Guess where the househelp for those bubbles live?
Indian Urban Development and Public Policy Discussion
Re: Indian Urban Development and Public Policy Discussion
Re: Indian Urban Development and Public Policy Discussion
Economic class often irrelevant when it comes to civic sense wrt spitting, littering, disposing waste of all types on public spaces like roads, parks, govt land or whatever vacant space. Its not just individuals, but street vendors, small businesses, shops, restaurants, hotels, clinics, hospitals are all doing it, sometimes blatantly in full daylight, sometimes clandestinely in the night. The local govts are staffed from the same society, and exhibit the same behaviour. Once in a while, a bureaucrat arrives (like some years ago In Surat IIRCC) who goes into mission mode and cleans up a town or city and then things slide back slowly as before. I've seen metal dustbins installed by municipalities stolen repeatedly, sometimes by its own employees only to be sold back and reinstalled. LoL !
The way water bodies are encroached, polluted to stink to high heavens, to sometimes disappear altogether is incredible.
Over the years, I've noticed mosquitoes becoming omnipresent and unbearable, even during day time. Usually its a good index of general cleanliness.
Its not just metro cities but 95% of cities, towns, agglomerations in Bharat are habitually dirty and polluted. All the people are collectively are responsible and we all deserve better.
The way water bodies are encroached, polluted to stink to high heavens, to sometimes disappear altogether is incredible.
Over the years, I've noticed mosquitoes becoming omnipresent and unbearable, even during day time. Usually its a good index of general cleanliness.
Its not just metro cities but 95% of cities, towns, agglomerations in Bharat are habitually dirty and polluted. All the people are collectively are responsible and we all deserve better.
Re: Indian Urban Development and Public Policy Discussion
Mod Note
Just because the posts were moved here is not a license for a free for all. Please discuss POLICY approaches, not a nukkad.
For example, China has a huge number of social ills - many of them quite like ours - but have implement various policy measures that tackle them. Ditto for Singapore. Find reference material about them. Study then, understand what works and does not.
If there's one thing about them I respect, it's their focus on deriving practical solutions, and then iterating upon them. They're not predisposed to open-ended conversation. The latter is useless.
Just because the posts were moved here is not a license for a free for all. Please discuss POLICY approaches, not a nukkad.
For example, China has a huge number of social ills - many of them quite like ours - but have implement various policy measures that tackle them. Ditto for Singapore. Find reference material about them. Study then, understand what works and does not.
If there's one thing about them I respect, it's their focus on deriving practical solutions, and then iterating upon them. They're not predisposed to open-ended conversation. The latter is useless.
Re: Indian Urban Development and Public Policy Discussion
Thank you for that note Suraj garu. In the spirit of being constructive, and having studied many other countries (US/ China- Spain- even Sgp even though I think it to be less relevant), may I posit the following for discussion as a way forward for India
1. Our root cause of squalid living areas (urban/ rural) is that we lack representative and viable local self government bodies. They (a) exist only in name, (b) lack spending power (c) lack execution and monitoring/ oversight capabilities.
