Thrissur, Nilambur In Kerala & Telangana's Warangal Join UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities

The 3 Indian cities joined UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities along with 74 others from across the world, in recognition of efforts to make lifelong learning a reality for all at local level.

Telangana's second largest city Warangal has joined the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) Global Network of Learning Cities. Kerala's Nilambur and Thrissur also joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities. Some of the most developed cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Hamburg, Athens, Incheon, Bristol, and Dublin, are among the global cities on this list.

Information on the inclusion of Warangal, Thrissur and Nilambur was shared on Twitter by the official handle of India at UNESCO.   

Taking to Twitter, Union Culture and Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy said: "Great News! Warangal in Telangana state joins the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities! Congratulations Warangal and Telangana on this momentous occasion. After the inscription of the World Heritage Site Tag by UNESCO to the Great Ramappa Temple in Warangal, Telangana gets its second recognition in the last 1 year by the UNESCO."

"Thank you Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi ji for the sustained efforts to get global recognition & showcase the rich cultural heritage of India," the minister said.

The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities is a network of cities that "successfully promote lifelong learning across their communities". As many as 294 cities from 76 countries across the world are part of the network. According to UNESCO, these cities share "inspiration, know-how and best practice among each other".

Thrissur, Nilambur and Warangal are the first Indian cities to join the list maintained since 2015. According to a UNESCO statement, as many as 77 news cities made it to the network from 44 countries this year due to their "outstanding efforts to make lifelong learning a reality for all at the local level".

”With more than half of humanity living in urban areas, cities have the power to drive lifelong learning policies by implementing and supporting local initiatives and bring bottom-up change,” UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said in the statement. “The newly admitted UNESCO learning cities have a wealth of expertise and commitment to ensuring that the right to education becomes a reality for people of all ages.”