Author: PRIA Blog
By Col. VP Gupta (Retd.)
Ever since PM Modi expressed his desire to create 100 Smart cities in India, the debate on smart cities has been going on. A lot has been written and discussed about the proposed smart cities from use of technology, designing of smart cities, facilities required/ expected, funding etc and who will be the lucky ones to live in these smart cities. Why only cities, why can’t villages or wards become smart? While the debate is on , the common man, the citizens who will ultimately live and form smart cities, are not clear as to what a smart city is or what makes a city, a village or a ward really smart . The question is real and people are still grappling with the jargon to understand what really makes a city smart?? Why can’t Delhi, Mumbai or the other metros become smart cities, is it necessary to build a city afresh to make it smart, what a smart city/village/ward look like, how various systems/facilities will function. What will be advantages or disadvantages to live in a smart city, will it be very expensive or affordable for the poor and non poor people. Such like discussions are common these days even as the government is moving ahead with their plans to create smart cities. While the plans are still under the wraps, it may be a good idea to create model smart cities for next generations to draw lessons and to improve them further to meet the future needs.
Like everyone else, I have also been scratching my head to find the answers. So I thought, as to what a city needs to provide a good quality of life with all basic necessities and amenities. What our present day cities are lacking and what needs to be done to make cities, villages and the wards inclusive and smart. I noticed that while infrastructure exists there is hardly any attachment or involvement of the people in its development or maintenance. The infrastructure has been created by the successive governments and various disjointed management plans have been made for the citizens to follow. So I concluded that while the modern technology and thorough planning could develop or turn existing cities, villages or wards smart but to ensure really sustainable development, one common and most essential requirement is citizen’s participation and ownership in making and managing a city/village or a ward. When we look anywhere in India, we notice that there is no feeling or sense of ownership by the people. But wherever, there is citizens/ residents participation and a sense of ownership, those localities /villages or communities are happier than the others. So I felt that the most important single factor for all inclusive smart cities is to ensure citizens participation/integration right from the inception stage to engrave a sense of ownership among them.
Only the other day, someone asked me ‘what is a smart city’? So I said that if you resolve all problems which the citizens face and generate a sense of ownership among the people, even Delhi can become a smart city. But is it possible to resolve all problems of Delhi and I felt why not? Of course, it cannot be achieved quickly but if we proceed systematically, with active citizen’s participation, in a few years’ time most problems can be removed. Therefore, I analyzed the problems which are common in most cities, villages and the wards. To my mind the most common problems which the citizens face are:
Basic essential requirements
Other problem Areas
The list can go on and on……. .
However, an analysis of the above problems indicate lack of governance and of course total absence of peoples participation and feeling of ownership. Like the cleanliness drive started by PM Modi – it started off with a bang but slowly it has either cooled down or will cool down in due course. Why? Because the authorities that be, failed to involve people in planning and managing cleanliness. Let people make their own plans, provide them the resources and they will surprise with the results. Let people manage cleanliness of their respective areas through participatory methodology, allocate responsibilities i.e. let them get the feeling of ownership and participation and the process will become a habit. Similarly, if we take up other problems and promote citizens participation in planning, execution and management of various systems at work, we could create sustainable governance mechanisms leading to participatory democratic governance models. We need to energize our existing governance systems with catalytic citizen’s participation thus creating a sense of ownership among the people at large.
So it dawns that before we move forward for creation of smart cities , smart villages or smart wards, we should integrate the citizens committees/ associations, representatives through awareness campaigns ,workshops, discussions / presentations and formulate our plans and designs for the smart cities. This participatory methodology will generate a sustainable democratic governance model which will meet the challenges of time and absorb new developments in science and technology. The current governance model needs to adapt itself to the participatory mode by bringing in active citizens participation at all levels for sustainable and all round development. We need to create new and effective models with citizens’ participation to usher in true democratic governance.
Once we start creating smart cities, villages and smart wards with active citizens participation, our dream of creating SMART INDIA is bound to be realized in quick time.
PRIA’s MobiliseHER team traveled to Bangalore during the week of June, 10 – 14, 2024. The aim of the visit was to gain relevant insights into the civil society ecosystem in Bangalore and meet different organisations to understand the city through a lens of gender and inclusive mobility.
Working at PRIA, often leads us to various cities across the country. Each trip is an opportunity to witness firsthand the challenges and triumphs of different communities.
Mr. Yedukrishnan V has recently joined PRIA after gaining valuable experience in the development sector. Drawing from his journey in the social sector and personal encounters in Kerala, he emphasises the importance of participatory governance and research in empowering marginalised communities.'
