Addressing inequality in cities with creativity

Local and regional governments have been trying to bring equality to urban areas. The complexity of the issue demands innovations and creativity in tackling the problem. Many urban local bodies are creatively handling the issue of inequality at the local level. The recently released report Pathways to Urban and Territorial Equality by United Cities and Local Government (UCLG), in partnership with the Bartlett Development Planning Unit (DPU) of University College London and the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), presents several learning for local governments across the world. It is part of the UCLG Global Observatory on Local Democracy and Decentralization (GOLD) VI Report recently released at the UCLG World Congress in South Korea.
The report provides six pathways to urban equality: Commoning, Caring, Connecting, Renaturing, Prospering and Democratizing. City officials and elected representatives interested in each pathway’s details must read the report to learn from the experiences of cities addressing inequality in their areas and understand the nuances of the origination of the report’s frameworks. According to the report’s commentary, these respond to the unequal access to housing and public services, the uneven distribution of care burdens, challenges related to sustainable transport and digital connectivity, dignified livelihood opportunities, climate change and uneven political representation, among others.
Malang city in Indonesia launched a unique insurance programme for citizens. With this medical insurance, people can pay the premium and access medical services using garbage as currency. In another part of the world, Sao Paulo, Brazil introduced a new legal framework to allow cultural groups to keep living in vacant warehouses and recognize their value in local demography. The report has an example from Tanzania, where the local government saved money from one project to serve the local community’s needs. In partnership with a utility company, Dar es Salaam local government, an NGO, and the local community designed a simplified sewage system that reduced costs and provided funds for an additional 60 toilets.
Cities in India and elsewhere must focus on updating their understanding of the issue of inequality and learning new ways of handling the problems. COVID-19 and its aftereffects have emboldened social disparity in cities and towns. It has also provided a valid reason for local governments to look at the problem empathetically. It is not just about the survival of have-nots in urban centres but also the survival of cities as entities and habitations. One cannot forget how industrial cities faced a shortage of workers after the series of lockdowns as COVID-19 had impelled people to move to their native places without sustaining their regular incomes. Cities cannot have the advantage of economy of scale, density, and other urban benefits if they do not properly care for all their citizens. The rich can never be the primary focus. Everyone needs to be served equitably to build a just and inclusive society.