From elkamath at yahoo.com Wed Jun 3 09:41:40 2009 From: elkamath at yahoo.com (lalitha kamath) Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 21:11:40 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Urbanstudy] Cochabamba water warriors: From war to water management Message-ID: <461762.18375.qm@web53610.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Americas Program Report Cochabamba From War to Water Management Raúl Zibechi | May 28, 2009 Translated from: Cochabamba De la guerra a la gestión del agua Translated by: Esther Buddenhagen Email this page to a friend Give us your feedback Americas Program, Center for International Policy (CIP) americas.irc-online.org Through the water war of April, 2000, the poor of the city and countryside of Cochabamba succeeded in expelling the multinational corporation which tried to charge them for this most basic common good. Between 2003 and 2005, the poor of the entire country drove out the neoliberal model of water management. Now it is community management of water that is the unresolved challenge. The pavement ends too soon in the barrios in the southern part of Cochabamba. At only five kilometers from the center, one can barely make out an irregular layer on the broad avenues that the cars traverse with difficulty. When one looks in the direction of the hills which dominate a wide, treeless valley, one sees only dust blowing over the streets and irrigation channels changed into parched ditches through which at least a thread of water ought to run. Rows of houses appear climbing upward until they are lost to sight, nearly reaching the crest of the hills which is dominated by a very dry climate. We are in one of the most important barrios of the southern periphery, Villa Sebastián Pagador, or District 14, established 32 years ago by immigrants from Oruro. The southern zone, made up of six districts, includes half the city's population, some 250,000 inhabitants—the poorest inhabitants—who are the most affected by the inefficiency of the Municipal Potable Water and Sewer Service (SEMAPA). Villa Pagador or District 14* According to the Census of 2001, Villa Pagador has 21,764 inhabitants. However many are counted within their communities of origin instead of in Villa Pagador so an estimate of 55 or 60,000 inhabitants doesn't appear to be an exaggeration. The infant mortality rate is 24% higher than the average of the city of Cochabamba and twice as high as that of District 12, one of the richest districts. Fifty percent of the women have their children at home and only 43% give birth in a hospital. Forty-four percent of the inhabitants of the entire zone speak Quechua and 11% Aymara. In Villa Pagador, 45% work for themselves and only 36% are salaried. Almost 60% of women work in commerce, selling in the local markets, and 48% of men work in construction or industry. In 2001, only 15% had water piped into their houses while 77% bought it from water trucks. * "Carpeta de Datos de la Zona Sur de Cochabamba," CEDIB, 2004. The Bolivian state decided in its neoliberal period that only the rich and middle classes would have water; the essential service would therefore not reach the poor, in particular the immigrants of the last generation. To alleviate or even to possibly resolve this grave problem, neighbors in these communities decided to organize themselves, creating water committees, associations, and cooperatives, constructing distribution networks, storage tanks, and drilling the wells themselves using their scarce resources. In the neighborhoods of southern Cochabamba 120 water committees are functioning, plus some 150 more in the peripheries of the urban zone and an even greater number in rural areas. These organizations regulate the use of water according to the habits and customs of the communities. In the urban zone to the south, between 70% and 80% of the population is not served by the municipal water company. As such, the water committees supply almost 30% of the population and the remaining residents receive water from water trucks. There are hundreds of thousands of people organized solely around the water issue, while a multitude of territorial organizations exist. The celebrated "water war" can only be explained as the result of a community decision made by hundreds of thousands of people to defend a resource, a feat that was not created or administered by the state but rather by urban and rural communities themselves. In the city, the individuals that make up the community water systems come from many regions of the country, a mix of immigrant campesinos and relocated miners.1 "These two characteristics strongly contribute to the community organization around water," state two directors of the water movement.2 The immigrant campesinos contribute by sharing their Andean traditions of collective work run in shifts, known as the "ayni," while the miners bring their vast organizing experience in the labor unions of the mining industry. Each water system has an average of 200 families associated with it but some have no more than 30 or 40 users. The majority do not have legal status. The residents who have decided not to organize themselves, buy their water from water trucks which traverse the city all day charging excessive prices for water of dubious quality. Don Fabián Condori, a Life for the Community It's the middle of the afternoon on Saturday and the hot sun beats down, making the climb harder. We arrive with Boris at a small farm with adobe walls; we open the wooden door and a large open space with two small, tidy offices on the sides appears. We are in the Association of the Production and Administration of Water and Drainage (APAAS), the first water system of Cochabamba and one of the most consolidated. Don Fabián Condori receives us with a broad smile which deepens the lines which mark his face. "I'm 61 years old and I've spent 19 years in the water system. I was born in Oruro and I arrived in Sebastián Pagador 30 years ago when there were only 70 families. At the end of the 90s almost 80% of us were from Oruro, but now we have 60,000 inhabitants from every corner of the country, above all from the Andes. I think people chose this place for its climate, its wealth, or for the good food and fruit." Fabián told his life story calmly, as if he were speaking of someone else, perhaps because he didn't think of himself as playing the lead role in the history he was recounting. In 1990 the city declared Sebastian Pagador, which at the time had only 5,000 inhabitants, a "red zone" because of its complete lack of water. "It was a desert," he said. "It still didn't have avenues, only roads that the people created with picks and shovels. There was an aqueduct for irrigation and near an irrigation ditch, some wells from which we fetched water for ourselves. In addition there were cisterns where water was sold." He said that the majority of his neighbors were manual laborers who worked for themselves, merchants, artisans, carpenters, tailors. "Like everyone else, I built my first house with adobe." In Villa Pagador the old people like Fabián still speak Quechua, listen to Andean music, and celebrate carnival in grand style, as they did in Oruro, with morenadas and diabladas and as many as 11 groups and 200 dancers, some of whom come from the interior of the department. "At the beginning, since there were few people, we managed with the irrigation channel and the little wells where water flowed. But by the 80s there were already more people and a little school with 25 students. The 3- and 4-year-olds played by bathing themselves with buckets of sand." It was then that the Committee to Promote Water was born in a meeting of 90 people. It was the first committee in Cochabamba. We began to design the excavation of a distribution network, because first we would build the network and then we would look for water." In 1990 they began breaking up land and digging ditches for the 390 families which are part of the water committee. "Every family paid one boliviano a month for explosives, tools, and rent for offices. They were their own source of funds. The work lasted three years. Every family had to dig six meters a month at a depth of a half meter. All this is rock, very hard, so we had to go very slowly." The design is very simple: the ditches come from every house and are connected at the center which in turn is connected with the pipe that leads from the well. "The whole community participated, and whoever didn't work was left without water. There was a person in control called the block chief to see how the work was going. We set our unqualified hands to the work. We were the machinery. When the pipes were laid, and a bed of sifted earth 30 centimeters deep was made so that any vibrations wouldn't damage the piping." During the three years that the work required, there were 105 meetings, one every 10 days." It was a hard fight, and we also fought among ourselves. The problem is that people didn't get rest. They came from their jobs to do this; every family had to provide 35 eight-hour days of work. Any family member could work, but it was mainly the women who worked. Everyone was had blisters and was very tired. Picks, shovels, wheelbarrows, sifting and compacting the dirt. It was a lot of work, a lot of work. I realized that women are the best workers." Only the dream of having water kept them going for all those months in precarious conditions in neighborhoods full of ditches. Fabián did not shy away from the internal problems of the committee. "There was a lot of fighting. The first year and a half, we made a lot of progress, but at the end of the second year we already had problems: we almost destroyed ourselves. Some of the directors worked, but others only watched. About half of the directors put their shoulder to the wheel." Wells and Pumps In two and a half years they finished digging the ditches and the laying the pipes, but nobody had thought about where the water would come from. They got project funding—which no other committee was able to obtain—from the World Bank to construct the water transport network, a large installation of pipes five kilometers long which climbed 400 meters up the mountain and continued to a well drilled seven kilometers from the neighborhood. "There we used dynamite and contracted miners because it is solid rock, and a pick and shovel would be useless. It took six months more work until we were done. And as soon as we finished, we asked where the water source was … No one had thought about that. There was a lot of community pressure on account of this." For weeks they consulted engineers and geologists who advised them on where to buy a plot of land, specifically, on the other side of the mountain where there were reserves of water. "We bought the land but we said it was for a warehouse, because they weren't going to allow us otherwise. We began to cut down the bushes, we went up there to work, and began to drill. At 98 meters water gushed out good and strong. But we were delayed another six months because other directors from other sectors turned up and brought the work to a standstill: they needed the water. We drilled two wells, one for us and the other for them because it was their land." The next step was to construct a 100 cubic meter storage tank at the top of the hill. The next obstacle was the pumps and the pipes. They had to change the pumps a number of times because they didn't hold up and then the pipes burst due to the pressure. "Fights broke out among us again because we couldn't decide what type of pump to use or the type of pipes: first PVC, then iron, finally galvanized." On Feb. 15, 1993 they inaugurated the first community