From yanivbin at gmail.com Sun Nov 1 13:54:54 2009 From: yanivbin at gmail.com (Vinay Baindur) Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 13:54:54 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] UD Minister, local legislators kept in the dark Message-ID: <86b8a7050911010124webf3523kadd0087d7b2249bc@mail.gmail.com> Infrastructure: Tagore Circle underpass * http://www.deccanherald.com/content/33568/minister-local-legislators-kept-dark.html * *Minister, local legislators kept in the dark * Bangalore,Oct 31,DH News Service: *It has now come to light that the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagar Palike (BBMP) had not informed the urban development minister and two ruling party MLAs of Chickpet and Basavanagudi, who represent the residents of the areas which the Tagore Circle Underpass is supposed to serve.* Urban Development Minister S Suresh Kumar was kept in the dark about this project for the sole reason that his portfolio does not include BBMP, BDA and BMRDA. Apart from them, a former mayor and the former counsellors of Basavanagudi and surrounding areas were also not aware of the project. Irked about being ignored by the BBMP, Chickpet MLA Dr D Hemachandra Sagar shot letters to Transport Minister R Ashok, Urban Development Minister S Suresh Kumar and BBMP Commissioner Bharatlal Meena. In the letter, the MLA expressed his displeasure about not being informed about the grade separator work. Sagar alleged that even in the past the BBMP showed haste in constructing the National College flyover, which is not utilised to its complete extent now. “Tax payers’ money should be spent on proper projects instead of those, which are opposed by the residents,” he said and added if the Palike was anxious to spend public money then it should think of constructing small shops for the economically weaker people doing their business on the pavements at Gandhi Bazaar. Basavanagudi MLA Ravi Subramanya too had the same grouse that his opinion was not sought before carrying out the work. “The place where the work is going on is not a part of my constituency. Yet, that place where the underpass is coming up is identified as Basavanagudi. People from my constituency use it the most and they may have problem with this underpass. What hurts me was that I was also not consulted,” said Ravi Subramanya. Former counsellor Satyanarayana too was angry that people’s view was not sought before starting the work. “Just because officials believe that this project is essential, it should not be undertaken unilaterally. People’s view must be taken,” Sathyanarayana said. The public representatives were enraged that the contractor worked day and night and disturbed the tranquil nights at K R Puram by using JCB to dig the entire stretch from Tagore Circle to Basavanagudi police station. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20091101/47425864/attachment.html From yanivbin at gmail.com Mon Nov 2 22:03:31 2009 From: yanivbin at gmail.com (Vinay Baindur) Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 22:03:31 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] Delhi 3-4 Nov 09 Planning and Implementation of Non Motorized Transport Workshop Message-ID: <86b8a7050911020833w124691f4rf584917285355349@mail.gmail.com> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: SUTP Team GTZ-SUTP in partnership with the WRI-EMBARQ will be organizing a two day workshop on “Planning and Implementation of Non Motorized Transport Facilities”. The workshop will be held on 3-4 November 2009 at the India International Centre, New Delhi. This workshop provides a unique opportunity for participants to understand the approach to planning for Non Motorized Transport (NMT) facilities viz. walking and cycling, and gain exposure to the various issues involved in the planning and implementation of NMT Facilities. As a part of the workshop there is also a site visit in Delhi to analyse the conditions of walking and cycling. EMBARQ is organizing this workshop as part of the city peering program for the India – GEF – World Bank – UNDP Sustainable Urban Transport Project (SUTP). The program is part of the Sustainable Urban Transportation Project - a partnership between the Government of India (GoI), Global Environment Facility (GEF), The World Bank, and The United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The project supports the implementation of the National Urban Transport Policy, which was issued by GOI’s Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) in April 2006. EMBARQ’s participation in this event is funded by AUSAID. People interested in attending the workshop please send an email to Mr. Madhav Pai ( mpai at wri.org This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) and cc to Mr. Santhosh Kodukula ( santhosh.kodukula at sutp.org This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ). More information and agenda of the course is available at http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1780&Itemid=1&lang=uk *** Register Soon *** -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20091102/c595092a/attachment.html From jeebesh at sarai.net Wed Nov 4 11:44:34 2009 From: jeebesh at sarai.net (Jeebesh) Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 11:44:34 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] Fwd: [Commons-convergence] Fwd: [Debate] (Fwd) 'Commons' References: <4AF117C2.8010709@gmail.com> Message-ID: <6493CF19-8F8F-460E-A36F-6071240E8F89@sarai.net> could be useful... Begin forwarded message: > From: Leo Saldanha > Date: 4 November 2009 11:27:22 AM GMT+05:30 > To: Jai Sen > Cc: Post Commons Convergence > Subject: Re: [Commons-convergence] Fwd: [Debate] (Fwd) 'Commons' > Reply-To: leofsaldanha at gmail.com > > Thanks Jai for sharing a very interesting article and also a link to > an very resourceful site on the commons. > > ESG has been involved in major litigations over the past few years > to secure the commons, especially in the urbs. Interestingly, > Courts have agreed with our positions and secured urban commons - > such as lakes - from potential acquistion for private profit. > Recently, as a result of our ongoing litigations, Karnataka State > cancelled an agreement to privatise one lake, and we think this is > precedent to cancel all other agreements. > Thsoe interested can access our PILs and some interim orders by > visiting our website: www.esgindia.org (look for PILs on Lake > Privtisation and Road widening). The road widening case is > interesting because most of us assume the Government has an absolute > right to renegotiate its form and structure. We contended this > argument, and have succeeded in winning the Court's support to > subject such decision to the due process of public consultation as > laid down in the law. > > Somewhat disappointing is the lack of interest amongst many > activists and academia in these litigation initiatives, particularly > in exploring its possible implications to securing the commons. I > hope with renewed interest in the topic, thanks to the Nobel prize > given to Ostrum, interest may pick up on such issues amongst > activist and academic communities. > > The future as I see it, in light of the worst predictions of climate > change, will be all about how successful we are in securing the > public access quality of our commons... be they local parks, > streets, beaches, atmosphere, forests, cyberspace, etc.... > > Leo > > Jai Sen wrote: >> >> Begin forwarded message: >> >>> *From: *Patrick Bond > >>> *Date: *November 4 2009 9:47:03 am GMT+05:30 >>> *To: *DEBATE >> list at fahamu.org>> >>> *Subject: **[Debate] (Fwd) 'Commons'* >>> *Reply-To: *pbond at mail.ngo.za , Debate >>> is a listserve that attempts to promote information and analyses >>> of interest to the independent left in South and Southern Africa >> > >>> >>> The Commons: From Tragedy to Celebrity >>> >>> United for a Fair Economy >>> October 2009 >>> http://enews.faireconomy.org/2009/October2009.html >>> >>> The recipients of the 2009 Nobel Prize in economics were >>> announced on Monday October 12th. The prize was shared >>> between two Americans, Elinor Ostrum and