2. The villain in this piece are actually the states- there is too much power concentrated in the hands of the CM, who uniformly are loath to delegate and empower local bodies in the fear of political rivalry (e.g., an effective Bengaluru Mayor would pose a challenge to the KAR CM)
3. The famed Indian evolutionary approach has been tried and has failed miserably- starting all the way from Rajiv Gandhi’s time of the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, and now the time has come for a strong push from above. Given the realities of today’s political scenario, only Modi/ BJP can do it (combination of strong PM+ party in control of a significant number of states)
4. Action on this front would involve a number of steps, both short term as well as long term (capability building and empowerment), including:
a. Align all BJP CMs to make the provisions of the 73 & 74 amendments as mandatory rather than optional, and give all the empowered local bodies powers of execution and oversight over sanitation, roads maintenance, waste disposal (solid/ liquid), food and hygiene, libraries and schools, fire control and disaster preparation. I am consciously proposing that town & country planning be continued with the CM of the state (as this is the source of all money generation and asking for this to be devolved is a sure way to ensure failure of this entire exercise)
b. Amend the constitution to have all local bodies get directly a share of the GST generated in their territory to be able to execute on these responsibilities
c. Have mandatory and regular (2 years) election for these bodies, overseen by the state Election Commission, for councilors to these bodies
d. In parallel, get these states to agree to creation of a Municipal Cadre (contractual), and - very critically- offer all Agniveers direct entry, and then subject them to training in their chosen field. This is very critical. I know there are some legal challenges (central government to state) but if this is made voluntary I’m hoping it would not be an issue. In one stroke we would achieve many objectives- get access to a trained and disciplined workforce, solve the political challenges around Agniveers, and ensure the continued availability of firearms trained personnel in times of war/ disasters at the last mile/ local levels etc
e. Also have the states constitute an intermediate indirect tier at the district level (“Parishads”), comprising of all the heads of local bodies in that district + the local MLAs and MP and state government nominees. This Parishad would be required to maintain- based on financial contributions from the Centre, state and the relevant local bodies- a district solid waste incineration plant, a local helipad, district fire services, a secondary hospital (including psychiatry/ mental hospital), prison, orphanage, local agriculture and soil planning school/ institute, and vet hospital. The residual waste of the solid waste incineration plant can be converted to bricks/ construction material which usage would be made mandatory for all appropriate building activities in the district
f. At some stage the Parishad should also take over the district electricity distribution responsibility (and outsource the O&M of that to a private party while retaining oversight pf pricing and customer quality)
g. Re-orient/ refocus of Central government spends on intra-city/ village capex rather than inter-city (which is anyway reaching saturation limits). The intent should be to make all our living spaces (villages/ cities/ towns) as “wheelchair friendly” which would encompass all aspects of walkability, cleanliness and safety
h. In parallel, help the local body (now with the requisite trained personnel) to instate tenders of collection of solid waste to private parties, roads maintenance, and retain direct control and responsibility for food hygiene, etc
I am aware that this is a huge ask, but I honestly think that this is necessary if for (a) the next round of economic growth, and (b) enhancing “Ease of Living” as stated by NaMo himself on numerous occasions
Hope this is of interest
1. Our root cause of squalid living areas (urban/ rural) is that we lack representative and viable local self government bodies. They (a) exist only in name, (b) lack spending power (c) lack execution and monitoring/ oversight capabilities.
2. The villain in this piece are actually the states- there is too much power concentrated in the hands of the CM, who uniformly are loath to delegate and empower local bodies in the fear of political rivalry (e.g., an effective Bengaluru Mayor would pose a challenge to the KAR CM)
3. The famed Indian evolutionary approach has been tried and has failed miserably- starting all the way from Rajiv Gandhi’s time of the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, and now the time has come for a strong push from above. Given the realities of today’s political scenario, only Modi/ BJP can do it (combination of strong PM+ party in control of a significant number of states)
4. Action on this front would involve a number of steps, both short term as well as long term (capability building and empowerment), including:
a. Align all BJP CMs to make the provisions of the 73 & 74 amendments as mandatory rather than optional, and give all the empowered local bodies powers of execution and oversight over sanitation, roads maintenance, waste disposal (solid/ liquid), food and hygiene, libraries and schools, fire control and disaster preparation. I am consciously proposing that town & country planning be continued with the CM of the state (as this is the source of all money generation and asking for this to be devolved is a sure way to ensure failure of this entire exercise)