water well in the whole city. "We opened the taps on the hill, but after three hours, nothing arrived. Everyone was waiting in the streets and no water. The people began to despair. Finally just when we were about to disperse, the water arrived, through a piping network which had burst. The problem had been a pipe in the network that had failed. But at least it was a sign that water would arrive. We fixed the problem, inaugurated the system, and had a huge fiesta." The ups and downs that Fabián describes were similar to those in more than a hundred water committees in the southern zone. In many cases people drilled wells in the same neighborhood but the water was salty and not suitable for consumption, or there was only a little water or it was used up. Almost all the committees have a tank. Those that don't have a well buy the water at the cisterns and fill the tank, and from the tank it goes to people's homes. It is an immense decentralized network constructed on the basis of reciprocity and mutual aid and administered in the same manner. As a university study indicates: "The self-management of the services and the infrastructure is seen by the neighbors as a reason for pride, as it should be, thus they don't want anything from the authorities."3 However, once the water has arrived, the problem of administration begins. Broadly speaking, two different situations exist: one strictly technical, related to the pumps and the maintenance of the network, and the other having to do with the price of electricity. The participation of the community neighbors diminishes considerably at this stage as well. Don Fabián recognizes that in the water committee of his barrio another stage began when the families had water in their homes. "We had courses on maintenance of the network, we wrote statutes, rules, we addressed the legal status, and we held seminars because there wasn't a single plumber; we didn't know anything. It was the first community water system of Cochabamba, the first experiment, the most complicated, but at the same time we were privileged because we had a loan." Today there are 612 families connected to the system and 200 others on a waiting list. Every family pays an average of 16 bolivianos (USD $2) a month to the organization. "But the first month the three people who worked on maintenance and pumping and the three in the administration weren't charged anything. At the beginning we didn't even have a treasury. Nothing, not one boliviano. It was a challenge to make this work without money. At the beginning we charged everyone the same, but everything we got was going to pay for the electricity for the pump. The workers only received 50 bolivianos each."4 Then at a meeting they created the rate structure and began to straighten out the expenses. Now they have only four assemblies a year. One of the major difficulties was the need to fight for a special rate for electricity because of the high cost to run the pumps. They succeeded. Fabián's APAAS dedicates a good portion of its time to supporting other water committees in maintaining and improving their pumps, a job they have become experts at. "Here there is a lot of social pressure, there are no secrets, everything is out in the open, every user knows everything that happens, everything is recorded. We have had a lot of experience. All this: the equipment, the pumping system, all that we did with the utilities. We are self-sustaining, including the purchase of three plots for the use of the barrio. We have worked together. Sure we fight, you have to because if we work we have to make observations, but all this criticism has to be accepted," concluded Don Fabián. The Return of the State In 2004 the Association of Community Water Systems of the South (ASICA-SUR) was created in the search for a single solution to the water problems of the southern zone. They counted on the support of SEMAPA at a time when the directors of the zone responded to the advice of the coordinator of the defense of water and life who played an important role in the "water war."5 They began with 40 committees, but now there are already 120. The organization has a governing body named directly by the assembly of the representatives of the community water systems. But its functioning depends on financing from an Italian NGO that has already lost contributions from its affiliates. The directors do not receive compensation.6 The main question that ASICA-SUR wanted answers for was, "After the water war, what?" The answer they were encountering was co-management as a new model of community-public management."7 The task is to look for a new model of management that would go beyond the big-state business, which turned out to be very difficult to manage and control, to a model which is supported by the community culture and its long experience in managing common goods. Broadly speaking, the proposal consists of establishing the co-management of the SEMAPA-ASICAS water systems "through a public entity, collective and communitarian, which is in charge of the joint administration of a collective community good such as water, where the two principle actors (SEMAPA and ASICA-SUR) would always be coordinated in their management of water and where each, furthermore, would have co-responsibilities for the service."8 So, the organization developed training workshops on administrative management of the water committees, accounting, management of the pumps, assembly and disassembly of things like electrical and mechanical components. Technicians were contracted for the workshops, and people could count on the support of the APAAS, directed by Don Fabián. Furthermore, there were close relations between the water systems of Santa Cruz and other cities where water committees and cooperatives also existed. There were also workshops on the care and use of water and skills for dealing with the energy company so that they would succeed in getting the company to allow them to modify the tariff structure and thus lower the costs for all of the committees. The major change happened with the arrival of Evo Morales's government in January of 2006. His government began to implement SEMAPA's old plans to grant water and sewage services to the southern zone along different lines. The water systems and ASICA-SUR had to face a new reality. The co-management scheme passed from words to action. The challenges grew and became much more complex. At this moment, there are three big water projects for the southern zone of Cochabamba. PROJECT BID (Interamerican Development Bank) has USD $8 million for the actualization and execution of a plan for water service expansion in parts of districts 6, 7, 8, and 14 in the southern zone, managed by SEMAPA. Another project, from the Agency for International Cooperation of Japan (JICA), is destined for some districts in the southern zone with SEMAPA in charge of its execution. Finally, the Program of Sector Support in Water Storage and Drainage (PASAAS) program is the result of an agreement between the government of Bolivia and the European Union which is undertaking projects for potable water and sewage for 22 community water systems in the southern zone with a donation of USD $4 million.9 The project is called "Improvement and Expansion of Potable Water Systems and Construction of Sewage Treatment in Districts 7, 8, 9, and 14 of the Southern Zone in the Community Water Systems pertaining to ASICA-SUR." The singular aspect of the PASAAS project is that the organization ASICA-SUR and the water committees are in charge of supervising the whole process of design, contracting, adjudication, and execution of the works. "The participation of the beneficiary population is realized through a Consulting Committee (made up of three representatives selected from the community), representatives of the water system, and directly through the community assemblies where different representatives report on information needed for making decisions later.10 Secondly, the work won't replace existing water systems, but rather will "improve and expand them," so that families who still don't have water will receive it. ASICA-SUR and the community water systems have become the main agents of management and project execution, coordinating institutions, community water systems, and construction companies. As a result, six supervisors have been contracted to oversee the work of seven companies, both in regard to the execution of the work and to the quality of construction materials. Finally, there are the training workshops for technical, administrative, public health, and environmental management of water services. The whole process is characterized by a number of facts: the construction company is obligated to contract preferentially with men and women who live in the areas where the works are being undertaken; the water committees have long experience which permits them to supervise companies which in the past were guilty of fraud and corruption; they continue creating new water committees. Already there are 150 in the southern zone, through which the core organization continues to build strength. The Difficult Creation of a New World The southern zone of Cochabamba is a cauldron of works, meetings, and assemblies from which channels, tanks, and collectors are conceived. For the first time in a long time, the State is beginning to bring to fruition basic works such as drainage systems and networks of potable water for domestic use. The absence of the State forced neighbors to organize themselves as a community to resolve their problems, among them the water supply. Now that the State has entered the picture, new debates arise. In 2003 the periodical Yaku al Sur raised interesting questions: "What will happen to our committees when SEMAPA receives the concession for our districts? Will our organization be terminated? Will we be able to influence the decisions of SEMAPA after that? Will we become individual and anonymous users of a municipal business? Or will we be able to preserve our organizations, and our decision-making and management abilities, abilities which we have demonstrated for years?"11 The questions point to the core of the problem: Who will have the power in the management of water? Already, almost 10 years have passed since the "water war" and the members of the community water systems have learned a lot based on their own long experience. We can establish three important lessons: 1. The communities were able to construct their whole water system, from the drilling of wells to the construction of connections and domestic networks. Moreover, they learned to maintain the pumps and the pipes in good condition and to repair them, and above all, to administer the whole network. 