Oliver E. >>> Williamson. >>> >>> Ostrum deserves a special toast for several reasons. >>> First, such high-level recognition of her work brings >>> the idea of The Commons into the spotlight, which is >>> fitting given how broken our current economic system is. >>> Second, she is only the second non-economist to win the >>> award and, as the first female recipient of the award, >>> she shattered yet another glass ceiling for women the >>> world over. >>> >>> Ostrom's research, which essentially bridges political >>> science and economics, focuses on community vs. private >>> or governmental management of common resources like >>> land, forests, irrigation waters and fisheries. One of >>> her key findings is that successful governance can >>> result when end-users - the people actually using the >>> resources - actively participate in the process. >>> >>> This directly contradicts the long-standing theory of >>> the "Tragedy of the Commons," in which property rights >>> and privatization are seen to be the only means to >>> preserving finite resources. >>> >>> The commons doesn't just refer to natural resources, >>> however. It includes anything that is shared by members >>> of local, national or even global communities. And it >>> raises the idea that we can shift from a market-based >>> society narrowly focused on private wealth, to a >>> commons-based society focused on managing common assets >>> so they benefit everyone. Essentially, it offers a >>> framework for revamping our currently flawed economic >>> system, and seeks to do so to benefit the many - an idea >>> that is right up our ally. >>> >>> About the Commons >>> http://onthecommons.org/content.php?id=1467 >>> >>> The commons is a new way to express a very old idea-that >>> some forms of wealth belong to all of us, and that these >>> community resources must be actively protected and >>> managed for the good and all. >>> >>> The commons are the things that we inherit and create >>> jointly, and that will (hopefully) last for generations >>> to come. The commons consists of gifts of nature such as >>> air, oceans and wildlife as well as shared social >>> creations such as libraries, public spaces, scientific >>> research and creative works. >>> >>> Biopiracy: The practice where traditional knowledge of >>> natural resources, especially medicinal and agricultural >>> plants, is appropriated by international companies to >>> create products, for which they are awarded exclusive >>> rights to use under patent laws. >>> >>> Cap-and-dividend: A practical solution to the problem of >>> global climate disruption, based upon the commons >>> principle that the atmosphere belongs to everyone. (Also >>> known as the Sky Trust.) First articulated by On the >>> Commons co-founder Peter Barnes in his 2002 book, Who >>> Owns the Sky? cap-and-dividend is a response to cap-and- >>> trade proposals in which polluters are granted >>> permission to buy and sell pollution rights as a way to >>> curb carbon and other emissions causing global warming. >>> This essentially gives existing polluters ownership of >>> the air in order to create incentives to reduce >>> emissions. Cap-and-dividend starts at the same place by >>> creating a cap on pollution that gradually reduces the >>> amount of greenhouse gases that can be dumped into the >>> air and creating a market where the right to pollute can >>> be bought and sold. But rather than letting historical >>> polluters reap all the financial benefits, fees that >>> companies pay to pollute would be collected and returned >>> to citizens in the form of a regular dividend. This is >>> not only a more equitable way to distribute the wealth >>> created by a commons, it also increases public support >>> for measures to stop global climate change. For more >>> information see Peter Barnes 2008 book Climate Solutions >>> >>> Common assets: Common assets are those parts of the >>> commons that have a value in the market and which are >>> appropriate to buy and sell (see "inalienability"). >>> Radio airwaves are a common asset, for example, as are >>> timber and minerals on public lands and, increasingly, >>> air and water. By recognizing certain resources as >>> common assets, it becomes natural to ask: Are the common >>> assets being responsibly managed on behalf of the >>> general public or a distinct community of interest? Is >>> the capital being depleted? >>> >>> Commons movement: A growing social and political >>> movement that believes the commons is a crucial sector >>> of the economy and society and useful prism for talking >>> about resources that should be shared. The commons >>> offers not only an affirmative vision of a more >>> equitable, eco-friendly society: it also serves as a >>> countervailing force to keep excesses of the market and >>> government sectors in check. Some speak of an emerging >>> commons paradigm as a new way of looking at the world, >>> one that opens up the competitive, mechanistic, profit- >>> centric mindset that has ruled Western civilization >>> since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, with a more >>> humanistic, environmentally aware and holistic world >>> view. A wider appreciation for the enduring importance >>> of the commons has developed over the last eight years, >>> especially among people deeply involved in the politics >>> of water issues, the internet, the over >>> commercialization of culture and public spaces. This >>> world view is now reaching into many other arenas, >>> including economics, the environment, social justice and >>> numerous citizens movements around the world. >>> >>> Copyleft: This refers to a license that allows free re- >>> use and modification of creative work so long as any >>> works derived from the original remain available on the >>> same terms. Copyleft, formally known as the "General >>> Public License" or GPL, was initiated by computer >>> programmer Richard Stallman and the Free Software >>> Foundation. By protecting the creativity and energy of >>> the commons from private appropriation, the GPL has >>> enabled communities of programmers to build shared >>> bodies of code, such as free software and open source >>> software. A similar set of licenses for other types of >>> creative works has been devised by the Creative Commons. >>> >>> Corporation: A self-perpetuating legal entity whose >>> mission is to maximize short-term return to >>> shareholders. In its aggressive pursuit of this mission, >>> the corporation not only produces new innovations and >>> efficiencies, it also displaces costs onto the >>> environment, our communities and our personal lives (see >>> externality). >>> >>> Enclosure: Historically, this refers to the >>> privatization of common grazing lands beginning in 15th >>> Century England, which impoverished many peasants. Today >>> it is used to describe the conversion of a commons into >>> private property. Enclosure entails not just the >>> privatization of a resource, but also the introduction >>> of money and market exchange as the prevailing >>> principles for managing that resource. Enclosure shifts >>> ownership and control from the community at large to >>> private companies. This in turn changes the management >>> and character of the resource because the market has >>> very different standards of accountability and >>> transparency than a commons. (Contrast a public library >>> with a bookstore, or Main Street with a private shopping >>> mall.) Because of its compulsion to extract maximum >>> short-term rents and externalize costs, market enclosure >>> often results in the "tragedy of the market." >>> >>> Externality or illth: A social or ecological cost that >>> is not paid by its creators. As the scope of market >>> activity expands beyond a certain point, engulfing more >>> of nature and daily life, it yields less and less >>> happiness and wellbeing even as it causes more and more >>> unintended problems. In market logic, the expanding >>> output must be regarded as "progress" and "wealth." In >>> fact, the accelerating pace of the market machine is >>> producing more "illth" - the opposite of wealth. Author >>> Peter