b. Amend the constitution to have all local bodies get directly a share of the GST generated in their territory to be able to execute on these responsibilities
c. Have mandatory and regular (2 years) election for these bodies, overseen by the state Election Commission, for councilors to these bodies
d. In parallel, get these states to agree to creation of a Municipal Cadre (contractual), and - very critically- offer all Agniveers direct entry, and then subject them to training in their chosen field. This is very critical. I know there are some legal challenges (central government to state) but if this is made voluntary I’m hoping it would not be an issue. In one stroke we would achieve many objectives- get access to a trained and disciplined workforce, solve the political challenges around Agniveers, and ensure the continued availability of firearms trained personnel in times of war/ disasters at the last mile/ local levels etc
e. Also have the states constitute an intermediate indirect tier at the district level (“Parishads”), comprising of all the heads of local bodies in that district + the local MLAs and MP and state government nominees. This Parishad would be required to maintain- based on financial contributions from the Centre, state and the relevant local bodies- a district solid waste incineration plant, a local helipad, district fire services, a secondary hospital (including psychiatry/ mental hospital), prison, orphanage, local agriculture and soil planning school/ institute, and vet hospital. The residual waste of the solid waste incineration plant can be converted to bricks/ construction material which usage would be made mandatory for all appropriate building activities in the district
f. At some stage the Parishad should also take over the district electricity distribution responsibility (and outsource the O&M of that to a private party while retaining oversight pf pricing and customer quality)
g. Re-orient/ refocus of Central government spends on intra-city/ village capex rather than inter-city (which is anyway reaching saturation limits). The intent should be to make all our living spaces (villages/ cities/ towns) as “wheelchair friendly” which would encompass all aspects of walkability, cleanliness and safety
h. In parallel, help the local body (now with the requisite trained personnel) to instate tenders of collection of solid waste to private parties, roads maintenance, and retain direct control and responsibility for food hygiene, etc
I am aware that this is a huge ask, but I honestly think that this is necessary if for (a) the next round of economic growth, and (b) enhancing “Ease of Living” as stated by NaMo himself on numerous occasions
Hope this is of interest
Re: Indian Urban Development and Public Policy Discussion
This one is excellent. I have seen companies prefer ex-Servicemen for roles like on site safety enforcement. Would be good to have them in similar roles for municipal, where they ensure that workplace and home construction safety norms are followed. Ditto, for enforcing environmental norms.Adrija wrote: ↑03 Apr 2025 15:35
d. In parallel, get these states to agree to creation of a Municipal Cadre (contractual), and - very critically- offer all Agniveers direct entry, and then subject them to training in their chosen field. This is very critical. I know there are some legal challenges (central government to state) but if this is made voluntary I’m hoping it would not be an issue. In one stroke we would achieve many objectives- get access to a trained and disciplined workforce, solve the political challenges around Agniveers, and ensure the continued availability of firearms trained personnel in times of war/ disasters at the last mile/ local levels etc
Some of the cantonment experience/standards will directly flow to these roles
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sanjaykumar
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- Joined: 16 Oct 2005 05:51
Re: Indian Urban Development and Public Policy Discussion
Would think the crux of the issue in India is enforcement.
The poor can’t pay and the privileged won’t.
A shame based deterrence may be more effective. Set up cameras traps and have the guilty pick up after themselves. Employ disadvantaged women and this empowerment will be an opportunity to even the power differential.
Have a checked incognito to ensure no one is paid off.
Random checks covering 1% of the population should suffice.
The poor can’t pay and the privileged won’t.
A shame based deterrence may be more effective. Set up cameras traps and have the guilty pick up after themselves. Employ disadvantaged women and this empowerment will be an opportunity to even the power differential.
Have a checked incognito to ensure no one is paid off.
Random checks covering 1% of the population should suffice.
Re: Indian Urban Development and Public Policy Discussion
To the extent possible, please post reference material to cases where approaches have been tried, lessons learned and finetuning.
Please avoid merely a cursory overview of a problem followed by an impressively elaborate solutions without first taking time to define the problem, the potential options on the table, and any prior experience with implementing those even partially.
Shame based deterrence for example, is quite popular and effective in other parts of Asia. There are ways it can and cannot work. What are those ? A 30K ft view is not likely to benefit this thread. But a detailed dive into measures practiced elsewhere and an evolved understanding of how it worked (or did not) is beneficial.