2. The communities began by fighting against the privatization of water, but they quickly understood that this wasn't about the traditional private-state debate. Equal footing in their long experience with the municipal business SEMAPA led them to formulate the proposal of a "public-communal" or "communitarian" model which in a certain sense is private (because it doesn't depend on the state but rather directly on the citizenry), but at the same time it is public (it doesn't pertain to an individual, but to the whole community.)"12 3. They learned that a large business, although it may be the property of the state (and not private), can't be controlled since it has an enormous bureaucracy with its own interests which are not compatible with those of the residents of poor communities. The history of SEMAPA is one of corruption and inefficiency, even when the water communities were able to name their own directors in the organization. For this reason, they don't want the power of the state to enter into water provision and they hope to maintain equal footing in the community water systems and perhaps, maintain their own power base. At this point great difficulties and uncertainties have appeared. ASICA-SUR has come out in favor of co-management, which would pass for the creation of a public, collective, and community entity which would give birth to a union of SEMAPA, ASICA-SUR, and the community water systems. The formula hasn't yet been designed, but monitoring the project PASAAS could contribute to its realization. On the other hand, the water committees are very clear that they should not be dissolved when the whole system is terminated, if that is the eventual result. Eduardo Yssa, vice president of ASICA-SUR and a member of the water committee PDA of Villa Sebastián Pagador, maintains that "when we all have piped water and drainage systems, the water committees should not disappear but should continue to act as control mechanisms." Furthermore, he believes that "the water tanks in each neighborhood ought to be maintained so that the committees have equal footing with outside organizations, because it would not be good if a mega-business like SEMAPA administered and managed everything."13 If the communities give up their storage tanks, their piping networks, and water wells, they would be dismantling everything they were able to construct over two decades. Moreover, they would be passing from a decentralized and dispersed service that is controlled at the grassroots level, to a centralized and concentrated system administered by a bureaucracy and technicians who will have real power over an indispensable community resource. Finally, hundreds of thousands of people have demonstrated that they themselves are capable of doing it, of creating something new from nothing, with their own efforts. For those who aspire to a new world, ("Another world is possible," the motto of the Social Forums) achievements such as those of the water committees will be decisive. This has to do with nothing less than the successful administration of common resources in an urban environment, something that many anti-system movements have had little experience with. Community water management efforts teach us that it is possible to manage things outside of the State and the great private and state businesses; these community efforts created a model which consists wholly of decentralized, horizontal initiatives: successful, sustainable, efficient, and without bureaucracies. In some way, the experiences of the committees and community water systems of Cochabamba anticipate, in an embryonic fashion, the design that this "other world," as necessary as it is possible, could have. End Notes 1. Refers to mine laborers who, after the 1985 closing or privatization of the mines they worked in, emigrated in search of new jobs. 2. Abraham Grandydier and Rosalio Tinta, ob cit p. 241. 3. Nelson Antequera Durán, ob cit p.78. 4. The Mar. 2009 exchange rate calculated one USD at seven bolivianos. 5. The water social movement was able to get a portion of the municipal company directors named in elections. 6. Grandydier and Tinta, ob cit. 7. Idem p.246. 8. Idem. 9. Bulletin Yaku al Sur No. 15, ASICA-SUR, 2008, p.4. 10. Bulletin Yaku al Sur No. 16, ASICA-SUR, Dec 2008, p.2. 11. Bulletin Yaku al Sur No. 2, Aug 2003, p.1. 12. Idem p.5. 13. Interview with Eduardo Yssa. Translated for the Americas Program by Esther Buddenhagen. Raúl Zibechi is an international analyst for Brecha of Montevideo, Uruguay, lecturer and researcher on social movements at the Multiversidad Franciscana de América Latina, and adviser to several social groups. He writes the monthly "Zibechi Report" for the Americas Program (www.americasprogram.org). To reprint this article, please contact americas at ciponline.org. The opinions expressed here are the author's and do not necessarily represent the views of the CIP Americas Program or the Center for International Policy. Sources Nelson Antequera Durán, "Dinámica organizativa en la zona sur de Cochabamba," in Villa Libre No. 2, CEDIB, Cochabamba, 2008. ASICA-SUR (Asociación de Sistemas Comunitarios de Agua del Sur): www.asica-sur.org. CEDIB (Centro de Documentación e Información de Bolivia), magazine Villa Libre No. 2, Cochabamba, 2008. Abraham Grandydier and Rosalio Tinta, "Experiencia de una asociación de sistemas de agua potable de la zona Sur del municipio de Cochabamba," in Apoyo a la gestión de comités de agua potable, Universidad Mayor de San Simón, 2006. Yaku al Sur, news bulletin from ASICA-SUR. Raúl Zibechi, interview with Fabio Condori Guzmán, director of APAAS, Cochabamba, Mar 28, 2009. Raúl Zibechi, interview with Eduardo Yssa, vice president of ASICA-SUR, Mar 28, 2009 _______________________________________________ Cross posted from Debate-list mailing list Debate-list at fahamu.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20090602/33dffe4b/attachment-0001.html From bhargavi_srao at yahoo.com Wed Jun 3 12:17:02 2009 From: bhargavi_srao at yahoo.com (Bhargavi S.) Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 23:47:02 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Urbanstudy] Fwd; invitation-Climate Ride programme in Delhi on Sunday, 7th June 2009 Message-ID: <113963.17199.qm@web32602.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Dear Friends, I am very please to inform you that Delhi Cycling Club is starting a two-year “Climate Bicycle & Bus Ride Programme” in Delhi on 7th June, 2009 with initial support from The Open Planning Project (TOPP). We cordially invite you to participate in the first event of this programme on Sunday, 7th June, 2009 starting at 07.30 A.M. from Pragati Maidan Metro Station. This will be a 12-km bicycle ride from Pragati Maidan to Ambedkar Nagar Terminal along the Delhi BRT corridor and another 12-km of bus ride to come back at Pragati Maidan and finish by 09.30 A.M. Your presence will not only encourage the participants but also help other people from Delhi & NCR to learn more about climate change as well as rediscover the charm & benefits of using bicycle and bus in order to stay healthy and protect our environment. The main objectives of the “Climate Bicycle & Bus Ride Programme” are to: (1) CREATE AWARENESS and sensitization amongst the people of Delhi & NCR about climate change and environment in a lively, interactive and interesting manner; (2) PROMOTE BICYCLE AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT as environment-friendly, sustainable and socially equitable transportation solutions; and (3) DISSEMINATE INFORMATION AND EXCHANGE IDEAS with people on how we can reduce our carbon footprint and contribute our bit to save the environment by adopting/promoting some green travel and living habits in our day-to-day life. The Rides will be open to all and there is NO registration fee. This is a unique and first of its kind programme being introduced in the country where: -People will get the opportunity to leave behind their cars and motor-bikes for a day to learn about climate change and explore various parts of Delhi & NCR on Bicycle and Low-floor Green Buses/Metro Rail on a two-hours guided tour along with their family, friends and a group of other like minded people; -An expert/resource person will conduct an onboard or separate interactive session during the event, where participants will be familiarized with the concept and environmental/social importance of Bus Rapid Transit System (BRT), Metro Rail, MRTS, dedicated pedestrian sidewalks/Cycle Tracks; and -Participants’ general queries on environment, traffic safety and urban transportation will be addressed and they would be explained why and how we should ensure road safety and respect for the rights of cyclists, pedestrians, cycle-rickshaws and other vulnerable road users while driving motor vehicles. The ‘Climate Bicycle & Bus Ride Programme’ of Delhi Cycling Club is in the environmental and public interest. Any individual/group/organisation/Govt. agencies are free to adopt this concept without our approval. We would be more than happy to provide any information, share our knowledge & experience, and extend free advisory support to others who want to start similar programme/rides in their cities. Delhi Cycling Club (DCC) is a forum of bicycle enthusiasts and people who are concerned about health and environment. With over 500 members the group has been engaged since October 2006 in organizing bicycle promotion events, and creating awareness about various health, environmental and social benefits of cycling amongst the people of Delhi & NCR. More information about our group, activities, member discussions and media reviews on us can be viewed on: “http://groups.google.co.in/group/delhicycling”. I am hopeful that on 7th June morning you will be able to find some time to treat yourself with an interesting outdoor activity and help promote an important cause. I also seek your suggestions and guidance to make this programme successful and beneficial for the people of Delhi & NCR. Best regards, Nalin Sinha Founder Member Delhi Cycling Club C/o ITDP India 11/1, Jangpura Road, Bhogal, New Delhi Ph: 91-11-24373584, 9990226644 Enclosed:  Recent press articles on Delhi Cycling Club and its activities. # # # Cycle group to organise awareness programme The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, June 01, 2009 Riding for a cleaner capital The Hindu, New Delhi, May 29, 2009 Delhi pedals to make a green point The Times of India, New Delhi, Jan 19, 2009 Back to the basics Business World, Feb 16, 2009 Here comes the cycling club! Civil Society, Feb 2009 Riding on a new wave India Today, July 2008 Pedaling for a clean city The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, Jan 10, 2008 www.esgindia.org www.newsrack.in -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20090602/4885bb8e/attachment.html From samirfayaz at yahoo.com Wed Jun 3 13:03:22 2009 From: samirfayaz at yahoo.com (Samir Shaikh) Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 00:33:22 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Urbanstudy] Transportation as a Fulcrum of Change: PPS Congratulates NJ Transit on ITE Best Project Award Message-ID: <528652.74214.qm@web32702.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Dear All,   FYI ...   - Samir Shaikh FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Robin Lester Manager, Marketing and Communications Project for Public Spaces 212-620-5660 x332 rlester at pps.org www.pps.org Transportation as a Fulcrum of Change:  Project for Public Spaces Congratulates New Jersey Transit on ITE Best Project Award New York, NY, May 29, 2009 – Project for Public Spaces congratulates the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) on receiving the prestigious Institute of Transportation Engineers’ (ITE) Best Project Award for their work on Route 31 in Flemington, New Jersey.  The project illustrates the out-of-the-box thinking that every transportation agency needs to engage for reorienting transportation projects to more global outcomes.  If we can transform the way the transportation establishment views its mandate, as exemplified in the case of Route 31, we can rapidly and positively affect community building around the country. Local and national leaders are realizing that status quo transportation and land use patterns are undesirable, environmentally damaging and fiscally beyond reach—in short, unsustainable.  This awareness has led to calls for a timely and reasonable government repositioning and response.  While many other states have given such transformations lip service, NJDOT was one of a handful of state DOTs who took action.   