Barnes ( Who Owns the Sky ) has popularized this >>> term, coined by John Ruskin in the 19th century, to >>> describe the unintended but increasing destruction of >>> nature, social disruptions, health problems and other >>> (unacknowledged, unintended or disguised) costs of >>> market activity. >>> >>> Gift economy: A community of shared purpose, such as an >>> academic discipline, whose members give time and >>> creativity to the community and reap benefits in return. >>> In gift communities, money is an unacceptable "currency" >>> because relationships are rooted in personal, particular >>> and historical experiences of each individual, and >>> cannot be converted into cash or any other fungible >>> unit. Despite the absence of cash, legal contracts and >>> market exchange, a gift economy can be tremendously >>> productive, efficient and innovative, as seen in free >>> and open software communities, online wikis and other >>> collaborative websites, blood donation systems and >>> scientific research disciplines. >>> >>> Inalienability: The principle that a given resource >>> shall not be freely bought and sold in the marketplace, >>> but shall remain intact, in its natural context. >>> Inalienability derives from a social consensus that >>> certain things and behaviors are so precious and basic >>> to human identity that they are degraded if they are put >>> up for sale. "Goods" that have traditionally been >>> regarded as inalienable include votes, babies, bodily >>> organs, sex, genes, living species and most aspects of >>> nature, but market forces are increasingly challenging >>> long-standing norms of inalienability. >>> >>> Land trusts: An alternative model of land ownership in >>> which a tract of land is owned by a non-profit >>> organization-usually to preserve its natural assets or >>> to maintain it as affordable housing. There are more >>> than 1,600 land trusts in the US today encompassing 37 >>> million acres. Land trusts provide a good example of how >>> a commons economic model can exist outside the realm of >>> both government and private control as a distinct sector >>> for advancing the public good. Professor Carol Rose of >>> Yale Law School has cited land trusts as an example of >>> "property on the outside, commons on the inside"-meaning >>> that the resource exists within the market system as >>> legal property yet is managed internally according to >>> commons principles. >>> >>> Open source software: (See copyleft) Open source >>> software is functionally similar to free software that >>> is protected under the General Public License, or GPL, >>> except that open source programs allow a program to be >>> freely copied, modified and distributed, but do not >>> require it. In addition, the open source community does >>> not necessarily subscribe to the political agenda of >>> Richard Stallman, founder of the Free Software >>> Foundation, who regards the GPL as the foundation for a >>> vision of political and creative freedom. Open source >>> programmers tend to be more focused on the practical >>> value of open source code in developing superior >>> software. >>> >>> Public goods: Resources that, because of their "public" >>> nature, are difficult or costly to exclude anyone from >>> using. Examples include lighthouses, city parks, >>> broadcast programming and the global atmosphere. In the >>> lingo of economists, these are "non-rival" and "non- >>> excludable" resources. Government often steps in to pay >>> for public goods because it is difficult to get >>> individual beneficiaries to pay for them. But in the >>> networked environment of the Internet, it is >>> increasingly feasible for self-organizing groups to >>> create and pay for public goods. Open source software is >>> a prime example. >>> >>> Public space: Any place where people are free to gather >>> for social or civic interaction. The value of public >>> spaces is increasingly being recognized as essential to >>> the health of local communities and democratic societies >>> in general. While usually defined as parks, streets and >>> sidewalks, plazas, libraries and public institutions, >>> the concept can also be expanded to include congenial >>> privately owned settings such as a coffee shop, corner >>> grocery or a plaza outside an office building. Shopping >>> malls, which in many suburban communities function as >>> Main Street, have stirred controversy by forbidding >>> civic activities such as gathering signatures for >>> petitions-a policy upheld by the courts which worries >>> many civil liberties and public space advocates. >>> >>> Public trust doctrine: A legal doctrine that says that >>> the state holds certain resources in trust for its >>> citizens which cannot be given away or sold. Public >>> trust doctrine has its origins in Roman law, which >>> recognized that certain resources such as fisheries, >>> air, running water and wild animals belong to all. Under >>> the doctrine of res communes , the king could not grant >>> exclusive rights of access to a common resource. The >>> point is that there is a clear distinction between >>> common property (which belongs to the people) and state >>> property (which can be controlled and mismanaged by >>> government). >>> >>> Sky Trust (See Cap-and-Dividend) >>> >>> Tragedy of the commons: Title of an influential 1968 >>> essay by biologist Garrett Hardin, which argued that >>> overuse of common resources is a leading cause of >>> environmental degradation. This was interpreted by some, >>> especially economists and free-market libertarians, to >>> mean that private ownership is preferable to the commons >>> for the stewardship of land, water, minerals, etc. Yet >>> in recent years many have challenged this view on both >>> empirical and philosophical grounds. Professor Elinor >>> Ostrom of Indiana University has been a leading figure >>> in demonstrating the practical utility and >>> sustainability of commons governance regimes, >>> particularly in developing countries. Other analysts, >>> such as Professor Yochai Benkler of Harvard Law School, >>> have shown how people in online commons can indeed >>> collaborate sustainably to produce and protect valuable >>> resources. This suggests that the vision of human >>> behavior implicit in the tragedy of the commons metaphor >>> is not as immutable as many economists assert, and that >>> collective management is an eminently practical >>> governance strategy in many circumstances. The tragedy >>> of the "anti-commons" is now frequently invoked to >>> describe the problems associated with excessive >>> privatization and fragmentation of property rights, such >>> that collective action for the common good is thwarted. >>> An example is the proliferation of patents on bio- >>> medical knowledge that impedes research on cures for >>> malaria, or the proliferation of copyrights in film and >>> video that prevents documentary filmmakers from clearing >>> the rights to images for use in new films. >>> >>> Trust or stakeholder trust: A legal institution for >>> protecting the commons and managing any assets that may >>> arise from it. If the corporation is the preeminent >>> institution of the market, the trust is the premier >>> institution of the commons. The managers of a trust, the >>> trustees, have clear legal responsibilities to manage >>> its resources on behalf of the beneficiaries. This >>> includes strict fiduciary responsibilities, transparency >>> and accountability. (See land trusts) >>> >>> Value: Economists tend to regard "value" as a >>> quantifiable object with a price tag. But as commoners >>> realize, "value" can also be something intangible and >>> not available for sale. An example is the social >>> satisfaction of belonging to a community and >>> contributing to a shared goal. A commons can also create >>> economic value as efficiently as a market; examples >>> include Wikipedia, the online user-generated >>> encyclopedia, and Craiglist, the online advertising >>> service. The difference is that a commons usually does >>> not convert its output into a marketable commodity. >>> >>> _____________________________________________ >>> >>> Portside aims to provide material of interest >>> to people on the left that will help them to >>> interpret the world and to change it. >>> >>> Submit via email: moderator at portside.org >>> Submit via the Web: portside.org/submit >>> Frequently asked questions: portside.org/faq >>> Subscribe: portside.org/subscribe >>> Unsubscribe: portside.org/unsubscribe >>> Account assistance: portside.org/contact >>> Search the archives: portside.org/archive >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Debate-list mailing list >>> Debate-list at fahamu.org >>> http://lists.fahamu.