INTRODUCTION:

In the era of rapid globalization, many historic cities are increasingly challenged by their responsibilities to preserve their cultural heritage, as well as keeping the living traditions flourishing under changing circumstances. To increase their capacities and the efficiency of public actions, many cities search for outside partners for institutionalized cooperation and joint actions.

A platform for cities and regions from all over the world to exchange experiences and know-how to assist them in applying more and better-targeted cooperation is highly needed.² Although sister-city programs – a cultural and diplomatic relationship between cities – are viewed curiously in various countries, not many cities have utilized this cooperation platform as an established development vehicle with thematic and professional focuses on heritage conservation. (Asuka Ogawa)

Each sister city organization is independent and pursues the activities and thematic areas that are important to them and their community including municipal, business, trade, educational, and cultural exchanges and projects with their sister city.³

Definition:

A town or city that shares planned activities and visits with a similar town in another country: A sister city, county, or state relationship is a broad-based, long-term partnership between two communities in two countries. A relationship is officially recognized after the highest elected or appointed official from both communities sign off on an agreement to become sister cities.³

Concept:

The concept of sister cities or twin towns is a legal and social agreement between two separate countries to promote cultural and commercial ties.

Important of sister cities:

The modern concept of town twinning, conceived after the Second World War in 1947, was intended to foster friendship and understanding among different cultures and between former foes as an act of peace and reconciliation, and to encourage trade and tourism³

Creation of a new sister city:

Sister Cities International recognizes a sister city relationship when mayors or highest elected officials from the two communities sign an agreement to become sister cities, although many cities have their own requirements. You should first contact your local sister city organization and talk to them about their process. Usually a group will first contact the mayor/city government to see if they are open to the possibility of a new relationship.⁴

Difference between a “Sister City” and a “Friendship City”

The terms “sister city” and “friendship city” sometimes have different meanings. Generally speaking, friendship cities are less formal than sister cities. In some cities, “friendship city” is often used as a first stage in the relationship, and after it is strengthened and the partners are sure they want a long-term relationship they will become “sister cities.⁴

Membership organization for sister city:

Sister Cities International serves as the national membership organization for sister city programs in nearly 500 communities, with relationships in over 2,000 communities in more than 140 countries. We provide our members with a number of programs to support them in promoting citizen diplomacy, and our members work tirelessly to promote peace and understanding through exchanges that focus on arts and culture, youth and education, business and trade, and community development.

What we do (and what our members do) is essential in promoting the importance of international exchange and people-to-people relationships worldwide.⁴

Explore our programs and exchanges below.

PROGRAMS:

· Young Artists and Authors Showcase

· J-1 High School Homestay

· Youth Leadership Summit

· Stevens Initiative

· Annual Awards

EXCHANGES:

· Arts and Culture

· Youth and Education

· Business and Trade

· Community Development

Twin Towns and Sister Cities of Indian States:

1. Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

2. Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

3. Hyderabad-Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh.

4. Pune-Pimpri Chinchwad, Maharashtra.

5. Kolkata-Howrah, West Bengal.

6. Kochi-Ernakulam, Kerala.

7. Hubli-Dharwad, Karnataka.

8. Durg-Bhilai, Chhattisgarh.

Need of sister city in India:

India has over 100 sister-city partnerships that have developed over the decades and remained largely ornamental, except for helping to foster closer cultural bonds. The BJP-led government, which has put the economy at the top of its foreign policy endeavours, hopes to transform these arrangements into tools for attracting investment, officials well-versed with the initiative told ET.⁴

Similarities in urban problems and contributions of their sister cities stimulate the willingness of Eurocities to improve the relationship.⁵ The contributions as well as economic benefits provided from the sister city relationship and new business and investment opportunities have emerged as the most important factors in sister city relationship. (Ali˙ye A. Akgün)

CONCLUSION:

India has signed sister city agreements with many countries including China, US, Australia, Russia, Canada, Mauritius, Germany, Hungary, South Korea, Bangladesh, Lithuania, Portugal, Belarus and Jordan. Addressing the Indian diaspora PM Modi said that bilateral strategic ties between India and Japan will are set to achieve new heights as India aims to be a USD 5 trillion economy in the next five years. The states division in the ministry is at the forefront of forming ideas and implementing the sister-city and sister-province arrangements. Over the past year, new sister-city arrangements have been launched with China, Japan and Nepal. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China last May, agreements were signed for three sister-city partnerships: Chennai Chongqing, Hyderabad-Qingdao and Aurangabad-Dunham.⁴

REFERENCE:

1. Mridul Seth∗ BITS Pilani KK Birla Goa Campus Goa, India

2. Asuka Ogawa, Planning and Preservation Columbia University May 2012

3. https://sistercities.org/about-us/what-is-a-sister-city-3/

4. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/finance/modi-government-overhauling-sister-city-partnerships-to-attract-foreign-

5. Ali˙ye A. Akgün, Tüzi˙n Baycan-Levent, Peter Nijkamp & Jacques Poot Regional Studies, Volume 45, 2011 - Issue 9, 17 Aug 2010

Received on 10.11.2020 Modified on 02.12.2020

Int. J. of Advances in Nur. Management. 2021; 9(1):104-105.

DOI: 10.5958/2454-2652.2021.00027.5