Amenities - Question of Cities

Placing platform workers in the city’s urban imagination

The city is the place of work for millions of platform or gig workers in India who number an astounding 7.7 million in official records but could well be three times that. Yet, the relationship between them and the city…

At Hyderabad airport, drivers agitate for the bare minimum

It took nearly ten years, collectivisation, and dogged unionising for the drivers of aggregator taxis at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport to…

‘Women’s access to gig work is challenged by their access to digital infrastructure’

Women gig workers form a niche and gender-segregated part of the expanding platform and gig economy. It will reportedly provide 90 million…

Platforming domestic work will amplify existing vulnerabilities of workers

The platform and gig economy took a leap into the unorganised domestic work sector in March when advertisements promised ‘maids’ at a…

We want safe cities, we want feminist cities

The heinous rape-murder of a doctor in Kolkata sparked off heated discussions on women’s safety in cities. Safety of women anywhere is…

Small but significant changes for gender-inclusive cities

Safe and clean public spaces, accessible convenience areas and toilets at regular intervals, areas that they can rest for a while, streets…

‘The Delhi metro is inclusive but also not equitable’

The metro in New Delhi was a game changer for women, making travel accessible, faster, and safer. Greater ridership by women is…

Self-policing for safety: Memoir of a weary woman

This personal essay explores, with anecdotes and examples, how young girls are conditioned into behaving a certain way, within frameworks set in homes and schools, to remain safe at all times. This then influences the way women hold themselves in…

The COP28 climate agreement is a step backwards on fossil fuels

In a significant move, countries have agreed to shift from fossil fuels. But, the agreement falls short in addressing the use of…

As climate-related ailments worsen, Dhaka hospitals fail to serve the poor

Bangladesh recorded its worst outbreak of dengue this year, highlighting its crumbling and inadequate healthcare. The poor have been the worst affected…