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/debate-list >> >> ______________________________ >> Jai Sen >> jai.sen at cacim.net >> CACIM, A-3 Defence Colony, New Delhi 110 024, India >> www.cacim.net >> Ph : +91-11-4155 1521, +91-98189 11325 >> *DELETION OF OLD EMAIL IDs : *Please note that I am no longer using >> my earlier email ids, jai.sen at vsnl.com >> and jai_sen2000 at yahoo.com . *PLEASE >> KINDLY DELETE THESE FROM YOUR RECORDS ! Thanks.* >> *NEW :* >> ‘On open space : Explorations towards a vocabulary of a more open >> politics’, @ http://cacim.net/twiki/tiki-index.php? >> page=Publications (May 20 2009) >> *Check out* both *CACIM* @ www.cacim.net and >> *OpenSpaceForum* @ www.openspaceforum.net > > >> *Subscribe to* WSFDiscuss, an open and unmoderated forum on the >> World Social Forum and on related social and political movements >> and issues. Simply send an empty email to worldsocialforum-discuss-subscribe at openspaceforum.net >> >> >> P *Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail* >> >> *Note :* In case you are having problems opening any Word >> attachments I have sent you, you could try one of the following : >> (a) Put your cursor on the icon, do a right click, see ‘Open With’, >> and open with Word…; or (b), try saving the document onto your >> desktop or hard disc, and then opening it. With apologies in >> advance if this advice seems to question your technological literacy… >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Commons-convergence mailing list >> Commons-convergence at lists.kandalaya.org >> http://lists.kandalaya.org/listinfo/commons-convergence >> > > _______________________________________________ > Commons-convergence mailing list > Commons-convergence at lists.kandalaya.org > http://lists.kandalaya.org/listinfo/commons-convergence -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20091104/03ae4faf/attachment-0002.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: leofsaldanha.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 310 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20091104/03ae4faf/attachment-0001.vcf -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20091104/03ae4faf/attachment-0003.html From rkamath.research at gmail.com Fri Nov 6 09:43:07 2009 From: rkamath.research at gmail.com (Ranjan Kamath) Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 09:43:07 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] Rent-A-Reva Service _ Going Online Message-ID: <24b9c2a0911052013t387b6d08xca53774db8a7f3a8@mail.gmail.com> Cpositive Foundation & Reva Electric Car Co. is to shortly introduce the Rent-A-Reva service in Bangalore, followed by other metro cities. RENT-A-REVA SERVICE FOR RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES, CAMPUSES AND COMPANIES REVA cars will be stationed 24x7 within residential or corporate complexes for use by residents and employees respectively. Ø Rs. 50,000 Security Deposit Ø Rs. 15000/- per month, per car Ø (incl. comprehensive insurance, service, maintenance etc by Reva) Ø Cars will be emblazoned with the name and colours of the residential complex or company, if requested Ø Two year contract, renewable The objective of this initiative is to *REDUCE:* Ø National fuel consumption Ø Atmospheric pollution and significantly improve urban air quality in metros Ø Per Capita Carbon Footprint Ø Dependence on Thermal power with switch over to solar option Rent-A –Reva service can be used as: Ø Shuttle Service to bus stops Ø School drop and pick-up service Ø Senior citizens/ housewives service during off-peak hours Ø Inter-Office transit on campuses/ tech parks For more details and to register for this service, please contact Ranjan Kamath at: ranjan.kamath at c-positive.in Managing Trustee Cpositive Foundation www.cpositive.in - -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20091106/b0aabf74/attachment.html From kchamaraj at gmail.com Sat Nov 7 00:02:06 2009 From: kchamaraj at gmail.com (Kathyayini Chamaraj) Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 00:02:06 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] Public Address by Aruna Roy & Medha Patkar on SEZs, etc. at IIM-B- 9.11.09 - 5.30 -6.30 PM Message-ID: <8fef72c70911061032w358a4174n83fb24007005578e@mail.gmail.com> * Public Address by Aruna Roy and Medha Patkar SEZs, PCPIRs and the Development Needs of India 5:30 pm—6:30 pm Monday, 9th November 2009 Auditorium Indian Institute of Management Bannerghatta Road Bangalore * The Indian Institute of Management in Bangalore is pleased to invite you to a Public Address by social activists Aruna Roy and Medha Patkar on *SEZs, PCPIRs and the Development Needs of India. * ** *ALL ARE WELCOME* **In their efforts to deepen democracy and democratic development, Aruna Roy and Medha Patkar have come together in a collective process examining Special EconomicZones (SEZs) and Petroleum, Chemical and Petrochemical Investment Regions (PCPIRs) in a series of People’s Audits of SEZs across various states in the country. What are the learningsof this process and the key areas of concern from these regions? Do stated objectives reflect experiences on the ground? Do SEZs and PCPIRs adequately address the development needs of the country? These are some of the questions that they will address in their talk. Aruna Roy is the founder member of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan and the National Campaign of People’s Right to Information. Awarded the Magsaysay in 2000, she was also a member of the National Advisory Committee to the UPA government in its previous term. Medha Patkar is the founder member of the Narmada Bachao Andolan and the National Alliance of People’s Movements. Awarded the Right Livelihood Award in 1991, she was also a Commissioner of the World Commission on Dams from 1997-2000. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20091107/e0351304/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Public Address Invite.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 7831 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20091107/e0351304/attachment.pdf From yanivbin at gmail.com Mon Nov 9 13:41:14 2009 From: yanivbin at gmail.com (Vinay Baindur) Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 13:41:14 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] Mumbai City needs better policies, not management Janaagraha study for Bombay First Message-ID: <86b8a7050911090011u795cf4fcn91efa35c960a57a9@mail.gmail.com> http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_city-needs-better-policies-not-management_1309077 *City needs better policies, not management* DNA Correspondent Monday, November 9, 2009 1:19 IST Mumbai: The long-term solution to the conundrum of improving the quality of life in Mumbai lies in governing its affairs better rather than managing its problems more effectively. This finding comes from a study conducted jointly by Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship for Democracy and the consulting firm KPMG India for Bombay First, a non-profit group. The report will be presented at the international conference on Resurgence of Mumbai, an event supported by DNA. Stating that merely improving the operational efficiency of the city's networks will not improve the situation beyond the day-to-day problems, the study points out that there is merit to the argument that even these changes will not address the larger issues that confront the quality of life in the city. The study has pinpointed the key issues which negatively impact the living