Please avoid merely a cursory overview of a problem followed by an impressively elaborate solutions without first taking time to define the problem, the potential options on the table, and any prior experience with implementing those even partially.
Shame based deterrence for example, is quite popular and effective in other parts of Asia. There are ways it can and cannot work. What are those ? A 30K ft view is not likely to benefit this thread. But a detailed dive into measures practiced elsewhere and an evolved understanding of how it worked (or did not) is beneficial.
Re: Indian Urban Development and Public Policy Discussion
One of my friends is involved waste collection by divyanga children in Raipur. His older brother has left his engineering job 30 years ago and started an NGO to help divyanga. This is under that NGO they are doing the work in Raipur. I don't know how big an effort it is but it is a start.
I will collect details and post here.
As for solid waste incineration and methane from solid waste, Indore has already implemented form of this. I think a firm named Everenviro is involved in this.
I know of one failed project in solid waste. A German company invested money with along with an Indian partner. This was while back when carbon credit market was doing well and the German company wanted those carbon credits. First phase of the project - civil construction of the digester - was complete. C Credit market went kaput. The digester is sitting there. No equipment. We approached this man, a civil engineer by profession, to repurpose the digester for producing Biomethane from Biomass. Unfortunately we couldn't raise money as no bank would take the unfinished digester as the collateral for a loan.
Lot of folks are into residential real estate where they can see how much they can make, even if they are engineers in the respective fields. Some of those have no idea about how much risk they are taking in a business which has a new business model.
I will collect details and post here.
As for solid waste incineration and methane from solid waste, Indore has already implemented form of this. I think a firm named Everenviro is involved in this.
I know of one failed project in solid waste. A German company invested money with along with an Indian partner. This was while back when carbon credit market was doing well and the German company wanted those carbon credits. First phase of the project - civil construction of the digester - was complete. C Credit market went kaput. The digester is sitting there. No equipment. We approached this man, a civil engineer by profession, to repurpose the digester for producing Biomethane from Biomass. Unfortunately we couldn't raise money as no bank would take the unfinished digester as the collateral for a loan.
Lot of folks are into residential real estate where they can see how much they can make, even if they are engineers in the respective fields. Some of those have no idea about how much risk they are taking in a business which has a new business model.
Re: Indian Urban Development and Public Policy Discussion
Dated but relevant article. Couple of points I can pick out are that there are too many cooks in the kitchen when it comes to governing cities. Also there's just one form of government (weak mayor, strong municipal commissioner) that's in use. The author is advocating for a strong mayor type government.
Who governs our cities
Who governs our cities
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sanjaykumar
- BRF Oldie
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Re: Indian Urban Development and Public Policy Discussion
That is a good vignette Vayutuvan, I see there infact is an entrepreneurship that is highly relevant to these issues. Such personal observations are more valuable than this:
Shame-based deterrence refers to using the potential for social disapproval or embarrassment as a means to discourage unwanted behavior, often more effectively than formal punishments.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
The Concept:
Shame-based deterrence leverages the natural human aversion to social stigma and negative judgment to prevent actions.
Effectiveness:
Studies suggest that the fear of social disapproval and embarrassment can be a powerful deterrent, particularly in certain contexts like college alcohol policies.
Examples:
College Alcohol Policies: Students are more likely to avoid alcohol-related rule violations if they fear the judgment of their peers and the potential for social embarrassment, rather than the fear of formal sanctions.
Offender Rehabilitation: Shame, when managed constructively, can be a tool for rehabilitation, encouraging individuals to accept responsibility for their actions and learn from their mistakes.
Reintegrative vs. Stigmatizing Shaming:
Reintegrative shaming: This approach focuses on acknowledging the harm caused by the offense while also reaffirming the offender's value and potential for reintegration into society.