The Route 31 study was the catalyst for a organization-wide change that led to the institutionalization of these new concepts in a program called New Jersey FIT: Future in Transportation.  NJFIT embraces the idea that the ultimate goal of all planning, development, and community design should be to make places, communities and regions more prosperous, civilized and attractive for all people.  The Route 31 Integrated Transportation and Land Use Plan was developed as a replacement for a two-decade study of a freeway bypass around the town of Flemington. NJDOT reacted to mounting evidence that highway capacity solutions to congestion only lead to auto dependent communities, more severe congestion and environmental consequences.  The DOT also recognized that the bypass was inconsistent with local communities’ vision for maintaining their historical rural character. In a move that is hailed as a 180-degree turn in the typical approach, NJDOT initiated a dialog with the surrounding community to determine how an alternate plan might better serve residents and future development.  The result was an integrated transportation and land use plan with mixed use walkable places based on a traditional grid network instead of new freeway capacity.  The communities self-directed much of the plan and almost universally rejected the suburban-style auto-oriented subdivisions and strip malls that had been destined for the area.  As a bonus to NJ taxpayers and NJDOT, the proper land use and creation of a local street grid network allowed the DOT to right size the new Route 31, thereby saving over $50 million of precious transportation trust funds.   The planning process involved open dialog between community members, NJDOT and private developers.  “This project is a perfect example of how transportation planning should be approached,” said Fred Kent.  “A bottom-up process that starts with the community will result in public spaces that provide access to all citizens.” PPS’ transportation team, led by Gary Toth and Renee Espiau, were both leaders of the NJFIT program.  While at NJDOT and now PPS, Toth has been a sought-after resource on integrating transportation and land use, and has assisted DOTs around the country in adopting the concept.   Toth and Espiau, along with PPS’s Phil Myrick, are instructors for the National Transit Institute’s Transportation and Land Use Training Course and continue to work with forward-thinking communities through PPS’ Building Community through Transportation program. The Route 31 project is featured in Great Corridors, Great Communities: The Quiet Revolution in Transportation Planning, one of three new PPS publications published through a partnership with AARP.  The book includes a series of case studies that describes how planning transportation within the context of a larger corridor can benefit both mobility needs and community quality of life.The three-part series is a joint effort of PPS’s "Building Community through Transportation” campaign and AARP’s "Livable Communities" initiative, and is available through PPS’s website.  About Project for Public Spaces, Inc. – Project for Public Spaces is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people create and sustain public spaces that build stronger communities.  Founded in 1975, the PPS approach embraces the insights of William H Whyte, a pioneer in understanding the way people use public spaces.  Today PPS has become an internationally recognized center for best-practices, information and resources about Placemaking. Over the past 30+ years, PPS has worked in more than 2,500 communities in 26 countries around the world, helping people turn their public spaces and public markets into vital community places with programs, uses and people friendly settings that build local value and serve community needs.               Project for Public Spaces (PPS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people create and sustain public places that build communities. We provide technical assistance, training, research and other services. Since our founding in 1975, we have worked in over 1,500 communities in the United States and around the world, helping people turn their public spaces into vital community places.   Explore and discover exciting holidays and getaways with Yahoo! India Travel http://in.travel.yahoo.com/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20090603/13a59646/attachment-0001.html From sks211 at gmail.com Thu Jun 11 16:41:51 2009 From: sks211 at gmail.com (sweety sharma) Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:41:51 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] Delhi Airport Link Message-ID: Hello, "Delhi is planning to introduce premium shuttle service to the Airport. The service will be operated by DTC in association with professional assistance from a team of experts. THe salient features of this service are: 1. High quality mini-buses linking the airport to different points in Delhi, and its suburbs 2. 24 hour service operating at a frequency of 20 minutes 3. Baggage handling, check in assistance, passenger information and other features to add value 4. Meet and greet services to arriving passengers monthly pass holders. 5. Taxi linkage for bus terminal to home trip (door to door service)" My firm is working on the same Delhi Airport Link Service. And we are conducting a survey as part of the same project and needs your contribution to understand the requirements better. Attached is a very brief questionaire in xls format, it would really help us, if you could spare some time and fill it up. Please mail the filled up form/file to delhiairportlink at gmail.com Thank you for your help and support. regards, Sweety Sharma SGArchitects -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20090611/1db3a062/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Travellers Choice Form_rev.xls Type: application/vnd.ms-excel Size: 16896 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20090611/1db3a062/attachment.xls From bawazainab79 at gmail.com Tue Jun 16 08:27:08 2009 From: bawazainab79 at gmail.com (Zainab Bawa) Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 08:27:08 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] Panel Discussion on using social media for mobilisation Message-ID: http://cis-india.org/events/using-social-media-for-mobilisation Using Social Media for Mobilisation -- Friday, 19 June, 2009; 6.30 pm Panel discussion with Dina Mehta and Peter Griffin For some time now, blogs, facebook and other forms of social media have been used extensively for rallying people around an issue or a cause. However, what makes some of these campaigns more successful than others? Does the workability of social media for mobilisation depend on the manner in which information is designed and/or disseminated? This panel brings together two well-known names from the world of social media, Dina Mehta and Peter Griffin, to explore "meme engineering" and understand what makes some forms of use of social media more effective than others. * Speakers Dina Mehta is a founder and Managing Director of Mosoci India. She has spent twenty years specializing in qualitative research and ethnography. She is at the forefront of technology trend research in India and works with a global portfolio of companies; including learning journeys, and immersions for innovation teams. She brings her unique perspective to understanding the emerging social aspects of new technology and the impact of new media on youth and mobility. Her work has led her to study the impact of technology in rural markets, follow trend-setting youth in urban settings, dig deep into motivations and possible triggers across a wide range of demographic and psychographic groups, explore and identify underlying value propositions and key drivers/barriers in several categories. Peter Griffin is a well-known blogger and has been involved with a number of collaborative projects, including the South-East Asia Earthquake and Tsunami blog (also known as TsunamiHelp), MumbaiHelp, Think Bombay, and the WorldWideHelp group and its associated projects. All of these project have been concerned with bringing together the web and free tools on one hand, and concerned web natives and public goodwill on the other, to assist in disaster relief. Peter is also the co-founder, joint editor and co-moderator of the writing community, Caferati. He is currently the Editor, Special Features with a national business magazine. * Venue Centre for Internet and Society, No. D2, 3rd Floor, Sheriff Chambers, 14, Cunningham Road, Bangalore - 560052 (Telephone: 080 4092 6283) -- Zainab Bawa Ph.D. Student and Independent Researcher Gaining Ground ... http://zainab.freecrow.org http://cis-india.org/research/cis-raw/histories-of-the-internet/transparency-and-politics -- Zainab Bawa Ph.D. Student and Independent Researcher Gaining Ground ... http://zainab.freecrow.org http://cis-india.org/research/cis-raw/histories-of-the-internet/transparency-and-politics -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20090616/497274ec/attachment-0001.html From cugambetta at yahoo.com Tue Jun 16 22:44:35 2009 From: cugambetta at yahoo.com (Curt Gambetta) Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:14:35 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Urbanstudy] abstracts from Metropolitis Micropolitics conference and posting to list Message-ID: <215241.34915.qm@web57402.mail.re1.yahoo.com> Hi all, I have received a few requests for papers or abstracts from the Metropolis and Micropolitics Politics conference at University of Washington back in May. I was not an organizer for this, but I can help. There are no papers posted on the internet, but you can find the abstracts posted as a pdf on: http://depts.washington.edu/uwch/projects_conferences_metropolis_micropolitics_0809.htm In the future, if list members are involved in a workshop or know of one, do post whatever information is available. This may be a link, though I suggest that the best way to circulate information on the list is to post text in an email (keeps things most accessible, archived and small). Best: Curt From sami.uddin944 at gmail.com Wed Jun 10 12:11:18 2009 From: sami.uddin944 at gmail.com (SAMI UDDIN) Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:11:18 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] Fwd: PROTEST AGAINST THE CORRUPTION OF H.BHAT In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: SAMI UDDIN Date: Tue, Jun 9, 2009 at 3:36 PM Subject: PROTEST AGAINST THE CORRUPTION OF H.BHAT To: parul.scribe at gmail.com, hrm at nic.in, anitabhatnagar.edu at nic.in, athakur.edu at nic.in, secy.sel at nic.in, secy.dhe at nic.in, hrd_pib at nic.in Cc: parulsharma at thehindu.co.in, dawattrust at yahoo.co.in, sp1acdel at cbi.gov.in, rashmi.edu at nic.in Authors' Anjuman launches campaign against the reinstatement of the corrupt director of Urdu Council Decision of outgoing HRD Minister flayed. Several members of the Council offer to resign. New Delhi, June 10, 2009: Urdu writers' association, *Authors Anjuman *has launched a vociferous campaign against reinstating of Mr. Hamidullah Bhat as director of National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language. Writing to the media, the president of the association, Mr. Jawaid Rahmani told that Dr. Hamidullah Bhat, was arrested by the CBI in 2005 on charges of corruption and disproportionate accumulation of assets to his known sources of income. His name is not yet cleared by the CBI after the court directed CBI to further investigate in matters related to disbursement of funds and his functioning as director of Urdu Council during