standards--lack of affordable housing, complexity of current regulations over control on urban land, social issues of the poor and their oppression, challenges in enforcement due to political interference and criminal-politician nexus, poor urban planning, weak design and shoddy implementation of urban infrastructure projects, lack of opportunities for citizens to participate in the governing process, inadequate distribution of water and electricity, and insufficient financial resources available to urban local bodies. It also highlights that future planning needs to account for the larger Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). To resolve these, the study makes four broad recommendations--set up a regional governing system, empower and enable local bodies and citizens, and improve direct accountability. The emphasis is on adequate distribution of power, providing local bodies and citizens financial support, establishing transport bodies and changing land laws, apart from decentralising the enforcement system, one-window clearance, improving electoral accountability, and developing participatory planning. "While the suggestion that governance and not management is more important is correct, recommendations like a single-window clearance, though already tried in the city's civic body, have not been implemented in letter and spirit," said Sharad Kumar, a trustee of AGNI, a non-profit. "The most important governing bodies Mumbai needs are for transport and water so that the left arm knows what the right arm is doing, and situations like the traffic mess at Worli after the sea link can be avoided. Too many authorities only result in a blame game, instead of the resolving of the issues," said Nayana Kathpalia of Mumbai-based Citispace, a citizens' forum for protection of public spaces. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20091109/af00fe2c/attachment-0001.html From shahanac at princeton.edu Mon Nov 9 14:00:12 2009 From: shahanac at princeton.edu (Shahana Chattaraj) Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 14:00:12 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] Bombay First MegaMorphosis- Resurgence of Mumbai Conference November 10th and 11th Message-ID: <90639FAE-1F4C-4FCE-A926-522EF410748B@princeton.edu> Bombay First, the organization that prepared the influential 2004 Vision Mumbai report with McKinsey, is organizing a conference to revitalize the Mumbai vision thing. To leave comments and views, log on to their facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=186382823798&ref=ts ‘Megamorphosis - Resurgence of Mumbai’ will be held on November 10th and 11th, 2009 at The Trident, Mumbai. After the terrorist attacks of 26/11, Bombay First was one of the first organisations to spring into action, and organise an international security conference entitled “Lessons from 9/11 and 7/7 for a safer Mumbai” in January 2009. Several experts from London and New York were brought in to share their experiences of counter – terrorism and disaster management. They also had high level meetings with the Home Minister, Addl. Chief Secretary (Home), Director General of Police & other senior officials. Following on from the success of this conference, Bombay First is once again organising a high - powered event. A two - day international conference, entitled ‘Megamorphosis - Resurgence of Mumbai’ will be held on November 10th and 11th, 2009 at The Trident, Mumbai. This event will not only review the security issues covered in January’s conference, but will broaden its scope to deal with with issues of pressing importance for the resurgence of Mumbai. Among the topics to be covered will be: • Housing - Knowledge Partner: McKinsey & Co • Physical Infrastructure - Knowledge Partner: Price Waterhouse Coopers • Social Infrastrucutre - Knowledge Partner: KPMG • Economic Growth - Knowledge Partner: Deloitte Haskins & Sell • Governance - Knowledge Partner: Janagraha Several eminent dignataries from India and abroad have been invited to address us. Amongst them are: Dr. Manmohan Singh - Prime Minister of India Lee Kwan Yew - Minister Mentor of Singapore Mr. Roberto Zagha - Country Director World Bank Mr. Richard Barnes - Deputy Mayor of London We are proud that this conference is supported by the World Bank, MMRDA and MTSU. Bombay First enjoys immense credibility, not only in India, but also internationally and its work in several areas of urban regeneration has been well recognized and received. To leave comments and views, log on to their facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=186382823798&ref=ts Shahana Chattaraj shahanac at princeton.edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20091109/ff9355ea/attachment.html From leofsaldanha at gmail.com Tue Nov 10 22:03:31 2009 From: leofsaldanha at gmail.com (Leo Saldanha) Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:03:31 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] Campaign Appeal: Bring Metro Rail Projects under EIA Notification Message-ID: <4AF995DB.7020709@gmail.com> Dear Friends, Over the past few years there is a tremendous investment in Metro construction in various cities of India based on the perceived claims of success of Delhi Metro. Considered a prestigious project, States and cities are vying with each other to build Metros, regardless of their need, appropriateness or affordability. International experience with Metro construction suggests that such large projects must be pursued only on thorough due diligence and after careful evaluation of their environmental and social impacts. India, however, has taken the regressive step of exempting Metro projects from the need to secure environmental clearances per the Environment Impact Assessment Notification. Consequently, the only possibility of fully comprehending its impacts has been lost. The public have thus been denied their due right of participation in decision making relating to such mega projects. Enclosed is a Campaign Appeal initiated by Citizens for a Better Public Transport, Hyderabad, National Alliance for Peoples Movements and Environment Support Group, Bengaluru. The appeal is addressed to Mr. Jairam Ramesh, Indian Minister of State for Environment and Forests and is to demand that Metro projects must be brought under the purvies of the EIA Notification as a means of guiding decisions relating to Metros on the basis of their economic, environmental and social impacts. You may endorse this appeal by clicking on this link: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/metroeia/ . Altenatively, you may email your endorsements (retaining the same subject) and email sruthi at esgindia.org. Please include your full name, organisation (if applicable) and address when you endorse. If signing the online petition on behalf of your organisation, please include the Organisation and contact details in the Comments section. Kindly circulate this appeal amongst your networks for endorsements. Thank you, *C. Ramachandraiah*, Citizens for a Better Public Transport, Hyderabad. *Medha Patkar*, National Alliance for Peoples Movements. *Leo F. Saldanha*, Environment Support Group, Bengaluru. PS: The appeal will be submitted to the Hon'ble Minister by 25 November 2009. * * *Bring Metro Rail Projects under EIA Notification* *Appeal to Shri Jairam Ramesh, * Hon'ble Minister of State for Environment and Forests Government of India (Independent Charge) *Online Petition by the Civil Society Organisations and Concerned Citizens in India * Dear Shri Ramesh, As you may be aware, Metro Rail Projects (MRPs) in many countries are subject to a series of rigorous evaluations and public consultations to determine the environmental and social impacts of their construction. MRPs are among the largest mega projects being executed in urban areas today, and involve massive investments. They cause extensive impacts on the local environment and human settlements, especially during construction stages. Over the past decade several cities in India have decided to implement MRPs. Largely based on the Delhi Metro design, these MRPs are essentially elevated corridors aligned over key