URBANISATION IS A BLESSING IN DISGUISE!

Anjali is a resident of Kalahandi in Odisha. She wants to become a pilot and seeks inspiration from Kalpana Chawla. Due to failure of agriculture, her father moves to Delhi along with family in search of better prospects. However, he could not find a better job so he started working in construction sector and he stays with his family in a slum where they are forced to drink polluted water, breathe contaminated air with no amenities. Finally, Anjali also joins same job to assist her family. Her dream of becoming a pilot extinguished like smoke.

Anjali became a victim of reckless urbanization which does not cater to people’s dreams. Hence, this calls for a careful analysis of this topic. We will discuss the definition of urbanization, how urbanization is a blessing and how is it a disguise? And finally we will see how to improve present model of urbanization to make it more inclusive.

URBANISATION: DEFINITION & EVOLUTION

Urbanisation is a natural result of economic growth which enables people to seek for better life. Urban area is an integrated place -where everything becomes accessible which make people’s life easier. Urbanisation in our country dates back to Indus valley civilization. At present, 31% of India’s populations reside in urban areas (2011 causes). As our economy is growing. Urbanization is also poised to grow.

URBANISATION: A BLESSING

Urban areas are the economic hub of our country. It contributes 35% to our GDP hence become the economic engine; it remains a major source of employment, economic activities and also provides a huge market. For instance, Delhi is a bigger market than entire Rajasthan.

Further, it becomes a melting point of different way of life & cultures. People from hinterland come to urban areas to escape casteism and rigid religious rituals. Women get adequate rights & freedom to pursue their career competing with their male counterparts.

Further, urban region become a place of modernization and rationalization due to presence of educational institutes. It defines the way of development of ideas and infrastructure. Presence of intellectuals in urban areas promotes social changes in governance. eq – India Against Corruption campaign.

Moreover, it shows the prosperity of a nation. In our case, sustainable urbanization provides a push to India towards becoming a superpower in the 21st century. Our inclusive development also promotes our diplomatic soft power as it attracts developing countries and they aspire to imitate our model of development.

Urban areas provide a better way of life. Better living standard to the people. It also becomes a peace to bring about social, economic and political changes. For instance, movements demanding equality for LGBTQ+ was predominantly in urban areas and their victory yielded country wide fruits. 

Having seen this, let us see the other side of the coin which shows that all is not well.

URBANISTION: A DISGUISE

Recent outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the internal squabble of urban development. Migrants were forced to walk towards their home as they lacked means to sustain their life during lockdown phase. It became more clear that people who are migrant have no way to have a sustainable life in urban society.

Further, reckless development model where environment is not taken care of, deforestation is done at a large scales.  It has posed problems like pollution in cities. For example, 14 out of 15 most polluted cities are in India. Problem of Delhi which becomes a ‘gas chamber’ during winter shows unscientific model of development.

Moreover, social amenities like education, health, clean water etc. are not accessible and affordable to poorer section. Prevalence of slums, urban sprawls etc. further chokes prosperity of urban areas.

Similarly, physical infrastructure like roods, electricity, sewerage etc remain in grim state. It seems that urbanization has become a blessing in disguise for those who own capital. Recent Mumbai flood affected the lives of people to a great extent, particularly of those living in slums.

In political sphere also, governance is not citizen centric. Mayors are not elected directly. The decentralization of democracy has not taken place. Urban areas are modern in outlook, yet the citizens become victims of politics based on caste, religion etc. which defeat the purpose.

Hence, presence of ‘gated communities’ proves that urbanization remains Island of prosperity in the ocean of gloom.

URBANISATION: MAKING BLESSING DISGUISE

Urbanisation indeed can emerge as blessing in disguise if we take some steps to reform the model of development.

Firstly, there is need to make urbanization inclusive by providing a life of dignity to all who come to cities in search of good life. Slum development, slum retrofitting, creation of infrastructure could be a way forward.

Secondly, there is a serious need to bring about politico – administrative changes. Mayors should be elected directly, and their office must become politically relevant. These 74th Amendment Act needs to be reformed, civil services reform, along with financial reforms to make urban areas a manifest destiny.  Finally, as SDG aims, development must be sustainable, planned. Various SDG goals like Goal – 6(clean drinking water), Goal 20 (Inclusive development) Goal 5 (gender equality) etc. must be taken into account while making plans. Moreover, a sustainable city is not feasible without sustainable village. Thus, both should be looked in continuum. 

Thus, Development should to not be about roads, skyscrapers rather it should be about people. The ultimate motive should be to provide life of dignity to all, an opportunity to all to discover their dreams. Therefore, I believe that collective actions are being taken to ensure that no dream dies as  happened  to Anjali, to  make a society envisaged by our constitution.