his tenure as director between 1999-2005, the year when he was arrested. It should be noted that after his arrest by the CBI, an inquiry against him namely the Goel Committee headed by D.R. Goel was also instituted by the HRD ministry to investigate his functioning. However, unfortunately the HRD minister of outgoing government, Mr. Arjun Singh, who was also the ex officio Chairman of the Urdu Council, during the last days in his office, reinstated Mr Bhat, thereby sending shock waves to the entire Urdu speaking community. During the erstwhile regime of BJP, Bhat had virtually turned the NCPUL into a minority unit of the RSS as he campaigned openly and wholeheartedly for BJP, more specifically for Murli Manohar Joshi in 2004. Bhat also provided funds to the *Vajpayee Himayat Caravan, *an initiative of BJP to lure minorities into its fold. This *Caravan *toured the country and urged the Muslim masses to support BJP in 2004. Bhat’s reinstatement without his name being cleared shows the apathy of the government towards minority affairs and especially Urdu speaking community. Reacting to this several members of the Urdu Council and many Urdu writers have expressed their unhappiness over the government’s attitude and demanded instant removal of Mr. Bhat. A former minister of Bihar government and presently a member of Urdu Council, Prof. Lutfur Rehman, along with several other members, protesting against this wrong decision has offered to resign from the Council if Mr. Bhat was not removed from his office till the inquiry is complete. Prof. Rehman told that CBI had seized crores of rupees from his residence in Faridabad, he was put in jails for two weeks, and inquiry was yet on. His reinstatement as director of NCPUL speaks volumes about Congress Government’s policy towards Urdu: that is more harmful than other hostile regimes. The Council is also getting a bad name because of the appointment of a non descript person as the Vice Chairman of the Council namely Chandrabhan Khayal whose only qualification is that he belonged to the native village of Mr. Arjun Singh. Professor Lutfurrehaman has sent a letter to the Union HRD minister Mr. Kapil Sibbal asking him to have urgently looked into the matter and remove Mr. Bhat from current position so that the doubts of crores of Urdu speakers about the sincerity of Congress towards them are cleared. Manoj Kumar Jha, (Secretary,Authors Anjuman of India) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20090610/d7b95684/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: JAWAID RAHMANI.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 574107 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20090610/d7b95684/attachment-0001.jpg From bawazainab79 at gmail.com Wed Jun 17 21:38:15 2009 From: bawazainab79 at gmail.com (Zainab Bawa) Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:38:15 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] Talk: Social Media for Mobilisation--Call for questions In-Reply-To: <4A38EFAD.2060909.160@cis-india.org> References: <4A38EFAD.2060909.160@cis-india.org> Message-ID: The Centre for Internet and Society, Bangalore, announces a CHANGE IN DATE AND TIMING for Peter Griffin and Dina Mehta's talk on using Social Media for Mobilisation. The talk will be held at the CIS office on Friday, 19 June, at 6.30 pm. ****If attending, please email bawazainab79 at gmail.com with any specific questions on social media and activism that you may want to discuss at the event.**** Entry is free and registration is not required. For more details on the event and speakers, please see the link or the abstract below. * Using Social Media for Mobilisation -- Friday, 19 June, 2009; 6.30-8.00 pm http://www.cis-india.org/events/using-social-media-for-mobilisation Panel discussion with Dina Mehta and Peter Griffin For some time now, blogs, facebook and other forms of social media have been used extensively for rallying people around an issue or a cause. However, what makes some of these campaigns more successful than others? Does the workability of social media for mobilisation depend on the manner in which information is designed and/or disseminated? This panel brings together two well-known names from the world of social media, Dina Mehta and Peter Griffin, to explore "meme engineering" and understand what makes some forms of use of social media more effective than others. * Speakers Dina Mehta is a founder and Managing Director of Mosoci India. She has spent twenty years specializing in qualitative research and ethnography. She is at the forefront of technology trend research in India and works with a global portfolio of companies; including learning journeys, and immersions for innovation teams. She brings her unique perspective to understanding the emerging social aspects of new technology and the impact of new media on youth and mobility. Her work has led her to study the impact of technology in rural markets, follow trend-setting youth in urban settings, dig deep into motivations and possible triggers across a wide range of demographic and psychographic groups, explore and identify underlying value propositions and key drivers/barriers in several categories. Peter Griffin is a well-known blogger and has been involved with a number of collaborative projects, including the South-East Asia Earthquake and Tsunami blog (also known as TsunamiHelp), MumbaiHelp, Think Bombay, and the WorldWideHelp group and its associated projects. All of these project have been concerned with bringing together the web and free tools on one hand, and concerned web natives and public goodwill on the other, to assist in disaster relief. Peter is also the co-founder, joint editor and co-moderator of the writing community, Caferati. He is currently the Special Features Editor with Forbes Magazine, India. * Venue Centre for Internet and Society, No. D2, 3rd Floor, Sheriff Chambers, 14, Cunningham Road, Bangalore - 560052 (Telephone: 080 4092 6283) ----- -- Zainab Bawa Ph.D. Student and Independent Researcher Gaining Ground ... http://zainab.freecrow.org http://cis-india.org/research/cis-raw/histories-of-the-internet/transparency-and-politics -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20090617/1325f2af/attachment.html From divyarrs at gmail.com Fri Jun 19 15:57:35 2009 From: divyarrs at gmail.com (divya r) Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:57:35 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] teachers workshop In-Reply-To: <4A3B5191.1070807@esgindia.org> References: <4A3B5191.1070807@esgindia.org> Message-ID: <250ac9ab0906190327j4c259f95q517c4b50e14f8482@mail.gmail.com> *Environment Support Group * *Presents*** *Exploring Environmental Education beyond the Classroom* *A workshop for teachers of ICSE, CBSE and SSLC schools* The Indian Supreme Court passed a law in 2004 which mandates all Indian schools to compulsorily and immediately include a subject on environmental studies in all grades from primary to high school. Since the introduction of the subject teachers have been at a loss being confined to the classroom, text book and a syllabus to complete within a given time. A complete lack of teaching techniques, teaching aids, and application to explain environmental concepts to students has made environmental education another burden to teachers and to students in a system that is overloaded. This workshop for teachers will provide the opportunity to find new skills and share what has worked and what needs to change. This is a workshop for enthusiastic teachers, coordinators and facilitators with a passion for educating and motivating kids. It aims to help young professionals develop their skills and knowledge so they can inspire children and others more effectively. The purpose of the workshop is to demonstrate to the teachers how the outdoors can be utilized to Introduce, strengthen, and emphasize concepts of the environmental education curriculum. Through classroom sessions, games and field studies, we will explore the curriculum, teaching techniques, and classroom activities that can help kids learn about the wonders of nature and their environment. As part of the workshop we will help identify some simple methods and techniques for teaching environmental education in the outdoors and the workshop will also familiarize the participants with some of the environmental issues of the city of Bengaluru. Teachers will learn from Naturalists, Social scientists, Environmental lawyers, Community health specialists and Community leaders. Teachers will also be provided with a resource kit. *Workshop Dates: 9th, 10th and 11th July 2009 * *Duration of workshop: 2 and ½ days* *Venue: ESG office* *Registration Fees: Rs 750/-* * * *For more details contact: * Bhargavi S.Rao, Environment Support Group #1572, 36th Cross, 100 feet Outer Ring Road, Banashankari 2nd Stage, Bangalore -70 Tel: 91-80-26713559/26713560/26713561 Mob: 9448377401 Email: bhargavi at esgindia.org Website: www.esgindia.org * * * * * * *Exploring Environmental Education beyond the Classroom* *A workshop for teachers of ICSE, CBSE and SSLC schools* * * *Registration Form* * * * * * * *Registration form to be sent by email to **bhargavi at esgindia.org* * /post to the address mentioned below* * * Name: * * * * Residential address: * * * * Telephone Number: * * * * Email: * * * * Name of School: * * * * Address: * * * * Subject/s taught: * * * * Classes taught: * * * * Mode of payment Cash/Cheque * * * * * * *For more details contact: * Bhargavi S.Rao, Environment Support Group #1572, 36th Cross, 100 feet Outer Ring Road, Banashankari 2nd Stage, Bangalore -70 Tel: 91-80-26713559/26713560/26713561 Mob: 9448377401 Email: bhargavi at esgindia.org Website: www.esgindia.org -- http://captured-on-camera.blogspot.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: bhargavi.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 330 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20090619/d7697958/attachment-0001.vcf From nikhilanand at yahoo.com Sat Jun 20 13:26:21 2009 From: nikhilanand at yahoo.com (nikhil anand) Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 13:26:21 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] Invitation: The State of Urban Water, Mumbai, June 28 References: <991D617F-9FB8-475E-8C30-7BBD6658FFB1@stanford.edu> Message-ID: Hello! Please find attached the program announcement for 'The State of Urban Water', a one day PUKAR symposium on urban water's public systems. Do feel free to share it with others that may be interested. Best Nikhil Pukar, in collaboration with SOAK, cordially invites you to The State of Urban Water from 1-6p on June 28, 2009 at the National Gallery of Modern Art (opposite Regal Cinema, Colaba, Mumbai) Despite recent efforts, water services in India’s largest cities continue to be managed by public agencies. Over the last two decades, these agencies have embarked on reform programs that include leakage detection, full cost-recovery and 24x7 water. The State of Urban Water is one-day symposium that focuses on how India’s public water supply systems work. How are connections to the public system made, particularly by the urban poor? Finally, the papers will also discuss the effects that new water reform projects have on the current state of water supply. Situated in Mumbai, the workshop will host researchers and practitioners from India’s largest cities, to stimulate thinking and action on questions of urban water’s administration, access and rule. Schedule On Indian Cities (1p-2.30p) Vyjayanthi Rao (The New School, New York), Chair Alankar (Centre for the Study of Developing Societies) Rethinking Delhi's Water Crisis and Reforms Karen Coelho (Madras Institute of Development Studies), Tapping in: Leaky Sovereignties and Engineered Disorder in Chennai’s Water System Nikhil Anand (PUKAR/ Stanford University) The PolyTechnics of 24/7 water in Mumbai Priya Sangameswaran (Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta) Discussant Tea and Snacks (2.30-3p) At Home in Mumbai (3p-4.30p) TV Shah (fmr Chief Hydraulic Engineer, MCGM, Mumbai) Chair Sitaram Shelar (Mumbai Paani/ YUVA) Reactions through Mumbai’s Water System Lisa Bjorkman (The New School, New York) Water in Resettlement Shaali Shaikh (Resident/ Film maker) Pyasa Premnagar Amita Baviskar (Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi) Discussant Film- Ek Dozen Paani (5p- 6p) (Produced by Aagaz, Akansha Sewa Sangh and CAMP) To be followed by a discussion with filmmakers, Durga Gudilu, Govindi Gudilu and Ismail Sharif. