GENRE: Voices Citizen Matters

15th Finance Commission: Ignoring lessons from the pandemic

March 8, 2021 Tikender Panwar

The 15th Finance Commission has recommended a road map for devolution of funds to states and ULBs. But it completely ignores their real aspirations and needs, feels the author.

Why bioremediation is not a magic pill for India’s overflowing landfills

February 24, 2021 Pushkara SV

Urban Local Bodies across the country consider Indore’s bioremediation experiment as one worth emulating to clear out waste dumps at landfills. But is it really the best solution?

What I face everyday as a pedestrian in Hyderabad

February 12, 2021 Faraaz Ashraf

Bad design, faulty footpaths and a general disregard for pedestrian needs — a Hyderabad citizen calls out all that needs to change to make roads safer.

Future of jobs: From ‘I’ to ‘T’ to [Pi] ‘π’

January 27, 2021 Ambi Parameswaran

Hybridization has now moved up a notch. It is not just hybridization of jobs; it is also hybridization of how work gets done.

“Vaccines will help those who get it, as well as those who can’t”

December 30, 2020 K V Venkatasubramanian

As India prepares to vaccinate its mammoth population, we asked four eminent experts to share their views on the vaccine and the challenges of a mass vaccination drive.

Future of jobs: What this ‘gap year’ could mean for professionals in 2021

December 23, 2020 Ambi Parameswaran

As a B-School Dean mentioned in a webinar, be ready to answer the question, “What did you do during 2020 that you would not have done any time else?”

Opinion: This Diwali, let’s just be selfish!

November 13, 2020 Satarupa Sen Bhattacharya

The issue around firecrackers is not a religious, cultural or legal one. It is one that concerns every one of us individually, our health and that of our children.

Our city corporations need money. How can they raise it independently?

November 5, 2020 Shashank Atreya

COVID-19 has left both states and municipalities cash-strapped. Revamping property tax collection is one way to enable local bodies to rely less on state and central funding sources.

People-centric approach critical for solving India’s housing woes

October 30, 2020 Parul Agarwala, Swati Singh Sambyal and Pooja Varma

PMAY and Clean India Mission have built strong foundations for sustainable, inclusive housing but community engagement is crucial, say experts from UN-Habitat on the occasion of World Cities Day.

Where’s the roadmap to prevent the next Hyderabad-like flood?

October 28, 2020 Himanshu Thakkar

Urban flood disasters are clearly on the rise. The problem is known, the reasons evident, and the prescription is also more or less clear. But who will implement it?

Why the NHRC recognition for sex workers makes us especially happy

October 22, 2020 Santoshee Gulabkali Mishra

After a Citizen Matters article highlighted the plight of women in sex work during the pandemic, the National Network of Sex Workers pursued the matter more rigorously.

How RWAs in Gurugram are showing the way out of urban India’s waste crisis

October 14, 2020 Rahul Khera

Decentralized waste management systems could be an effective solution to the complex waste management challenge in our cities. An expert from Gurugram explains why and how.

Why your local park or sports stadium is ‘critical infrastructure’ for the city

October 6, 2020 Dhanya Rajagopal

Urban public spaces are generally not recognised for much beyond their real estate or recreational value. Yet globally, their potential in crisis or emergency situations is increasingly evident.

COVID-19 has put the spotlight on mental health, but India needs more

October 1, 2020 Ronald Yesudhas

COVID-19 has spawned a growing mental health crisis that can only be addressed by stepping up the availability and access to quality mental health services.

COVID-19 lessons: What city planners, governments and residents must think about

September 4, 2020 Trupti Deshpande

How can cities manage density? How can planning make cities more dynamic and capable of responding to emergencies? What changes can citizens look forward to in a post-COVID urban settlement?