Amenities - Question of Cities

‘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 a good social indicator, says anthropologist and author Rashmi Sadana, because it means more women work, their health…

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…

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…

Addressing water inequity in Dhulikhel is critical for environmental justice

The water security in Dhulikhel, a thriving mid-hill town 24 kilometres from Kathmandu, is determined by the interplay of history, geography, caste…

Housing as a way to claim citizenship and exercise rights in Indian cities

The city is a key site where various notions of citizenship are claimed and contested. Since much of urban India lives and…

Jaga: Odisha’s land title to slum dwellers worthy of emulation

In a landmark move, pushed by slum dwellers’ movements, the Odisha government introduced a law which made the Jaga Mission possible. Instead…

India’s urban housing crisis: Chasing the affordable dream

Cities in India are centres of commercial activity and infrastructure development. The urban poor, often employed as informal labour, live in informal settlements because they cannot afford houses in cities. With the urban population set to increase, the shortage of…

Living the homeless life as Delhi’s shelter homes lie vacant

With thousands of shelterless people battling Delhi’s inclement weather on the streets, the Right to the City seems to be a far-fetched…

Story of slums in laws, judgments, and housing schemes

As the number of homeless and urban poor multiply in cities, adequate housing remains a complex issue that governments have neglected. The…