The Smart Cities Mission aims to improve quality of life, economic opportunity, and sustainability through technology-enabled and citizen-centric urban governance.
Role of smart cities in addressing issues of urban poverty and distributive justice
Inclusive Urban Service Delivery – Area-based development with upgraded basic services in low-income neighbourhoods. Eg- 24×7 water supply in slum clusters using smart metering in Indore
Affordable Housing – Convergence with PM Awas Yojana-Urban for in-situ redevelopment.
Technology-Enabled Targeting of Welfare to reduce exclusion and leakage.
Improved Urban Mobility for the Poor– Smart buses, integrated ticketing, and pedestrian-friendly streets. Eg- Ahmedabad’s BRTS
Livelihood Generation and Skill Development– Skill hubs, incubation centres, and support for street vendors and MSMEs. Eg- “Smart Vending Zones” in Lucknow
Digital Inclusion and Access- Citizen service centres, Public Wi-Fi, digital kiosks, enabling access to welfare, certificates, and grievance redressal.
Participatory Governance through technology. Eg- Namma Bengaluru (Sahaaya 2.0) mobile app for reporting civic grievances in Bangalore
Safety, Health, and Social Infrastructure – Smart surveillance, lighting, and emergency response improve safety for vulnerable groups.
Environmental Justice– Eg- Flood mitigation, heat action plans, and green public spaces in dense areas.
Transparency and Accountability in service delivery and outcomes. Eg- Public dashboards tracking water supply, waste management, and complaints.
Challenges
Area-Based Development Bias – Benefits concentrated in selected enclaves.
Technology-Centric Design risks excluding digitally marginalised groups.
Policy bias– Eg- Preference for visible projects over social infrastructure.
Weak Community Participation – Low representation of slum dwellers in planning forums.
Fragmented Governance – Eg- Overlaps among municipal bodies, SPVs, and parastatals.
Affordability Concerns – Eg- Fare hikes in public transport affects daily-wage earners.
Way Forward
Scaling ‘SAHAYOG’ initiative of Odisha government at Pan India level
Inclusive urban planning with affordable housing near workplaces
In-situ slum upgrading instead of peripheral relocation
With rights-based, inclusive, and people-centric urban policies, cities can instead become spaces of opportunity, dignity, and upward mobility for the urban poor.
Effects of Globalization
2018 – ‘Globalisation is generally said to promote cultural homogenisation but due to this cultural specificities appear to be strengthened in Indian society.’ Elucidate.
Thomas Friedman, (The Lexus and the Olive Tree), defines globalization as the inexorable integration of markets, nation-states, and technologies, making it farther, faster, deeper, and cheaper.
Globalization Promoting Cultural Homogenization
McDonaldization- standardization of food habits through fast-food culture
Linguistic Imperialism- English as the lingua franca of the corporate and digital world.
Shift from traditional joint families to nuclear units – Western individualistic social structures.
Consumerist Modernity- Eg- rise of shopping mall culture
Celebration of Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Halloween over local seasonal festivals.
Westernization of Attire- Eg- universalization of jeans and corporate suits
Standardisation of Education and Knowledge – Eg- Emphasis on STEM, MBAs, and globally recognised certifications.
Urban Architectural Uniformity – Glass towers and gated communities.
Digital Culture Uniformity – Eg- Global viral challenges and influencer culture.
Emphasis on individual rights like Right to Privacy etc
Globalization Strengthening Cultural Specificities
Glocalization (Think Global, Act Local) – Eg- McDonald’s menu in India is beef-free, while Domino’s serves Paneer Tikka Pizza.
Revival of traditional cuisine. Eg- Makhana as “superfood”
Revival of Regional Languages – Vernacular content reached a 55% share on OTT platforms. Eg- Sacred games or Panchayat show that “hyper-local” stories now have global audiences.
Global Export of Culture – Eg- International Yoga Day and the global Ayurveda market have moved Indian traditional knowledge to the center of global wellness.
The “One District One Product” (ODOP) initiative and GI tags for items like Kanchipuram Silk or Banarasi Zardozi have revitalized local artisan economies through e-commerce.
Religious & Ritualistic Resurgence – Eg- use of social media and drones to broadcast the Kumbh Mela or Ganesh Chaturthi has made these “specificities” more visible and zealously observed
Diaspora-Led Cultural Preservation – Eg- celebration of Diwali in white house or dandiya in New York’s times square
“Ethnic” Fashion Boom- Globalization created a market for high-end traditional wear. Eg- FabIndia and designers like Sabyasachi have revitalized handlooms.
Regional Media Growth as seen in the rise of Tollywood, Mollywood. Eg- global success of RRR or Kantara
Greater policy focus on conservation of traditional knowledge. Eg- traditional knowledge Digital Library (TKDL)
Deep-rooted pluralism, regional diversity, and civilisational depth ensure that globalisation in India produces Cultural Hybridization and enriches India’s cultural fabric.
