Housing and Urban Development Corporation Ltd. (HUDCO), a Navratna NBFC–IFC under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), successfully organised its annual Painting Competition for underprivileged children today at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. Sanjay Kulshrestha, Chairman & Managing Director, HUDCO, inaugurated the event along with Prof. KG Suresh, Director India Habitat Centre, who was the Guest of Honour. They interacted with the children and encouraged them to be torchbearers of an inclusive and sustainable future. Speaking on the occasion, Shri Kulshreshta said that this initiative is not just about paintings, but about giving the children an opportunity to dream, to express, and to inspire. Through their creativity, we are reminded that the future of our towns and cities lies in the hands of the younger generation, and HUDCO is committed to nurturing that spirit. For over two decades, this initiative has been a flagship part of HUDCO’s World Habitat Day celebrations, offering children from vulnerable communities a platform to artistically portray their vision of an ideal urban habitat. The event has consistently received appreciation from MoHUA, NGOs, and partner organisations for nurturing creativity and confidence among young participants. In a special addition this year, HUDCO introduced a Live Talent Show, providing children an opportunity to showcase their abilities in singing, drama, poetry and dance. This feature not only enriched the event’s interactive spirit but also highlighted HUDCO’s commitment to inclusivity and holistic development. This year’s competition witnessed enthusiastic participation of about 200 children from various NGOs and orphanages, competing in two categories—Junior Group (8–11 years) and Senior Group (12–14 years). The theme for this year was “Urban Crisis Response”, encouraging children to reflect on challenges faced by cities and present their ideas for resilient, inclusive, and sustainable urban futures. The award-winning paintings will be exhibited at Vigyan Bhawan on World Habitat Day in October, where the Hon’ble Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs will inaugurate the exhibition and felicitate the winners. HUDCO’s continued efforts through initiatives like the painting competition reaffirm its mission to support inclusive growth and provide platforms that empower young voices from underserved communities.