traffic corridors and is one technological response to the need for mass rapid transit systems (MRTS) in our densely crowded cities. If MRPs are a choice amongst various technological options to resolve the problem of mass transit, then it is only just to expect that such decisions are taken in a transparent manner and fully compliant with public consultation and planning norms. It is also natural to expect that such large mega projects are conceived and implemented after duly consulting affected communities and on careful and transparent consideration of the impact of such initiatives on the economy, culture, environment and social character of our cities. Finally, if more eminent and economically viable MRTS solutions exist, it is all the more reason to subject investment in a MRP to a thorough public debate that fully justify India's commitment to the Principle of Prior and Informed Consent. Quite in contrast to such reasonable expectations of a public project, MRPs are instead being thrust on Indian cities as stand alone projects and without any public consultation whatsoever. Public accountability is weak as select groups of consultants formulate proposals in secrecy and rush decisions through Central and State Cabinets sidestepping even compulsory debates in Parliament and Legislatures over allocation of massive financial resources to such mega projects. It is not surprising at all then, that public has no role whatsoever in a decision that will fundamentally and irreversibly affect their life, livelihoods and the environmental and social character of their urban habitats. There is overwhelming evidence internationally to suggest that the proponents of urban mega projects overestimate benefits merely to get them sanctioned. The low ridership of 7 lakhs, as against estimated 25 lakhs in Delhi metro phase I, even after several years of operation, is a case in point. Not going through transparent evaluations and public consultations may lead to these mega projects getting embroiled in real estate and corporate scams (eg. Maytas Metro scandal in Hyderabad) and will be counterproductive and detrimental to our cities and citizens. If MRPs are developed in a carefully considered, consultative and public manner, it could possibly aid in relieving the enormous pressures our cities are under in delivering traffic and public transport solutions. But it must also be recognised upfront that MRP systems potentially displace communities, cause extensive loss of homes and livelihoods, and fundamentally affect urban aesthetics due to the loss of green cover and public spaces. In the particular case of elevated rail corridors, it is also a globally documented impact that expected depression of economy on streets where such corridors pass through can lead to an increase in crime rates. In addition, there would be significant increase in noise pollution, and the congestion on road surface below will result in air pollution rise due to a tunnelling effect. A review of currently implemented MRPs reveal that they significantly compromise walking and cycling spaces on roads, especially given our indulgence to prioritise the motor vehicle over every other mode of travel. This is likely to increase accidents and casualties of pedestrians and cyclists. In effect, therefore, MRPs as presently implemented are largely violative of various progressive features of the National Urban Transport Policy. *Applicability of EIA Notification to Metro Rail Projects:* In light of irreversible its impacts on urban habitats, MRPs need to be implemented after due and careful consideration of its environmental and social impacts. On this basis MRPs were included in the list of projects requiring prior environmental clearance in the Draft Environment Impact Assessment Notification dated 15 September 2005 (for inviting suggestions/objections from the public) issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), Government of India. There was widespread support and agreement that this was a correct approach. However, based on the mere opinion of Mr. E. Sreedharan, MD of Delhi Metro and a prime consultant to MRPs across India, who claimed in his letter to the Prime Minister's Office that these megaprojects do not have significant environmental and social impacts, the final EIA Notification issued on 14 September 2006 omitted MRPs from the list of projects requiring environmental clearance. Such omission of MRPs from the EIA Notification, 2006 is arbitrary and discriminatory, and the beneficiaries clearly are metro rail lobbies (lobbies of the construction companies and international coach manufacturers). This issue has now come up in a PIL (WP 18483/2008) in the High Court of Andhra Pradesh. However, MoEF has not yet filed the counter on the question whether environmental and social impacts are a core concern that ought to be addressed prior to implementation of MRPs, this even a year after issuance of notice. This silence of the Ministry must be viewed in the context of the EIA Notification, 2006 requirement for huge construction activities such as 'Building and Construction' and 'Townships and Area Development' to undergo a comprehensive environmental clearance procedure. MRPs involve massive construction activity for stations, piers, parking lots, commercial zones, elevated corridors, railway yards, power stations, etc., which impact heavily built up densely populated core city areas. Yet such megaprojects with very high environmental and social impacts have been exempted from environmental clearance. Communities directly affected by MRPs suffer the worst as adverse impacts on their lives and livelihoods are not factored into the cost of the project at all. Metro rail authorities across many cities are refusing to furnish even basic details of the projects to the public speciously claiming that impact details need not be shared as MRPs are exempted from the EIA Notification, 2006. Even applications for information under the RTI Act, 2005 are often given scant regard. *Impacts of MRPs under implementation:* Each city has its own history, heritage, topography, built environment and human settlements pattern. Transport models should take into account all these factors, which, unfortunately is not the case with MRPs under implementation. For instance, the proposed elevated metro in Hyderabad is going to permanently deface historic heritage buildings and sites of Hyderabad city (viz., Assembly building, Salarjung Museum, Clock Tower, Mojam Jahi Market etc.) and result in total demolition of old shopping areas such as Sultan Bazar and Badi Chawdi. The elevated corridors will also pass very close to residences affecting the lives of lakhs of people due to the effects of noise pollution, vibrations, intrusion of privacy, etc. The elevated metro construction in Bangalore is resulting in felling of hundreds of trees and destruction of parks, including the world famous Lalbagh and Cubbon Parks. Furthermore, during construction, the project has been plagued by a series of problems relating to dislocation of human settlements. People have highlighted through series of protests that Metro is resulting in illegal commercialisation of Lalbagh and Cubbon Park and various other public spaces. Another significant cause of concern has been that Metro contractors have engaged children from faraway Jharkand, West Bengal, etc. In Mumbai, 40,000 slum dwellers of Laljipada on the banks of Poisar river will be displaced to make way for railcar shed construction of the Metro. Thousands more are indirectly affected due to metro construction, while a large extent of mangroves is likely to be cleared to make way for the Metro. In Delhi, several resident welfare associations have agitated before various authorities and the Courts that the elevated corridor running through their colonies are being implemented without any consideration of social and environmental impacts. All these instances suggest that the Metro systems as they are planned and implemented today have overlooked a wide range of significant environmental and social concerns. This unnecessarily urgency in implementation of MRPs is causing a variety of disturbances resulting in protests, litigations, and campaigns, that are affecting the pace and implementation of these mega projects. Principles 10 and 11 of the Rio Declaration, to which India is a signatory, mandate that public must be involved in decisions that relate to their environment. Keeping this commitment in view, countries across the world have subjected MRPs to due and prior informed consultation and rigorous environmental, social and techno-economic assessments. In India, not only are MRPs exempted from EIA Notification, but proponents are blatantly flouting Town and Country Planning Rules and Regulations in planning and implementing such project. If such fundamental changes in our urban areas is not carefully undertaken, *Keeping all this in view, we urge you to immediately issue an amendment to the EIA Notification 2006 including the Metro Rail Projects in the Schedule so that they undergo a full review of their environmental and social impacts based on public hearings and consultations. This amendment should be applicable to all the Metro Rail Projects **that are currently in different stages of formulation and also those being implemented in many Indian cities.