Why our small towns are a mess
Small towns can be developed as examples of sustainable urban development. Ensuring that a population of 100,000 gets adequate water, electricity and solid waste management systems is simpler than dealing with these problems in million-plus cities. Community participation is critical – but missing -- for better governance of our small towns
Slumdogs and small towns
Little is known or written about the 2,000 small and medium towns of India. The one characteristic that defines them all, says this report from towns such as Madhubani, Jhunjhunu and Sehore, is the absence of planning. Many of these towns do not even possess an accurate town map. And upto a quarter of their population lives in slums
India's small towns - symbols of urban blight
68% of India's urban population lives not in the metros but in towns with population of less than 100,000, many of which get water for a few minutes once a week or every alternate day. No one even talks about the appalling absence of infrastructure in these towns
The medical emergency of the urban poor
The Mumbai municipal corporation is reportedly considering a proposal to restrict use of public health facilities to those who can produce proof of residence. Such a precondition will automatically exclude the poorest, people living in illegal settlements, though recent data from NFHS-3 reveals that abysmal conditions in which the urban poor live have a direct impact on their health
Why toilets matter
Open defecation in urban India is declining very slowly, with over 5 million people in Indian cities still defecating outside. Could this be because the urban middle class monopolises the existing basic services like water supply and sanitation and therefore does not impel change, asks Kalpana Sharma
