India, Nov. 10 -- Children and their needs rarely feature in urban planning concerns or policy discourse in India. Talk to any parent in urban India, and they will tell you how difficult it is to raise a child - ironically, being outdoors has become largely detrimental to children's health. Children are experiencing weakened lung capacity due to exposure to assorted pollutants. Several studies show the high prevalence of asthma, respiratory symptoms, allergic rhinitis, and eczema among adolescents in Delhi due to air pollution. At the same time, the lack of outdoor activities has translated into much longer screen times and childhood obesity. Most parents also worry about reducing children's screen time because of safety concerns.

Childr...