* Yours truly, *C. Ramachandraiah*, Citizens for a Better Public Transport, Hyderabad. *Leo F. Saldanha*, Environment Support Group, Bengaluru. *Medha Patkar*, National Alliance for Peoples Movements. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20091110/4aaf0d09/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: leofsaldanha.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 310 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20091110/4aaf0d09/attachment-0001.vcf From critplan at ucla.edu Wed Nov 11 16:44:03 2009 From: critplan at ucla.edu (Critical Planning Journal) Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:14:03 -0800 Subject: [Urbanstudy] Critical Planning Vol. 16 (Urban Restructuring: Process and Action) Out Now! In-Reply-To: <0016e649c930bd28f80478161cf7@google.com> References: <0016e649c930bd28f80478161cf7@google.com> Message-ID: <3a698e340911110314m535e9ee1qc9e5ac9e280ce177@mail.gmail.com> * Critical Planning UCLA Urban Planning Journal * * Critical Planning Volume 16, 2009* *Urban Restructuring: Process and Action *www.criticalplanning.org* * "Urban restructuring is an integral part of the crisis-induced reorganization of capital and labor." -Soja, Morales, and Wolff, “Urban Restructuring: An Analysis of Social and Spatial Change in Los Angeles” (1983) *Critical Planning's *newest volume explores the ways in which crisis-induced struggles between capital and labor play out on the ground in different places around the world—amidst specific configurations of political-economic relations, socio-spatial dynamics, and collective imaginations. While the impetus for this volume grew out of our experiences in *Critical Planning’s* home base of Los Angeles—facing the combined fallout of the American subprime mortgage collapse and global financial crisis last autumn—the authors of volume 16’s articles each interpreted our call for papers distinctly according to their specific research topic, methodology, and locale. The result is a truly global volume, with articles that extend, critique, and reconstruct the concept of urban restructuring from diverse disciplinary and theoretical perspectives and in a range of empirical and historical contexts. John Friedmann (honorary professor, University of British Columbia and emeritus professor, UCLA) writes: "The only planning journal in America with a critical edge, this professionally student-edited annual publication continues the forty-year-old tradition of critical thinking and community action of the UCLA Urban Planning Program. Volume 16, a cosmopolitan issue that ranges from Kabul to Contra Costa County via Shanghai, Dhaka, and Toronto, is built around the dual themes of the spatial restructuring of cities and the re-scaling of local governance. It is an issue not to be missed." Read selected articles here. Subscribe and donate to *Critical Planning* here. *Table of Contents:* * **Editorial Note: Crisis, “Recovery,” and Beyond * Elise Youn * Outside Endopolis: Notes from Contra Costa County * Alex Schafran (2009 Edward W. Soja Prize Recipient) * **Urban Restructuring and the Crisis: A Symposium with Neil Brenner, John Friedmann, Margit Mayer, Allen J. Scott, and Edward W. Soja * Konstantina Soureli and Elise Youn *Restructuring, Rescaling, and the Urban Question* Neil Brenner *Postwar Political Restructuring in Freetown and Kabul: Theoretical Limits and the Test Case for** Multiscalar Governance* Daniel E. Esser *Negotiating Livelihoods in a City of Difference: Narratives of Gentrification in Shanghai* Deljana Iossifova *From Fabrics to Fine Arts: Urban Restructuring and the Formation of an Art District in Shanghai* Sheng Zhong * **Gentrification and the Loss of Employment Lands: Toronto’s Studio District * Ute Lehrer and Thorben Wieditz * **The Renaissance of Inner-City Rail Station Areas: A Key Element in Contemporary Urban Restructuring** Dynamics* Deike Peters *A Call for Organizing: The Rise of the Garment and Mobile Phone Industries in Bangladesh* Shomon Shamsuddin *Book Review: CPULs: Continuous Productive Urban Landscapes* Jennifer Goldstein * **Book Review: Planning and Decentralization: Contested Spaces for Public Action in the Global South* David R. Mason * **A Call for Critical Race Studies in Urban Planning* Maureen Purtill -- *Critical* *Planning* UCLA Department of Urban Planning School of Public Affairs 3250 Public Policy Building Box 951656 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1656 USA critplan at ucla.edu www.criticalplanning.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20091111/6ccbec20/attachment.html From navdeep at iimahd.ernet.in Fri Nov 13 12:51:41 2009 From: navdeep at iimahd.ernet.in (Navdeep Mathur) Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:51:41 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] Invitation to National Consultation for Dignity and Rights of Sewerage and Allied workers Message-ID: <550f31d00911122321n4acac2e4p9eb61eb3e2cb0b96@mail.gmail.com> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: H. P. Mishra Date: 2009/11/13 13th October 2009 Sub: Invitation to be a partner in a National Consultation of Sewerage and Allied workers in IIM-Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Dear Madam/Sir, The National Campaign for Dignity and Rights of Sewerage and Allied Workers is a national level campaign initiated by NGOs, and Unions working for the human rights issue of marginalized people. On January 18, 2007, the National Campaign for Dignity and Rights for Sewerage and Allied Workers (NCDARSAW) convening committee organized a National Consultation on the Rights of Sewerage workers to live with Dignity in the background of Gujarat High Court judgment. The consultation was attended by 75 known activist from different social movements and backgrounds. To enforce the clauses from the court judgment, the consultation unanimously decided to make it a mass movement by involving all the stakeholders (GOs-Ministry of Social welfare, Labour, education, urban development secretary and human right Commission, NGOs, unions, academicians, journalists, Intellectuals etc.) at national as well as local levels. Till now, the campaign has successfully mobilized the support of a number of people from different walks of life and also has made significant strides towards achieving some of its key goals. In our journey of three years, we have experienced many hurdles much of which emerged from a hostile official environment. Rather than a resolution through the implementation of the law, we have been forced to appeal in the court through Public Interest Litigations, which often results in a loss of time and resources of many years both for the government as well as for the marginalized workers and their advocates. We believe that all the problems have solutions, but just need an empathetic and honest effort from the stakeholders in the company of unbiased or neutral though committed people. To