Stigmatizing shaming: This approach labels the offender as "bad" and can lead to negative consequences, such as increased recidivism.
Shame and Guilt:
Shame and guilt, often referred to as "moral emotions," can play a crucial role in promoting altruistic behavior and inhibiting antisocial behaviors.
Psychologists and criminologists note parallels between shame and guilt, and reintegrative and disintegrative shaming.
Shame as a Two-Sided Coin:
While shame can lead to defensive behaviors and externalization of blame, it can also motivate constructive changes and lead individuals towards rehabilitation.
The experience of shame can lead to a desire to hide away, which may lead to avoiding further criminal activity or using the experience to reflect and learn.
Shame-Sensitive Practice:
Organizations and practitioners must foster environments that promote shame-sensitivity, prioritizing dignity, respect, empathy, and trust.
Practitioners need to be supported in their ability to work in a shame-sensitive manner.
Or this:
In Japan, shame is a powerful social deterrent, with a cultural emphasis on maintaining harmony and avoiding public disgrace, which can lead to individuals taking drastic measures to avoid shame.
Here's a more detailed look at the role of shame-based deterrence in Japanese culture:
Cultural Context:
Shame vs. Guilt:
Japanese culture is often described as a "shame culture" in contrast to the Western "guilt culture," where individuals are more focused on the consequences of their actions and less on the potential for personal disapproval.
Importance of Harmony:
Japanese society places a high value on maintaining social harmony and avoiding conflict or causing embarrassment to others.
Collective Responsibility:
Criminal behavior is often seen as a collective problem, and individuals are expected to take responsibility for their actions and the potential impact on the community.
Reintegrative Shaming:
Japanese criminal justice systems, particularly in juvenile cases, often employ reintegrative shaming, which emphasizes rehabilitation, reintegration, and restoration rather than stigmatization.
Examples of Shame-Based Deterrence:
Apology and Diversion:
In juvenile justice, the police often focus on apology and diversion, aiming to reintegrate offenders into society rather than formal prosecution.
Community Accountability:
Community accountability conferences and social movements can be used to mobilize disapproval against crimes of the powerful.
Informal Social Control:
Japan relies heavily on informal means of social control, such as community pressure and peer influence, to maintain order.
"Ribbons of Shame":
In some workplace settings, employees who fail to meet expectations may be given ribbons with criticisms, a practice known as "ribbons of shame".
Potential Drawbacks:
Recidivism:
While shame-based deterrence may deter new offenders, it can also lead to recidivism if individuals feel ostracized or stigmatized.
Underreporting:
Domestic violence, sexual assault, and white-collar crimes may be underreported due to the fear of shame and social stigma.
Punitive Attitudes:
While Japan has a low crime rate, public confidence in safety is low, and there's a growing trend towards punitive attitudes towards offenders.
Loss of Discretion:
Criminal justice agencies have gradually lost their discretion in using informal procedures due to demands from victims and a rising focus on formal justice
Of course the above are summaries of what this "AI" system synthesises from its training base. I have no interest in this type of data.
Shame-based deterrence refers to using the potential for social disapproval or embarrassment as a means to discourage unwanted behavior, often more effectively than formal punishments.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
The Concept:
Shame-based deterrence leverages the natural human aversion to social stigma and negative judgment to prevent actions.
Effectiveness:
Studies suggest that the fear of social disapproval and embarrassment can be a powerful deterrent, particularly in certain contexts like college alcohol policies.
Examples:
College Alcohol Policies: Students are more likely to avoid alcohol-related rule violations if they fear the judgment of their peers and the potential for social embarrassment, rather than the fear of formal sanctions.
Offender Rehabilitation: Shame, when managed constructively, can be a tool for rehabilitation, encouraging individuals to accept responsibility for their actions and learn from their mistakes.
Reintegrative vs. Stigmatizing Shaming:
Reintegrative shaming: This approach focuses on acknowledging the harm caused by the offense while also reaffirming the offender's value and potential for reintegration into society.
