All cogs of the wheel need to work together

The recent changing priorities of cities because of the Pandemic, and before that, because of looming dangers of climate change is bringing transformation in urban management worldwide. The meaningful transformation needs collective responsibility, shared agendas, and joint efforts of all tiers of governments in the region and collaboration with associations elsewhere for achieving the common agenda of our urban spaces.

Poverty and inequality are at the root of most of the problems cities are facing today. It is a universal issue. Let’s look closer and focus on the Indian situation. The causes of urban poverty can be linked to the lack of infrastructure in rural areas, forcing inhabitants of these regions to seek employment in mega-cities. These migrants are often not skilled and unable to get a job in the formal economy eventually ending up in the vicious cycle of low-paying, insecure jobs. They also live in informal settlements and often do not become legal citizens, and at times, they cannot access civic services. If the policymakers can address this issue at the village level, it will lessen the cities’ burden. The government has shown intention with introducing the Rurban mission, but the on-ground impact is yet to be analyzed. The government needs to stress on effective implementation of such schemes and programs so that cities and villages can grow and prosper together. The development of one should not happen at the cost of
the other.

The states have to take the initiative and transfer control over functions and corresponding powers to the cities, while the authority of monitoring and holding cities accountable could rest with the state. This suggestion was proposed during the National Consultation on Urban Governance in January 2020 in New Delhi

There is a strong need to strengthen policies for addressing issues of rural and urban habitats. City officials, leaders and their rural counterparts would have to work together. Every city wants to become efficiently managed, and it can only be done when they are serving the population as per its resource capacity. It can be done when the government creates a healthy infrastructure at the village level. People need not come to cities for every small thing like a health check-up or sending their children to a good school. Such facilities must be available everywhere. There is no denying that we need buzzing cities for a prosperous economy. Still, cities will have to become efficient, attractive and sustainable in their practices for supporting long-term sustained growth. Cities will have to function at full steam.

State and city coordination

In the Indian context, state governments’ role becomes crucial in ensuring that their cities’ development model is in the right shape as the financing of most of the programs and projects comes from the coffer of the states. The demand from cities for transferring more powers to them is long pending. There is a need to introduce specific systematic changes as envisioned in the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act (CAA) that has not been implemented uniformly in letter and spirit in all the states. City governments need to hold complete control over all the 18 functions specified in the Twelfth Schedule, 74th CAA and other vital urban functions that need to be planned and executed at the city level. The states have to take the initiative and transfer control over functions and corresponding powers to the cities, while the authority of monitoring and holding cities accountable could rest with the state. Another issue is the overlapping role of multiple agencies in a city. Local governments should also be empowered and made a nodal agency for exercising regulatory control over multiple agencies executing projects to eliminate coordination between various agencies in the city. All the cogs in the urban wheel need to work together for driving sustainable development. These suggestions were also proposed during the National Consultation on Urban Governance in January 2020 in New Delhi.

International collaborations

We live in a connected world. The action of one country impacts everyone. Since the countries and cities are growing in size and population, their choices impact globally. If one country is emitting more greenhouse gases, then it is affecting the whole world. Similar is valid for consumer behaviour pattern, people’s fashion choices, lifestyle, gadgets, disposing of garbage, etc. Local issues do not remain local anymore. Local leaders need to drive the change and inspire people for opting for sustainable choices in their day-to-day lives. Such an agenda is common for every city.
Cities in the developing world are trying to build superior infrastructure, flourishing industrial hubs, and smart civic services to become smart and intelligent while still struggling to provide clean water, adequate housing, functioning public spaces and mobility alternatives. On the other hand, cities in the developed world are making efforts to ensure less noise pollution, accessible and attractive public places, and create a sense of purpose in their citizen’ lives. The priorities of cities in both worlds are strikingly different.

It is undoubtedly because of their present conditions, but this allows them to learn from each other, especially cities in the developing world. They can know what model they should not adapt for development and what could work best for them depending on their resources and strengths. Many initiatives in the past promoted sister cities engagement. Still, most of the time, in many cities, such collaborations became a one-time photo op or a couple of their representatives’ tours. The study report of such learning is hardly available for their counterparts in their countries to learn from. The model of exchange programs also needs a revisit at formulation and intended outcome level. During the World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders, city leaders have agreed to build on the catalyzing force of the cities and regions around the world as well as on the solidarity and capacity of their associations to multiply impact, scale up action and amplify its implications at all levels. Such initiatives shall be formalised in the existing government systems to address cities and local associations’ concerns in time. At the local level, municipal corporations, standing/subject committees should conduct meetings regularly, and international agendas should be discussed. It is also a good idea that cities must be members of functioning local government associations to keep abreast with ongoing happenings at a global level and be always prepared for the change in their practices to make them more efficient and sustainable.
In the post-covid world, every city is talking about transforming its existing governance and management models. It has to build on a fair, equal and sustainable basis and keep in mind the immediate and future needs of local citizens without compromising
their aspirations.