Abstract
This paper explores how India’s urban planning frameworks need to be recalibrated to improve livelihood resiliency of urban poor, against public health emergencies. The coronavirus pandemic has substantially impacted India’s urban systems. The high-risk red zone classification of districts issued by the Ministry of Health Welfare predominantly consists of the major urban centres and prime economic hubs of the country. Most adversely impacted by the lockdown, are the urban poor in the informal economy. A process of reveres migration has begun, as faced with loss of income and harsh living conditions, millions of migrant workers have started returning to their rural roots. However, there are apprehensions that de-urbanisation can slowdown economic revival as cities are growth drivers and informal sector is a significant contributor in the process. It is also detrimental for the livelihood of the poor in the long run, as rural economy is already under severe stress. The way, India’s urban governance mechanism had sought to mitigate the crisis varies from state to state. The paper seeks to draw lessons about good practice, through three case studies. First, how the Integrated Command and Control Centres set up under the Smart Cities Mission, are helping the fight against the threats of community transmission of the disease through big-data analytics and surveillance of lockdown regulations in slum areas. Second, the Kerala model of denaturalised urban governance, where empowered city governments are adopting pro-poor, bottom-up planning strategies. Third, the Odisha model, where the government strategies are simultaneously trying to mitigate livelihood vulnerabilities by involving community based, women-run Self Help Groups in producing masks and other healthcare products. Based on the case studies, the paper suggests, how the successful interventions can be scaled up within the existing institutional arrangements of urban governance. The lessons drawn from the case studies are also useful for several other densely populated cities in Asia and Africa.
