SAFETY OF CHILDREN IN TRADITIONAL INDIAN SETTLEMENTS- CASE OF TRADITIONAL SETTLEMENTS IN KARAIKUDI

In several countries across the globe, the concept of a child-friendly approach to urban planning is gaining increasing attention. Safety and security are important for creating more inclusive, resilient, and healthy cities. If future developments are attractive and safe for both children and families, it builds an enduring appeal to all age groups. This resulted in the creation of a vibrant neighbourhood to live, work, and grow up in. Regarding child safety, studies in the past have concentrated more on urban design elements such as streets, traffic patterns, open spaces, housing units, etc. Little research has been done on the planning aspects, investigating the relationship between the layout of traditional or old settlements that are still in use today and child safety and social cohesion. This study aims to understand how traditional settlement planning ideologies' have given the utmost importance to child safety. To demonstrate this, the authors have taken two settlements, Pallathur and Kottayur, in Karaikudi district as their case studies. Based on the above study, the paper aims to develop a set of design-based guidelines to improve the quality of the built environment (housing) that enables the transformation of our cities towards a more sustainable urban form that fosters a safe environment for children.