Stigmatizing shaming: This approach labels the offender as "bad" and can lead to negative consequences, such as increased recidivism.
Shame and Guilt:
Shame and guilt, often referred to as "moral emotions," can play a crucial role in promoting altruistic behavior and inhibiting antisocial behaviors.
Psychologists and criminologists note parallels between shame and guilt, and reintegrative and disintegrative shaming.
Shame as a Two-Sided Coin:
While shame can lead to defensive behaviors and externalization of blame, it can also motivate constructive changes and lead individuals towards rehabilitation.
The experience of shame can lead to a desire to hide away, which may lead to avoiding further criminal activity or using the experience to reflect and learn.
Shame-Sensitive Practice:
Organizations and practitioners must foster environments that promote shame-sensitivity, prioritizing dignity, respect, empathy, and trust.
Practitioners need to be supported in their ability to work in a shame-sensitive manner.
Or this:
In Japan, shame is a powerful social deterrent, with a cultural emphasis on maintaining harmony and avoiding public disgrace, which can lead to individuals taking drastic measures to avoid shame.
Here's a more detailed look at the role of shame-based deterrence in Japanese culture:
Cultural Context:
Shame vs. Guilt:
Japanese culture is often described as a "shame culture" in contrast to the Western "guilt culture," where individuals are more focused on the consequences of their actions and less on the potential for personal disapproval.
Importance of Harmony:
Japanese society places a high value on maintaining social harmony and avoiding conflict or causing embarrassment to others.
Collective Responsibility:
Criminal behavior is often seen as a collective problem, and individuals are expected to take responsibility for their actions and the potential impact on the community.
Reintegrative Shaming:
Japanese criminal justice systems, particularly in juvenile cases, often employ reintegrative shaming, which emphasizes rehabilitation, reintegration, and restoration rather than stigmatization.
Examples of Shame-Based Deterrence:
Apology and Diversion:
In juvenile justice, the police often focus on apology and diversion, aiming to reintegrate offenders into society rather than formal prosecution.
Community Accountability:
Community accountability conferences and social movements can be used to mobilize disapproval against crimes of the powerful.
Informal Social Control:
Japan relies heavily on informal means of social control, such as community pressure and peer influence, to maintain order.
"Ribbons of Shame":
In some workplace settings, employees who fail to meet expectations may be given ribbons with criticisms, a practice known as "ribbons of shame".
Potential Drawbacks:
Recidivism:
While shame-based deterrence may deter new offenders, it can also lead to recidivism if individuals feel ostracized or stigmatized.
Underreporting:
Domestic violence, sexual assault, and white-collar crimes may be underreported due to the fear of shame and social stigma.
Punitive Attitudes:
While Japan has a low crime rate, public confidence in safety is low, and there's a growing trend towards punitive attitudes towards offenders.
Loss of Discretion:
Criminal justice agencies have gradually lost their discretion in using informal procedures due to demands from victims and a rising focus on formal justice
Of course the above are summaries of what this "AI" system synthesises from its training base. I have no interest in this type of data.
Re: Indian Urban Development and Public Policy Discussion
Agree that it is frustrating to see the general state of Indian urban landscapes. And the default coping mechanism is the temptation to lay the guilt on the people and find fault with culture or religion. Suggested improvement measures - shaming! If we are going on this path, we will end up with whipping as a punishment.
After having vented our quota of shaming our people, we slip back into coma until the next round of 'Shame the Indian' on social-media.
Request posters to read and re-read Adrija's important post on how Urban Local Government's (ULG) work.
Please note that if culture/ethinicity/religion are defining markers of squalor, Pakistan and BD's urban landscapes should be different but aren't. Sri Lanka same cultural markers and despite a civil war and economic woes, its urban landscapes offer valuable lessons.
