Bridging the gap between ghettos and gated communities

The Right to Education Bill is one such effort. The UN-Habitat in its latest report on the ‘state of the world’s cities-2010-11,’ while dwelling on the theme of bridging the urban divide, has advocated the concept of ‘Right to the City.’

Urbanisation has emerged as a positive force for transformation and the world is moving towards a predominantly urban era. Cities generate wealth, create opportunities for education and employment and a richer social and cultural life. It is also true that various forms of exclusion continue to marginalise large number of residents, depriving them access to many of the opportunities cities offer, in other words, the right to enjoy the ‘urban advantage.’ Urban growth has also come to be identified with poverty and slums.

According to the UN report, the urban divide is the result of economic, social, political and cultural exclusion. Income inequalities are generally high in developing countries, particularly in Asia.

The degree of inequalities in both income and consumption is greater in urban than in rural areas. Income inequalities also reflect the spatial divide in cities. The poor, unable to afford shelter in fully serviced areas, are confined to the least desirable spaces while the rich can invest in housing in secluded places.

The emergence of gated communities clearly illustrates socioeconomic clustering in our cities. The physical and social distance between poor and rich neighbourhoods represents a spatial poverty trap. The urban advantage continues to elude the poor creating an opportunity divide.

The opportunities which should be shared by all are apportioned by a select few interest groups who manage to capture the institutions. The poor are thus deprived of proper shelter, basic utilities and dignified employment to which they are entitled.

The concept of the right to the city has evolved over the last several years in response to the need for creating better opportunities for all, particularly the poor and marginal sections. A world charter on right to the city was devised in 2004 by some civil society organisations in association with Unesco and UN-Habitat.

Bridging the urban divide calls for a holistic approach. A survey of 27 cities by the UN suggests that lack of inclusive development policies is a major factor restricting the rights, opportunities and aspirations of the weaker segments of the society.

The concept of right to the city may be deployed in various ways across different regions and cities of the world. Brazil included the right to the city in its constitution as far back as 1988. Rosario, the third largest city in Argentina, declared itself a ‘Human Rights City’ with a commitment to openness, transparency and accountability.

RTI power

In India, the Citizen’s Charter is seen as an attempt to ensure the services a citizen is entitled to. The Right to Information Act has actually emerged as a more powerful tool in promoting transparency.

The UN report has outlined certain strategic steps to bridge the urban divide and promote an inclusive city. First, it is essential to build more effective and stronger institutions which can pave the way for genuine change as different from the existing ones generally perceived as favouring the rich and the powerful.

Secondly, necessary linkages should be established among the various tiers of government (Central, state and local) to promote better coordination amongst them, and also between public authorities and civil society including the private sector.

Thirdly, cities need a clear vision of their future that is based on its specific identity, comparative advantage, geographic endowments and cultural dimensions. The vision should be converted into a workable plan and endorsed by the broadest possible constituency. Finally, it is important to ensure the redistribution of opportunities across the urban populations.

In India, we lack a coherent policy towards the development of cities. There have no doubt been a number of projects and schemes to upgrade urban infrastructure, provide housing for the poor and improve the environment of slums. But there has been no policy that addresses the fundamental problems of urban  inequalities.

As a result, while the average incomes of city dwellers might have increased, the economic and social disparities have widened. The urban poor lack minimum housing facilities including basic amenities, even as luxury homes abound. The land use pattern is highly skewed in favour of the rich and influential. The various programmes and investments have not necessarily ensued in higher inclusion.

The system of reservation in municipal elections (for SCs, STs, OBCs and women) might be said to have ensured a certain degree of political inclusion. However, this has not actually translated into social justice to the really poor and deprived. It is time the right to the city is viewed in its proper perspective and policies aimed at balanced and multicultural type of urban development are formulated to transform our urban centres into truly inclusive cities.

(The writer is an advisor to the chief minister on urban affairs)