POLICY

Members of civil society organizations, urban poor and worker collectives place their demands that reimagine cities and envision more inclusive and sustainable urban development, so that there is a place for all in these cities.

As election discourse heats up, many political parties promise to make urban mobility, public transport key areas of focus. But do they walk the talk? What does the proposal for an elevated corridor in Bengaluru say about the search for sustainable mobility solutions?

As elections get underway, are you still confused about why you should vote and for whom? What can an MP do for you if his party does not stand a chance at the Centre? Should you vote in view of a Prime Ministerial candidate? All those tricky questions answered right here…

The Centre for Sustainable Employment at Bangalore’s Azim Premji University has drafted a policy paper, calling for the creation of a National Urban Employment Guarantee Programme for small and medium towns that would assure residents in these a legal right to employment.

In Pune, a two-wheeler rider wore a cooking pan on his head, to protest the crackdown on helmet-less riders. In Puducherry, the chief minister himself led a dharna against mandatory use of helmets by all two-wheeler riders. What’s behind such apparently senseless protests?

Atishi Marlena, formerly advisor to the Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister in Delhi, is often credited with having created a revolution in the capital city’s government schools. In this exclusive interview, she talks of the journey and her future plans as a parliamentarian, if elected.

Parliament nod to the Constitutional amendment providing 10 percent reservation to economically weaker sections has predictably stirred a hornet’s nest. But how much do you really know about how the system of quotas works and how the latest move will change the math?

DPRs, or Detailed Project Reports, prepared according to Swachh Bharat Mission guidelines, should form the base for planning and execution of SWM in urban local bodies. Find out what the CAG says about them in its performance audit report.

Heavy schoolbags have serious health effects. Yet, in many cities, children carry almost half their body weight on their backs. The recent central government order to reduce schoolbag weight also looks unlikely to make much difference.

India is set to have 5000 waste to energy plants in the next five years that will convert agricultural residue, cattle dung and municipal solid waste into usable biogas. But are the conditions conducive and will it solve the waste crisis in our cities?

Roads made out of plastic waste have been touted as a solution to the mounting plastic crisis in the country. What has been the experience of Indian states and cities with this approach so far? And what are the primary challenges?

The environment ministry has made it mandatory for all new coal-based power plants in the country to comply with criteria on human health as part of environmental clearance procedures. Welcome as a first step, it may still need more for a full blown health impact assessment.