Background and Eligibility

The United Nations has designated the first Monday in October every year as “World Habitat Day” to reflect on the state of human settlements and the basic right to adequate shelter for all. This year the World Habitat Day was celebrated on October 5, 2009. The theme of the World Habitat Day 2009 is “Planning our Urban Future”. As a part of the World Habitat Day celebrations, National Housing Bank is organizing an essay competition, open to employees of Housing Finance Companies (HFCs), Banks, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and All India Level Financial Institutions only.

Topics

The topics for this year’s competition are:

1. Housing & Housing Finance towards sustainable urban development.
2. Urban development towards social transformation.
3. Energy Efficient Housing: Scope & Prospects in India.

Participants may choose any of the above mentioned topics. The essay may be either in English or Hindi and should not be more than 5000 words.

Entries

The last date for receipt of the entry is January 31, 2010
Two copies of the Essay in A-4 size paper in an envelope super scribing “World Habitat Day, 2009 – Essay Competition” should be sent to

Shri Vishal Goyal
Regional Manager
National Housing Bank
Core-5A, 4th Floor,
India Habitat Centre,
Lodhi Road,
New Delhi – 110 003

Prizes

1st Prize                                  Rs. 20,000/-
2nd Prize                                 Rs. 15,000/-
3rd Prize                                 Rs. 10,000/-
Consolation Prizes (3)            Rs.   5,000/- each

Besides, certificates will also be given to winners and NHB shall print the prize winning entries in a publication to be released on the next World Habitat Day.

Other Terms and Conditions

1. The entry should be original and should not have been published earlier. The contestant has to furnish a declaration to this effect along with the entry.
2. Word limit set for the essay should be strictly adhered to.
3. Entries received after January 31, 2010 will not be considered.
4. All references and materials from other sources should be duly acknowledged.
5. The participants should not write their names or put their signatures on any page of the entry.
6. The participants should furnish their full postal address along with contact number, e-mail ID on the covering letter of the entry.
7. The entries will be examined by an independent panel of judges appointed by the National Housing Bank. The decision of the judges shall be final.
8. An essay may be contributed by one or more persons jointly.

Declaration of Result

National Housing Bank shall inform the prize winners individually as well as through their respective institutions. The prizes will be distributed during the next World Habitat Day Celebrations in 2010. All outstation winners will be paid TA/DA to enable them to receive their prizes personally at the venue of the function.