Article | Inclusive Cities
Rethinking cities in times of pandemic & after
Kumar Dhananjay Consulting Editor
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It’s time to rethink our approach for an inclusive future. Among others, COVID-19 has also exposed stress of underinvestment in our cities. This also provides an opportunity to kickstart a fairer, stronger, safer and cleaner country. By doing so, we can not only rebuild resilience to any future pandemics but to other risks such as climate change, extreme flood situation and ecosystem destruction
e don’t know as yet, how long the pandemic is going to last but one thing is clear that this is an opportunity to set things right. We must find the courage and the vision to seize the moment for what it is- an opportunity to reset, to rethink the governance models for our cities. Indian cities are home to about 461 million people and contribute 63 percent of the GDP, yet they are at the frontline of this pandemic crisis. Mumbai, Chennai and Delhi alone have two thirds of all COVID positive cases. The images of makeshift hospitals in stadiums, clubs, and banquet halls are stark reminder of lack of health infrastructure even in our big cities, leave alone smaller towns and the hinterland. The population
28 August 2020 | www.urbanupdate.in
density in these cities has made it difficult to control the spread of the virus. That is why the COVID-19 crisis demands rethinking about Indian cities in particular.
Stark reality of urban inequality
Let’s look at some pointers of the stark reality of these times. India has 152-216 million people living in dense informal housing where access to piped water is often restricted. Given these dense living conditions it’s impossible to stay in self-isolation and practise frequent hand washing or social distancing. Naina Lal Kidwai, Chair, FICCI Water Mission says ‘access to clean piped water will make or break the best laid plans for tackling COVID-19.That’s why the government must prioritise the basic needs of the most vulnerable, including improving drinking water and
sanitation services. The FICCI Water Mission is focused on the reuse of waste water and grey water which deserves much attention as we look to conserve scarce resources’. She says that the urban poor have to risk their lives to survive. Food and nutrition are crucial for any individual. She adds ‘It’s time to rethink food and nutrition. Food insecurity is rapidly intensifying. India is home to 15.1 per cent of the world’s undernourished population, causing informal workers to face impossible choices between risking contracting the virus or losing their income, housing, and sustenance. That’s why the government must continue to provide legal entitlements for food and nutritional security and expand efforts to ensure food is available at affordable prices (or even free) for poorer families’. There is a need for improved working and living conditions. It’s time that policies and finances follow the people.