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20090620/e63af0f0/attachment-0002.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: pukar flyer.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 220189 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20090620/e63af0f0/attachment-0001.pdf -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20090620/e63af0f0/attachment-0003.html From mashalngo at gmail.com Mon Jun 22 11:20:00 2009 From: mashalngo at gmail.com (Sharad Mahajan) Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:20:00 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] Invitation: The State of Urban Water, Mumbai, June 28 In-Reply-To: References: <991D617F-9FB8-475E-8C30-7BBD6658FFB1@stanford.edu> Message-ID: <1f3dfff30906212250s47df4858xb7165aaef32ab8c0@mail.gmail.com> Thanks Nikhil, Mashal will be interested to join. We have studied water issue of Pune Urban Region and would like to present the findings if you give us 10 min. By the way where is the meeting? Sharad On Sat, Jun 20, 2009 at 1:26 PM, nikhil anand wrote: > Hello! > > Please find attached the program announcement for 'The State of Urban > Water', a one day PUKAR symposium on urban water's public systems.  Do feel > free to share it with others that may be interested. > > Best > > Nikhil > > > Pukar, in collaboration with SOAK, cordially invites you to > > The State of Urban Water > > from 1-6p on June 28, 2009 > > at the National Gallery of Modern Art (opposite Regal Cinema, Colaba, > Mumbai) > > Despite recent efforts, water services in India’s largest cities continue to > be managed by public agencies.  Over the last two decades, these agencies > have embarked on reform programs that include leakage detection, full > cost-recovery and 24x7 water.  The State of Urban Water is one-day symposium > that focuses on how India’s public water supply systems work.  How are > connections to the public system made, particularly by the urban poor? > Finally, the papers will also discuss the effects that new water reform > projects have on the current state of water supply.  Situated in Mumbai, the > workshop will host researchers and practitioners from India’s largest > cities, to stimulate thinking and action on questions of urban water’s > administration, access and rule. > > > >  Schedule > > On Indian Cities (1p-2.30p) > > Vyjayanthi Rao (The New School, New York), Chair > > Alankar (Centre for the Study of Developing Societies) Rethinking Delhi's > Water Crisis and Reforms > > Karen Coelho (Madras Institute of Development Studies), Tapping in: Leaky > Sovereignties and Engineered Disorder in Chennai’s Water System > > Nikhil Anand (PUKAR/ Stanford University) The PolyTechnics of 24/7 water in > Mumbai > > Priya Sangameswaran (Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, > Calcutta) Discussant > > > > Tea and Snacks (2.30-3p) > > At Home in Mumbai (3p-4.30p) > > TV Shah  (fmr Chief Hydraulic Engineer, MCGM, Mumbai) Chair > > Sitaram Shelar (Mumbai Paani/ YUVA) Reactions through Mumbai’s Water System > > Lisa Bjorkman (The New School, New York) Water in Resettlement > > Shaali Shaikh  (Resident/ Film maker)  Pyasa Premnagar > > Amita Baviskar  (Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi)  Discussant > > > > Film- Ek Dozen Paani (5p- 6p) > > (Produced by Aagaz, Akansha Sewa Sangh and CAMP) > > To be followed by a discussion with filmmakers, Durga Gudilu, Govindi Gudilu > and Ismail Sharif. > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Urbanstudygroup mailing list > Urban Study Group: Reading the South Asian City > > To subscribe or browse the Urban Study Group archives, please visit > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/urbanstudygroup > > -- Sharad Mahajan - Architect-Planner Maharashtra Social Housing & Action League, Office no 007,1st floor,MAHADA Commercial Complex, Gokhale Nagar, Pune - 411016 Phone- 020-25653566 Fax- 020-25656340 Mobil- 9766695601 From bawazainab79 at gmail.com Fri Jun 26 20:31:05 2009 From: bawazainab79 at gmail.com (Zainab Bawa) Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:31:05 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] Global City, or the City an Enigma? Message-ID: I stepped out of Lokmanya Tilak terminus this afternoon, expecting to hail a cab from the taxi stand, get into one and start the ride to my destination. It was raining. Cab drivers were at the platform, asking passengers if they wanted taxis. I refused to pay heed to any of them, knowing that they would ask for the sun and the moon as fares. I stepped out of the platform and the station. In the face of the rain, I walked here and there, asking for taxis to take me where I wanted to go. Around, I heard cabbies charging passengers Rs. 500 for rides to Borivali and passengers agreeing to the fares. So, what's going on? No cabbie at the taxi stand is willing to come along with me to my destination. Is it because it is relatively less far as compared with other fares? I then caught hold of the *havaldaar mama *(the famous lower level cop) and told him that I was unable to find a cab and I did not know where to go. He asssured me that he will get me one in a minute or two. I was not sure whether to believe him or not. Choosing the latter option, I continued with my search. Eventually, one cabbie came forth and asked me where I wanted to go. He agreed to ferry me to my destination on the condition that I pay him a flat rate and not go by the meter. Why? If not by meter how else do you expect me to come with you? Madam, it has been raining since morning. I am afraid that there will be water clog in the direction where you want to go. There is a lot of traffic. If you agree to pay me Rs. ---, I take you where you want to go. I agreed, despite my reservations, because it was not worth standing in the face of the rains with luggage and parcels. We began our journey, and as it often happens to me in Mumbai, I started talking to the cabbie. He wasn't the chattering types. So I had to think of questions or topics for a conversation.It was not easy, but some things he said were very insightful. What is this bridge they are making here, I asked, pointing to an under construction structure outside the Lokmanya Tilak terminus? That? That is the new link road connecting Kurla East and West sides with Santacruz and Chembur. So, I heard that they are revamping the Lokmanya Tilak terminus station? Yes, they are expanding. How? By adding more railway lines? No. They are going to demolish the ticket counters where they are now and shift them to the rear side. Some work has been done and it is looking very posh. Yes, they were clearing out some of the slums and extending the station. Slums? Clearing? No. That does not happen. A little while later: How is the traffic in the city? It has increased. Increased? But they are making all these flyovers and expanding the roads? That only increases the traffic. So, has your business been affected because of the new private taxi services? No, it is still the same. Local person will travel by local taxis. Moreover, these private taxis are expensive. They have to pay the driver and they get very little in their hands at the end of the day. A more little while later: Bombay has changed a lot. Changed? Hahaha! No, it is still the same. But all the development is now happening around Malad side. That is true, but South Mumbai still remains South Mumbai. Some more while later: Do you have to pay to stand for fares at the newly developed Santacruz domestic airport? Yes, but we had to do that earlier too. Even at Lokmanya Tilak terminus, we have to pay 10 rupees to park. For a moment, I was a bit puzzled when I heard this piece of information. Are the parking rates still the same at the domestic airport and the revamped train terminus? When you hail a cab from the domestic airport and even from some of the train junctions, the fares are twice/thrice the usual rates. Earlier, cab drivers used to levy these fares on the grounds that they have to pay halting charges to the airport authorities (or perhaps the cops and security guards) and hence, the fares had jumped up. I tried to connect the bits of information that had come through in the conversation - the belief about the posh-ness of the upcoming railway station and the levying of the higher fares. It struck me then that people at all levels are participating in the imagination of the global city which is materializing through infrastructure improvements. Perhaps the posh-ness of the revamped airport and railway stations had caused the cabbies to believe that they could levy higher fares, thus cashing in on the infrastructure improvements in their own ways. That the aspiration of the global city or the Shanghai/Singapore etc imagination prevails at all levels is not a new insight. Even my Arjun bhai, the hawker who I used to talk to outside the VT Railway station four years ago, would tell me how computerized railway passes were now a sign of modernity. In my last visit to Mumbai, my TC was complaining how issuing of tickets has become slow and cumbersome because the old punch-and-pop system has been replaced by a dot matrix printing machine which slowly spews out a card like ticket - the card ticket now being a sign of the revamped city! Why this change at the cost of efficiency? I asked my TC. Because we want to build a Shanghai or whatever international city out of our Mumbai, he said. It is amazing how the aspiration is shared among people at all levels even when the global city is materialized at costs which might seem/are unjust and unfair. Yet, the imagination and aspiration prevails. People participate in it when it happens and label it in their own ways. As I once again step into the city, trying to unravel it, to understand it and therefore myself (who has been lost), I tell myself, ... the city will be an enigma. Our every attempt to know and control it makes it known and yet, unknown in other ways and facets. The city, an enigma ... -- Zainab Bawa Ph.D. Student and Independent Researcher Gaining Ground ... http://zainab.freecrow.org http://cis-india.org/research/cis-raw/histories-of-the-internet/transparency-and-politics -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20090626/64cd9387/attachment.html From invitations at authorsanjuman.ning.com Sat Jun 27 21:17:09 2009 From: invitations at authorsanjuman.ning.com (Samiuddin) Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 15:47:09 +0000 (GMT) Subject: [Urbanstudy] Come join me on Authors Anjuman Message-ID: <12175102.1246117629493.JavaMail.xncore@omx> Authors Anjuman: PEN AGAINST PAIN -------------------- JOIN US AGAINST THE CORRUPTION AND RSS NAWAZI OF BHAT. SAMIUDDIN,PRO AUTHORS ANJUMAN Click the link below to Join: http://authorsanjuman.ning.com/?xgi=euBAs4K If your email program doesn't recognize the web address above as an