See below links of studies from Malaysia and Sri Lanka where 60% of its finances are 'own-generated' and the remainder through central and provincial grants. The ULG's have significant viability and authority to coordinate various departments to deliver the last-mile urban landscapes which is good streets, parking facilities and well-maintained streets and alleys and parks despite facing similar issues like we do in India.
That last major urban planning in Chennai was Anna Nagar, carried out by the TN state government not the Chennai Corporation and that was in the 1970's. Control by the state government prevents ULG's from responding to the needs. They exist only to provide and maintain the bare minimum.
This will change only if delimitation happens and more assembly seats shift to where ULG's are, incentive to subsidize rural bodies disappear slowly. As you can see from above, ward councillors were only recently getting paid salaries. Signals a shift in power dynamics.
Having experiences living abroad for quite sometime, I found that a Tom Robinson on a motorcycle behaves the same way at a traffic signal as does a Tomar Rajendran at a traffic signal. I can cite similar examples but the point is blaming culture is a dead-end. The solution lies elsewhere. What you are seeing on the streets are only the symptoms.
After having vented our quota of shaming our people, we slip back into coma until the next round of 'Shame the Indian' on social-media.
Request posters to read and re-read Adrija's important post on how Urban Local Government's (ULG) work.
Please note that if culture/ethinicity/religion are defining markers of squalor, Pakistan and BD's urban landscapes should be different but aren't. Sri Lanka same cultural markers and despite a civil war and economic woes, its urban landscapes offer valuable lessons.
See below links of studies from Malaysia and Sri Lanka where 60% of its finances are 'own-generated' and the remainder through central and provincial grants. The ULG's have significant viability and authority to coordinate various departments to deliver the last-mile urban landscapes which is good streets, parking facilities and well-maintained streets and alleys and parks despite facing similar issues like we do in India.
Contrast this with ULG's in India. Lets take the example of Chennai, my hometown.
- Local councillors started getting some salaries and this in 2023. Your urban councillors and mayors are powerless and toothless.
2. Chennai became eligible for grants from the centre only a few weeks ago. This is city which until a few years back had 35% own revenue versus now almost 60%. Only now is the GCC putting its act together. Sri Lanka in contrast has had decades of experience in sorting out local finances.
3. Chennai has to give a certain portion of its revenues to the state government! I'm sure its the same story across India. Plus, grass roots democracy in India exists to a large extent in Gram Panchayats the same is an ICU patient in municipal wards.
4. Niti Aayog states that at least 3 lakh urban planners are required.
5. Look at GCC high level org chart. The town planning is led by a Civil Engineer and what do they do, check FSI and certify buildings. That is town planning in a historical large metro like Chennai. Imagine the plight of other urban areas.
That last major urban planning in Chennai was Anna Nagar, carried out by the TN state government not the Chennai Corporation and that was in the 1970's. Control by the state government prevents ULG's from responding to the needs. They exist only to provide and maintain the bare minimum.
This will change only if delimitation happens and more assembly seats shift to where ULG's are, incentive to subsidize rural bodies disappear slowly. As you can see from above, ward councillors were only recently getting paid salaries. Signals a shift in power dynamics.
Having experiences living abroad for quite sometime, I found that a Tom Robinson on a motorcycle behaves the same way at a traffic signal as does a Tomar Rajendran at a traffic signal. I can cite similar examples but the point is blaming culture is a dead-end. The solution lies elsewhere. What you are seeing on the streets are only the symptoms.
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sanjaykumar
- BRF Oldie
- Posts: 6557
- Joined: 16 Oct 2005 05:51
Re: Indian Urban Development and Public Policy Discussion
I see abhjit iyer mitra is being inspired by some of the wording on this thread. Hehehe. “Plagiarise” away Abhjit (no problem in borrowing at all, you reach more people in India than I do).
