata, as determined by the viewpoints of 258 inhabitants who partook in an internet-based questionnaire. The survey conducted a ranking of 12 amenities, encompassing a variety of services such as parks and childcare facilities, based on their respective levels of significance. The findings of the study indicate that the provision of parks, footpaths, street lights, street trees, and resting places are crucial in creating child-friendly neighbourhoods in Kolkata. Nevertheless, an examination based on parental status indicated minor variations, as parents exhibited a greater inclination towards prioritising libraries for their children in comparison to non-parents. Conversely, healthcare provision was deemed less significant among parents relative to non-parents. This research holds significant societal implications, as it offers valuable insights to urban planners and policymakers regarding the development of more sustainable and equitable communities for children residing in Kolkata. Urban planners can enhance the livability and inclusivity of neighbourhoods by prioritising child-centric amenities, such as parks and footpaths, while also taking into account the unique needs of parents and non-parents. This approach can foster social cohesion and promote community resilience. The present research holds significance for multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). Sustainable urban planning has the potential to make a significant contribution towards the attainment of SDG 3 by establishing environments that are conducive to the physical and mental well-being of children. Urban planners can make a significant contribution towards the attainment of SDG 11 by giving priority to the creation of public spaces that are safe and accessible. Urban planning can play a role in realising SDG 16 through the provision of child-centric amenities that promote social inclusion and equity.