active link, please copy and paste it into your web browser -------------------- Members already on Authors Anjuman Jawaid Rahmani, Shahnawaz Mohammad Khurram, humakhan, Samiuddin, waseem rashid -------------------- About Authors Anjuman UTHE JO HATH BAHARON KI BE-SABATI PER TO KHAAR BHI MERE GULSHAN KA DE JAWAB KE CHUP. 33 members 48 photos -------------------- To control which emails you receive on the corner, or to opt-out, go to: http://authorsanjuman.ning.com/?xgo=WMMRy6bFgdWU2nNJSStDpYHN49p9GOVG-YdDZab8se6jWvY9cNmULRmbG-amUjQt -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20090627/252d7a52/attachment-0001.html From debsinha at gmail.com Sun Jun 28 19:38:25 2009 From: debsinha at gmail.com (Deb Ranjan Sinha (Gmail)) Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 10:08:25 -0400 Subject: [Urbanstudy] BBC NEWS | Secret parks and forgotten ruins Message-ID: <2774F8954F8D4EC0B3FAEBD66A0711DD@PAGOL> "On my return I went back to the mosque and discovered that my co-ordinates were correct. The American had not gone to the wrong place. The mosque had gone. It had been bulldozed and there was no sign it had ever existed. The wilderness had become a building site and squash and badminton courts were being built for - yes - the Commonwealth Games." http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/8120683.stm From esg at esgindia.org Mon Jun 29 16:48:18 2009 From: esg at esgindia.org (ESGINDIA) Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:48:18 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] National Strategy Session on Metros Message-ID: <4A48A2FA.3030807@esgindia.org> Dear All, I participated on behalf of ESG, and I hope Hasiru Usiru too, in the National Meeting for Evolving Strategies on Metro projects. This was organised by the National Alliance of Peoples Movement, and under the able guidance of Medha Patkar. The meeting was held on 27-29 June at Mumbai. Kathyayini Chamaraj was present and so was Zainab Bawa. The participants involved Metro affected communities from Mumbai, representatives of various organisations focussing on Metros and its impacts (from Delhi, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore...). Overall it seemed clear that Metro was being pursued as a be all and end all solution to the public transport gaps in many urban areas. It was analysed by various researchers that the uncontested faith in the Metro must be tackled first and foremost. It was recognised that while Metro may be a solution, it should not be the only approach to adopted in resolving our transport and travel crises. It was also recognised that Metro project implementation must be part of a planned process per law. It was widely acknowledged that all Metros in all cities of India are being implemented in blatant violation of this process. There was serious concern that Metro projects are being implemented without careful consideration of the financial, economic, environmental and social impacts. A detailed analysis of the Hyderabad, Delhi and Bangalore experiences helped draw the conclusion that such mega projects are being rushed through without any careful review whatsoever. There is no mystery, therefore, that the MAYTAS scandal broke out. It was also recognised that Metro projects were being wrongly exempted from the purview of various laws, for instance the EIA Notification, and action was immediately initated by way of a representation signed by all to Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh to correct this anamoly. Without contesting the need for an effective, people friendly and pro-poor public transport sytem, it was recognised that the Metro systems being built currently actively excluded those who need public transport the most - the urban poor and working classed. This was being done by various measures including not allowing the movement of goods, inability to take cycles on Metros (an approach actively encouraged in many progressive metros) and deliberately not providing public conveniences such as water kiosks, toilets, food centres, etc. However, the same systems aggressively promoted shopping in malls, large car parking zones, etc. Clearly this was identified as a class driven exercise - and needs to be corrected. It was recognised that the National Urban Transport Policy was progressive, but the process by which it was evolved was not democratic. It was identified that it must be country wide demand that all mega projects must be implemented by the procedure laid down in the Nagarpalika Act, and for this the laggard implementation of its progressive features (especially that of Metropolitan/District Planning Committees) must become a condition for State and Central support for urban infrastructure projects. Overall, no project should be rushed through on reactionary grounds, especially projects like Metro which would consume enormous funds and take decades to complete, without due public participation in their decision making as laid down in the Town and Country Planning Act, Nagarpalika Act, and various other legislations and policies. It was also recognised that the rights of pavements vendors and street dwellers was being snuffed out despite such actions violating Supreme Court directives and national policies. The particular disregard for bastis of the poor when large projects are developed was condemned. These are some broad areas addressed, and I am not making any claim whatsoever that this is comprehensive. I request Kathyayini and Zainab to add in their views on this process. Regards Leo Saldanha Environment Support Group -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: esg.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 348 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20090629/5fcac838/attachment.vcf From esg at esgindia.org Tue Jun 30 05:38:17 2009 From: esg at esgindia.org (ESGINDIA) Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 05:38:17 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] [HasiruUsiru] National Strategy Session on Metros In-Reply-To: References: <4A48A2FA.3030807@esgindia.org> Message-ID: <4A495771.2050607@esgindia.org> HI Chandra Can you check with BMRCL onthis. If they are not helpful, pl file an RTI Leo Chandra Ravikumar wrote: > Dear Leo and All Concerned People, > I heard to day that the Metro is being extended to Uddhipalya on > Kanakapura Road. Uddhipalya is 26 Kms. from Jayanagar 4th block. This > is so as to add to the present low commuter numbers, apart from the > unmentionable benefits. Notices for acquisition of land are being > served to people living and farming all along the road. > Chandra > > PS. I also heard that the Supreme Court WILL NOT admit any case agaist > any Metro project, anywhere in India. Is that true? > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > To: esg_work_team at googlegroups.com; HasiruUsiru at yahoogroups.com; > urbanstudygroup at sarai.net; ecwatch at yahoogroups.com; > kchamaraj at gmail.com; bawazainab79 at gmail.com > From: esg at esgindia.org > Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:48:18 +0530 > Subject: [HasiruUsiru] National Strategy Session on Metros > > > > Dear All, > > I participated on behalf of ESG, and I hope Hasiru Usiru too, in the > National Meeting for Evolving Strategies on Metro projects. This was > organised by the National Alliance of Peoples Movement, and under the > able guidance of Medha Patkar. The meeting was held on 27-29 June at > Mumbai. Kathyayini Chamaraj was present and so was Zainab Bawa. > > The participants involved Metro affected communities from Mumbai, > representatives of various organisations focussing on Metros and its > impacts (from Delhi, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore...). > > Overall it seemed clear that Metro was being pursued as a be all and end > all solution to the public transport gaps in many urban areas. It was > analysed by various researchers that the uncontested faith in the Metro > must be tackled first and foremost. It was recognised that while Metro > may be a solution, it should not be the only approach to adopted in > resolving our transport and travel crises. > > It was also recognised that Metro project implementation must be part of > a planned process per law. It was widely acknowledged that all Metros > in all cities of India are being implemented in blatant violation of > this process. There was serious concern that Metro projects are being > implemented without careful consideration of the financial, economic, > environmental and social impacts. A detailed analysis of the Hyderabad, > Delhi and Bangalore experiences helped draw the conclusion that such > mega projects are being rushed through without any careful review > whatsoever. There is no mystery, therefore, that the MAYTAS scandal > broke out. > > It was also recognised that Metro projects were being wrongly exempted > from the purview of various laws, for instance the EIA Notification, and > action was immediately initated by way of a representation signed by all > to Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh to correct this anamoly. > > Without contesting the need for an effective, people friendly and > pro-poor public transport sytem, it was recognised that the Metro > systems being built currently actively excluded those who need public > transport the most - the urban poor and working classed. This was being > done by various measures including not allowing the movement of goods, > inability to take cycles on Metros (an approach actively encouraged in > many progressive metros) and deliberately not providing public > conveniences such as water kiosks, toilets, food centres, etc. However, > the same systems aggressively promoted shopping in malls, large car > parking zones, etc. Clearly this was identified as a class driven > exercise - and needs to be corrected. > > It was recognised that the National Urban Transport Policy was > progressive, but the process by which it was evolved was not > democratic. It was identified that it must be country wide demand that > all mega projects must be implemented by the procedure laid down in the > Nagarpalika Act, and for this the laggard implementation of its > progressive features (especially that of Metropolitan/District Planning > Committees) must become a condition for State and Central support for > urban infrastructure projects. Overall, no project should be rushed > through on reactionary grounds, especially projects like Metro which > would consume enormous funds and take decades to complete, without due > public participation in their decision making as laid down in the Town > and Country Planning Act, Nagarpalika Act, and various other > legislations and policies. > > It was also recognised that the rights of pavements vendors and street > dwellers was being snuffed out despite such actions violating Supreme > Court directives and national policies. The particular disregard for > bastis of the poor when large projects are developed was condemned. > > These are some broad areas addressed, and I am not making any claim > whatsoever that this is comprehensive. I request Kathyayini and Zainab > to add in their views on this process. > > Regards > > Leo Saldanha > Environment Support Group > > > __._,_.