Re: Indian Urban Development and Public Policy Discussion
Very old article, but posting here to show the impressive reduction of temperature inside the green buildings.
https://m.economictimes.com/realty-tren ... 519507.cms
Pearl Academy of Fashion in Jaipur, which was awarded the World's Best Learning Building at the World Architecture Festival (WAF) 2009 in Barcelona, competing among 611 global projects. Its design, located in a hot, dry desert climate, incorporates passive cooling strategies such as open courtyards, water bodies, and a step well, maintaining an internal temperature of 28°C. This reduces the need for air conditioning and artificial lighting, showcasing how traditional and contemporary architecture can merge for sustainability. The building uses natural light extensively, with blinds managing excess, and features like matkas in flooring for heat trapping and jaali designs for ventilation, as noted by Arindam Das, Director.
3C’s Lotus Boulevard, a residential project, features insulated walls and roofs reducing heat by 60%, solar external lighting, energy-efficient equipment, 80% open spaces, zero discharge, and unique water-harvesting systems, as per Vidur Bharadwaj, Director of 3C Company (C Company).
----------------------------
The above TOI article is from the year 2011. Other than few initiatives by private companies, is there a push by govt to enforce such standards? From news reports central govt already incentivising various reforms by state govt. But I don't know if green buildings are also included.
https://m.economictimes.com/realty-tren ... 519507.cms
Pearl Academy of Fashion in Jaipur, which was awarded the World's Best Learning Building at the World Architecture Festival (WAF) 2009 in Barcelona, competing among 611 global projects. Its design, located in a hot, dry desert climate, incorporates passive cooling strategies such as open courtyards, water bodies, and a step well, maintaining an internal temperature of 28°C. This reduces the need for air conditioning and artificial lighting, showcasing how traditional and contemporary architecture can merge for sustainability. The building uses natural light extensively, with blinds managing excess, and features like matkas in flooring for heat trapping and jaali designs for ventilation, as noted by Arindam Das, Director.
3C’s Lotus Boulevard, a residential project, features insulated walls and roofs reducing heat by 60%, solar external lighting, energy-efficient equipment, 80% open spaces, zero discharge, and unique water-harvesting systems, as per Vidur Bharadwaj, Director of 3C Company (C Company).
----------------------------
The above TOI article is from the year 2011. Other than few initiatives by private companies, is there a push by govt to enforce such standards? From news reports central govt already incentivising various reforms by state govt. But I don't know if green buildings are also included.
Re: Indian Urban Development and Public Policy Discussion
The following post on Reddit is a great explanation of the challenges around Indian urban development, broken down into the procedural mess involved:
Why Urban Design Initiatives Are So Hard to Pull Off in India – An Insider’s Take
Why Urban Design Initiatives Are So Hard to Pull Off in India – An Insider’s Take
Re: Indian Urban Development and Public Policy Discussion
Now that Fadnavis and Shinde have got Dharavi redevelopment project off the ground they should seriously try to solve the MIAL (mumbai airport) slum rehabilitation mess. It is pretty bad that visitors arriving at India's financial capital have to see the airport slums at first sight of India.
Rekha Gupta should turn the congested Delhi markets like Sadar Bazar, Karol Bagh, Chadni Chowk, etc into vertical shopping areas. Will clear up the mess around these markets and free up land for other development projects. May be easier to convince traders instead of shifting them to outlying areas.
Rekha Gupta should turn the congested Delhi markets like Sadar Bazar, Karol Bagh, Chadni Chowk, etc into vertical shopping areas. Will clear up the mess around these markets and free up land for other development projects. May be easier to convince traders instead of shifting them to outlying areas.
Re: Indian Urban Development and Public Policy Discussion
I guess work has started on that front in DelhiSupratik wrote: ↑04 Jun 2025 21:27
Rekha Gupta should turn the congested Delhi markets like Sadar Bazar, Karol Bagh, Chadni Chowk, etc into vertical shopping areas. Will clear up the mess around these markets and free up land for other development projects. May be easier to convince traders instead of shifting them to outlying areas.
https://www.business-standard.com/india ... 034_1.html