GENRE: Voices

Mumbai is one of the most densely populated cities in the world and faces many challenges - from shrinking open spaces, rising pollution to serious climate change impact as a coastal city. We, at NAGAR, (NGO Alliance For Governance Advocacy Renewal), have been advocating and championing the cause of open spaces in Mumbai to ensure a better quality of life for all citizens for over two decades.  As assembly elections approach us, we would like to draw the attention of voters and candidates towards some of the pressing issues that need to be addressed urgently.  We hope that when the…

Amin Patel is a top-ranked MLA, representing the Mumbadevi assembly constituency, according to the report card brought out by Praja Foundation, an NGO that works on civic issues. Mumbadevi is one of the oldest and most diverse areas of Mumbai, where the incumbent Patel (Indian National Congress) has served for three consecutive terms. The area comprises Grant Road, Girgaum, Dongri, Tardeo, Umarkhadi, Bhuleshwar and Nagpada.  Maharashtra is all set to vote on November 20th in the Assembly elections. The state has 288 assembly seats and of these 36 are in Mumbai. Though the number is small, Mumbai remains significant as…

In recent monsoons, as heavy rains battered Chennai, causing floods and damage, many residents grew frustrated with the government's emergency call centres. Calls often went unanswered or were handled by outsourced agents unfamiliar with local issues. As the president of the United Federation of Residents in Tambaram, I felt it was essential to address the growing concerns about emergency support during the rainy season. Anticipating a heavy downpour on October 17th and 18th this year, we launched our community helpline — just days before the rains started. The helpline, reachable at 044-35901040, is manned by a dedicated team of around…

“Are we not 'ladki bahins' too?” wonder some women from migrant families of Chinchpada, Airoli in Thane. When the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana was launched, these low-income families hoped to benefit from the scheme, which promises women a monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,500 if their family’s annual income does not exceed Rs 2,50,000. This initiative seems like it would offer some relief to low-income migrant worker families in Chinchpada. However, it raises the question: who qualifies as a 'Ladki Bahin' (ladki bahin means dear sister)? A key barrier is the lack of essential documentation, such as Aadhaar cards,…

Candidates from various political parties are vying for votes in the upcoming Assembly elections. While the youth vote often takes centre stage, one demographic tends to be overlooked during election campaigns — senior citizens. According to data released by the Election Commission of India on October 30, 2024, there are 1.78 crore voters aged 60 and above, making up 18.34% of the total voter population.The interests of this 18.34% have been collated in a manifesto released by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Maharashtra, which represents 26 organisations working for senior citizens including NGOs, researchers and academics from the field…

Imagine leaving your hometown to find work in a new, unfamiliar city. After days and weeks of struggle, you finally land a construction job in the bustling metropolis. With every sunrise, you toil hard along with others like you —  with a mix of excitement and unease — so that you can make ends meet. The days turn into weeks, and you eat, sleep and work with the hope that you will visit home and be reunited with loved ones for the festival in the coming week. But, then suddenly, the dream is crushed, buried beneath the rubble. On October…

Launched in 2022, the Tamil Nadu Urban Employment Scheme (TNUES) aims to provide employment opportunities to urban households through local public works at minimum wages. With this initiative, Tamil Nadu joined Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha and Jharkhand, which were implementing similar programmes, essentially extending MGNREGA to urban areas. Economists and urban development scholars have advocated these programmes, especially post the COVID-19 pandemic, as an important social safety net for the livelihood security of urban informal workers. In Tamil Nadu and other states, such schemes highlight the need and demand for social security measures. Implementation through urban local bodies This article delves into the implementation of…

In August/September this year, Chennai resident Rajiv attempted to update his name in the property tax records of his flat in Chromepet. The Tambaram City Municipal Corporation (TCMC) rejected his online application and asked him to file the papers offline. He was also told to pay Rs10,000 towards the charges for a name change. Finding this amount excessive, he brought the issue to the attention of the press. A local reporter investigated the matter and contacted the TCMC Commissioner, who allegedly disputed the high fees at first. However, after consulting officials, he later confirmed that such a fee is mandatory, per…

Praja, the NGO which works to ensure government accountability, has released a target based manifesto for reforms in Maharashtra for the upcoming assembly elections. The manifesto is designed to empower local governments as they are best placed  to understand and resolve local urban issues. It outlines four major urban governance reforms, each with clearly identified goals, issues and targets which are in alignment with the sustainable development goals. Urban governance reforms Empowered City Elected Representatives and Legislative Structure: Empowered governance leads to effective governance. This requires urgent measures like timely and regular municipal elections and training for councillors. Service delivery: Devolution…

Public open spaces in Indian cities are scarce, falling below the WHO (World Health Organisation) standard of 9 sq.m. per person. Traditionally, Indian streets have served as multifunctional spaces, accommodating various users and activities, and playing a vital role in daily life. For example, Marine Drive in Mumbai is a popular spot for joggers and fitness enthusiasts in the early mornings and transforms into a social hub during evenings where people gather to relax, watch the sunset, and enjoy street food.  While urban planning has historically looked at streets merely as routes for mobility, the Smart Cities Mission has shifted…