How does smart city in India, address the issues of urban poverty and distributive justice? (Answer in 150 words)

How to Approach

The approach should first define the Smart Cities Mission (SCM) contextually (launched 2015, inclusive development). Then, structure the answer into two parts: how SCM addresses urban poverty (through housing, livelihood, digital access) and how it promotes distributive justice (through equitable service delivery, participatory planning, and convergence with social schemes). Use specific examples/schemes like PMAY or NULM for evidence, keeping the total word count strict.

Model Answer

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Introduction

The Smart Cities Mission (SCM), launched in June 2015, aims to foster sustainable and inclusive urban development by leveraging technology and planning for 100 cities. While primarily focused on infrastructure and service delivery, the mission inherently addresses urban poverty and the principle of distributive justice by ensuring equitable access to opportunities and resources for all citizens, especially the urban poor. This dual focus seeks to bridge the urban divide through targeted interventions and smart governance mechanisms.

Addressing Urban Poverty and Distributive Justice through SCM

The SCM tackles poverty and justice through Area-Based Development (ABD) and Pan-City Initiatives, often converging with existing welfare schemes.

Addressing Urban Poverty

SCM components aim to improve living conditions and livelihoods for the urban poor:

Affordable Housing & Basic Services: Convergence with Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) (PMAY-U) for slum rehabilitation and EWS housing construction. For instance, Ahmedabad Smart City constructed over 10,000 affordable housing units.
Livelihood & Skill Development: Integration with DAY-NULM for skill training in emerging sectors, such as in Pune and Bhubaneswar. Digital marketplaces also formalize street vendors, like in Surat.
Digital Inclusion: Providing free Wi-Fi zones and Common Service Centers (CSCs) in slums, ensuring digital access for the urban poor.

Ensuring Distributive Justice

Justice is sought via equitable access and transparent governance:

Inclusive Infrastructure: Developing accessible mobility options like Smart Bus Rapid Transit (BRTS) that serve slum areas, as seen in Ahmedabad.
Participatory Governance: Citizen engagement apps (e.g., Bangalore's Sahaya) allow marginalized communities to report issues directly, ensuring their needs are addressed.
Data-Driven Allocation: Using GIS mapping to identify and prioritize underserved areas for development, as done in Chennai.

However, the focus on ABD risks excluding peripheral areas if not balanced with Pan-City solutions.

Conclusion

The Smart Cities Mission has the potential to be a significant vehicle for addressing urban poverty and ensuring distributive justice through concrete actions in housing, digital access, and inclusive mobility. Success hinges on the mission balancing technological advancement with a deliberate, pro-poor focus in planning and implementation. Future efforts must ensure that Pan-City initiatives effectively reach the most vulnerable to prevent exacerbating existing spatial inequalities.

Answer Length

This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.

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Additional Resources

Key Definitions

Distributive Justice

In the urban context, it implies the fair sharing of public resources, opportunities, and city benefits across different neighborhoods and social groups, ensuring that the most vulnerable are not marginalized.

Area-Based Development (ABD)

A core strategy of the SCM where a defined area within a city is selected for intensive, replicable smart interventions, which poses a risk of spatial exclusion if not balanced.

Key Statistics

The Smart Cities Mission aims to develop 100 cities, with significant progress seen in project completion, having completed 7,380 out of 8,075 projects as of late 2024.

Source: PIB, 2024

In many Indian cities, the lower-income group and economically weaker sections constitute about 50-55% of the population, often occupying less than 20% of the land area, highlighting the scale of urban poverty.

Examples

Telemedicine Kiosks in Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad has established over 200 telemedicine kiosks in urban slums, connecting residents to specialists and improving healthcare access for the urban poor, demonstrating a smart health intervention for equity.

Smart Vending Zones in Surat

Surat's smart city initiative included creating digital marketplaces for street vendors, helping to formalize over 5,000 informal businesses and providing them with a secure economic base.

Frequently Asked Questions

▶What is the main criticism against SCM regarding social equity?

The primary criticism is that the focus on Area-Based Development (ABD) may lead to unequal distribution of resources, primarily benefiting central, more affluent areas, potentially exacerbating spatial segregation and marginalizing the urban poor in non-ABD zones.

Topics Covered

GovernanceSocial IssuesUrban DevelopmentSmart Cities MissionUrban povertyDistributive justiceIndia

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