___ > Messages in this topic > > (1) Reply (via web post) > > | Start a new topic > > > Messages > > | Files > > | Photos > > | Links > > | Database > > | Polls > > | Members > > | Calendar > > > Yahoo! Groups > > > Change settings via the Web > > (Yahoo! ID required) > Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest > > | Switch format to Traditional > > > Visit Your Group > > | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | > Unsubscribe > Recent Activity > > * > 17 > New Members > > > Visit Your Group > > > Give Back > Yahoo! for Good > > > Get inspired > > by a good cause. > > Y! Toolbar > Get it Free! > > > easy 1-click access > > to your groups. > > Yahoo! Groups > Start a group > > > in 3 easy steps. > > Connect with others. > > . > > __,_._,___ > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Get easy photo sharing with Windows Live™ Photos. Drag n’ drop > -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: esg.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 348 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20090630/500499f2/attachment.vcf From bawazainab79 at gmail.com Tue Jun 30 19:43:12 2009 From: bawazainab79 at gmail.com (Zainab Bawa) Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:43:12 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] City, nights and fear Message-ID: 9 o'clock 10 o'clock 11 o'clock Night, dark, inside their homes - the peoples but, this is Mumbai, does not sleep - the city that does not sleep. Someone asked me the other day - but you said that people do not sleep here in Mumbai. Look around, everyone seems to be asleep - and he smiled. I thought to myself, maybe it is the weekend and so everyone is sitting tight in their homes. Then, returning back home at 11:15 PM at night, sitting in the cab, I looked around. A sense of fear had also gripped me - how will I return home? When will I return home? When will I snuggle up in my bed and feel safe. How can this happen to me in Mumbai - the city whose prodigy I am. Fear, that feeling of lack of safety, was creeping up my neck. Sitting in the taxi, I asked the driver - no public on the streets? He said - Sunday nah? Little public out at night. But, I prodded further, even the bus services into the city have reduced at night. What is th deal? The buses *kya? *They run empty at nights and so, the BEST has decided to reduce them. But yes, the streets are empty at nights these days, after the *bamb-kaand*. *Bamb-kaand*? You mean 26/11? Yes. After that, people have reduced going out at nights. A sense of fear has gripped people. We taxi drivers, our income was mainly from the fares we got at night. Now, that has reduced drastically. All the *shareef*, good character people don't come out at nights. It is only the *badmaash*, the bad characters, that come out at night. Plus, so much *naaka-bandi, *police watch. Who will come out? Which *shareef* person will come out? Just a while before the driver was drawing a distinction between the *shareef *and the *badmaash*, I had watched a bunch of well-dressed prostitutes and one of their clients in the classic white kurta and pyjama, laughing and making jokes around the corner of a hotel at Grant Road. And I had thought about respectability. Now, I think of the *shareef, *the *badmaash*, and the night and the city - transformation, perhaps it is happening at these subtle levels. Then, I watched the city last night as we rode past one end to the other. Are the streets really silent? Is this what the *bamb-kaand* has done? Penetrated into the fabric of the city and spread fear ... We halted at a signal around the corner of one of the posh Western suburbs. There she was - no fear - just dexteriously weaving the flowers through the thread and making garlands, perhaps readying herself for the clientele in the morning who may want to offer the flowers to their gods and goddesses, allaying a fear of a different kind (that between the devotee and the devout). She weaved away quickly, without care. Is she afraid, I thought to myself? Then we passed the roads. There they were, those people, those people we call slum dwellers. Three hutments jutting out from the walls, just onto to the streets. They had also called it a night, lying down in their beds, drawing their sheets onto themselves. There they were, stepping into the world of dreams and nightmares and desires and hopes and aspirations - some had their TV sets on, some just oblivious of the roadside traffic and preparing to go off to sleep. Are they afraid? Then, we went pass the highway, those big roads that have been created to facilitate the movement of cars (and traffic). On the highway, covered under blue plastic sheets, supported by a few poles, they were also going off to sleep. Perhaps they were construction workers who had settled into a little space on the footpath and called it a night. Perhaps they were contract sweepers, spending their last few days in the city before the rain lashes vehemently. They were almost calling it a night, drifting off (or just about to ...) ... Are they afraid? And then, just a little ahead, three-four men and women, playing hide-and-seek in the bushes by the side of the highway, perhaps some kind of a foreplay. They seemed happy, playful. Are they afraid? Fear - what of? Fear - of what? Fear ... and the city sleeps at night ... Fear ... and we sleep to prepare for another day to come ... Fear ... -- Zainab Bawa Ph.D. Student and Independent Researcher Gaining Ground ... http://zainab.freecrow.org http://cis-india.org/research/cis-raw/histories-of-the-internet/transparency-and-politics -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20090630/fc2f067a/attachment-0001.html From sumeet.com at gmail.com Tue Jun 30 20:45:55 2009 From: sumeet.com at gmail.com (Sumeet Mhaskar) Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:45:55 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] City, nights and fear In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: 26/11 might be one of the reasons why there are very few people on the streets in late evening but one must also note the decline of the textile and other industries such as chemical, engineering, pharma etc., from central Mumbai that employed more than 300,000 workers. Since there were three shifts (7am, 3pm, 11pm) one could always see workers leaving for their jobs while others returning home. This made everyone feel secure as there were always many people around. With the economic transformation that Mumbai has witnessed over the last 2 decades the erstwhile backbone of Mumbai's economy (the textile industry and other allied industries) has been replaced with the service sector economy. In this new economy you don't have three shifts. BPOs do have night shifts but since they have their cabs you rarely find people on the streets. This view of mine, however, does not the deny the fact that 26/11 or the previous blasts in Mumbai have contributed to the present situation whereby the Shareef people don't stay out longer so that they don't get into any zhamela. Best wishes, Sumeet On 30 Jun 2009, at 19:43, Zainab Bawa wrote: > 9 o'clock > > 10 o'clock > > 11 o'clock > > > > Night, > > dark, > > inside their homes - the peoples > > but, this is Mumbai, does not sleep - the city that does not sleep. > > Someone asked me the other day - but you said that people do not > sleep here in Mumbai. Look around, everyone seems to be asleep - and > he smiled. I thought to myself, maybe it is the weekend and so > everyone is sitting tight in their homes. > > Then, returning back home at 11:15 PM at night, sitting in the cab, > I looked around. A sense of fear had also gripped me - how will I > return home? When will I return home? When will I snuggle up in my > bed and feel safe. How can this happen to me in Mumbai - the city > whose prodigy I am. Fear, that feeling of lack of safety, was > creeping up my neck. > > Sitting in the taxi, I asked the driver - no public on the streets? > > He said - Sunday nah? Little public out at night. > > But, I prodded further, even the bus services into the city have > reduced at night. What is th deal? > > The buses kya? They run empty at nights and so, the BEST has decided > to reduce them. But yes, the streets are empty at nights these days, > after the bamb-kaand. > > Bamb-kaand? You mean 26/11? > > Yes. After that, people have reduced going out at nights. A sense of > fear has gripped people. We taxi drivers, our income was mainly from > the fares we got at night. Now, that has reduced drastically. All > the shareef, good character people don't come out at nights. It is > only the badmaash, the bad characters, that come out at night. Plus, > so much naaka-bandi, police watch. Who will come out? Which shareef > person will come out? > > Just a while before the driver was drawing a distinction between the > shareef and the badmaash, I had watched a bunch of well-dressed > prostitutes and one of their clients in the classic white kurta and > pyjama, laughing and making jokes around the corner of a hotel at > Grant Road. And I had thought about respectability. Now, I think of > the shareef, the badmaash, and the night and the city - > transformation, perhaps it is happening at these subtle levels. > > Then, I watched the city last night as we rode past one end to the > other. Are the streets really silent? Is this what the bamb-kaand > has done? Penetrated into the fabric of the city and spread fear ... > > We halted at a signal around the corner of one of the posh Western > suburbs. There she was - no fear - just dexteriously weaving the > flowers through the thread and making garlands, perhaps readying > herself for the clientele in the morning who may want to offer the > flowers to their gods and goddesses, allaying a fear of a different > kind (that between the devotee and the devout). She weaved away > quickly, without care. Is she afraid, I thought to myself? > > Then we passed the roads. There they were, those people, those > people we call slum dwellers. Three hutments jutting out from the > walls, just onto to the streets. They had also called it a night, > lying down in their beds, drawing their sheets onto themselves. > There they were, stepping into the world of dreams and nightmares > and desires and hopes and aspirations - some had their TV sets on, > some just oblivious of the roadside traffic and preparing to go off > to sleep. Are they afraid? > > Then, we went pass the highway, those big roads that have been > created to facilitate the movement of cars (and traffic). On the > highway, covered under blue plastic sheets, supported by a few > poles, they were also going off to sleep. Perhaps they were > construction workers who had settled into a little space on the > footpath and called it a night. Perhaps they were contract sweepers, > spending their last few days in the city before the rain lashes > vehemently. They were almost calling it a night, drifting off (or > just about to ...) ... Are they afraid? > > And then, just a little ahead, three-four men and women, playing > hide-and-seek in the bushes by the side of the highway, perhaps some > kind of a foreplay. They seemed happy, playful. Are they afraid? > > Fear - what of? > > Fear - of what? > > Fear ... and the city sleeps at night ... > > Fear ... and we sleep to prepare for another day to come ... > > Fear ... > > -- > Zainab Bawa > Ph.D. Student and Independent Researcher > > Gaining Ground ... > http://zainab.freecrow.org > > http://cis-india.org/research/cis-raw/histories-of-the-internet/transparency-and-politics > _______________________________________________ > Urbanstudygroup mailing list > Urban Study Group: Reading the South Asian City > > To subscribe or browse the Urban Study Group archives, please visit https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/urbanstudygroup -- Sumeet Mhaskar Doctoral Candidate in Sociology Department of Sociology & St.Antony's College University of Oxford Mobile: + 44 (0) 77 2610 2847 (U.K) + 91 (0) 98 7042 4140 (India) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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