overcome ongoing conflicts, the friends/partners of the campaign have decided come together to discuss the situation, issues, and future course of action. The *IIM-Ahmedabad, *has thankfully agreed to host a *2-day National consultation on 16th and 17th December 2009*, in collaboration with Human Rights Law Network (HRLN), NCDRSAW and *National Commission for Safai Karmchary New Delhi (Ministry of Social welfare Govt. India*) at their premises in Ahmedabad. They have thankfully agreed to provide a space for the meeting, plus food and tea/coffee during the consultation for two days. The Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) is ready to provide the travel allowance to the participant representing workers from different parts of the country. NCDARSAW is ready to take the responsibility of participants from Non Government Organizations of eight states e.g. *Delhi, UP, Bihar, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Punjab, MP , Gujarat, Utrakhand , Orrisa , Zharkhand and West Bangal* . The agenda of the meeting is to institutionalize a few *non-negotiable rights *regarding the *safety, health, hygiene, and employment* of sewerage and allied workers, as well as the *joint Common Minimum Programme* for the future course of action. We look forward for your support and request you to give direction and to the campaign with your vast knowledge and experience. *Please do confirm your participation at the earliest, to help us in arranging your accommodation.* *Campaign will provide III-AC train ticket for outstation participants. * With warm regards, (H.P.Mishra) 09429525691 Hemlata Kansotia 09278038807 National Convenor National Co-Convenor National Campaign for Dignity and Rights of Sewerage and Allied Worker (NCDARSAW) --------------------------------- Navdeep Mathur, Ph.D. Public Systems Group Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad Vastrapur, Ahmedabad 380 015, India Phone: +91-79-6632 4406 Fax: +91-79-2630-6896 email: navdeep at iimahd.ernet.in -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20091113/85573358/attachment-0001.html From yanivbin at gmail.com Sat Nov 14 10:42:05 2009 From: yanivbin at gmail.com (Vinay Baindur) Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 10:42:05 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] Overdependence on tech damaging city: Tully Message-ID: <86b8a7050911132112x26bc58ebv7ff338cdfb8d3aab@mail.gmail.com> http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_overdependence-on-tech-damaging-city-tully_1311395 *Overdependence on tech damaging city: Tully* Bhargavi Kerur / DNA Saturday, November 14, 2009 9:07 IST Bangalore: The former bureau chief of BBC India, Sir Mark Tully, appealed to the scientists to strike a balance between science and religion to bring about harmony in the society. "Be open to ideas and arguments," he told a gathering of scientists at the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Indian Academy of Sciences here on Friday. "Stretching things to extremes will lead to imbalance in the society like socialism did when the Indian government had to open up to globalisation and liberalisation. But recently, too much economy has led to the current crisis of recession. Hence one must be careful about striking a balance between two things," Sir Tully advised. Scientists generally have an attitude that science and technology have solutions for every problem. "Scientists usually descredit religion because they have misunderstood secularism. The late prime minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, defined secularism as equal space for all religion and not a condition of no-religion," he said. The Padma Bhushan winner reasoned that the scientists have developed such an attitude since they feel science has answers to all questions, and that anything beyond the purview of science is nonsense. "That is because scientists are lead by unexamined traditional wisdom, which prevents opening up of minds." He appealed to the scientists "to be open-minded and respect what other people think." "Do not dismiss religion and believe in the traditional wisdom of science. We have to be weary of scienticism, which John Gray calls as unexamined dogma. For instance, scientists believe that the problems created by climate change can be solved. But if we only believe in science, it will lead to imbalance in the world," he said. Warning against excessive dependence on technology, Sir Tully said that it damages the society to a great extent. "Though we have to develop, we must be careful not to be led by development. Today, Bangalore roads have become highly mechanised due tooverdependence on technology. This is damaging the city," he said. The noted journalist and author also added that science limits perception. "Like you can have different perceptions on music and poetry, science should be open for different views," he said. He asked the gathering to initiate a constructive dialogue with religious leaders, rather than indulging in conflict. "According to a Sri Lankan thinker, conflict is created between a scientist who is ignorant of religion and fundamentalist who sticks to his myths. There should be a balance between the two for harmony," he concluded -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20091114/ec478169/attachment.html From leofsaldanha at gmail.com Thu Nov 19 13:44:48 2009 From: leofsaldanha at gmail.com (Leo Saldanha) Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:44:48 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] [Fwd: Making our Homes Environmentally Just, and thus lighter on our planet] Message-ID: <4B04FE78.8040406@gmail.com> Dear Friends As the world warms up to a variety of climate change conventions and conferences, we decided to do something local and within the reach of millions. In collaboration with the Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology, Environment Support Group organised a workshop for residents of Bangalore on "How to make our Homes Environmentally Just". Needless to state, the workshop saw fantastic participation, and the report is online with many many details of how you can step into your home and make the world change for the better. Some of the environmentally benign techniques proposed in the workshop, and documented in the report, are applicable across the tropical and subtropical worlds, and thus could help people across the world. As the report is large and loaded with pictures, we have it on our website: http://www.esgindia.org/Educational%20Programs/comm_outreach/EnvJustHomes_WorkshopReport_07Nov09.html In case you cannot access the website, do please request a pdf copy of the report from sruthi at esgindia.org We do look forward to your comments and reviews as always. Warmly, for a better world Bhargavi S. Rao and Leo Saldanha Environment Support Group -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: leofsaldanha.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 310 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20091119/21348288/attachment.vcf From info at hi5.com Sun Nov 22 12:43:45 2009 From: info at hi5.com (Agniva Ghosh) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:13:45 -0800 Subject: [Urbanstudy] ***SPAM*** Agniva Ghosh has sent you a hi5 Friend Request Message-ID: <116902157.82342.1258874025458.JavaMail.root@oak1app023> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20091121/29c2e4fa/attachment.html From invitation at mydailyflog.com Mon Nov 23 17:23:20 2009 From: invitation at mydailyflog.com (avisirohi Lastname) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:53:20 -0600 Subject: [Urbanstudy] Check out this photo on MyDailyFlog! Message-ID: <17c5c2dbfdb48580d80a88094c5798ff@www.mydailyflog.com> Hi! I would like to invite you to visit MyDailyFlog and see my latest photos. Check out: http://www.mydailyflog.com/go/invite_register/avisirohi/2315400&stc=26 Cheers! avisirohi Lastname ======================================== Got a digital camera? MyDailyFlog is a personal photo-blogging space where you can easily post your latest and greatest photos, and share them with your friends and family. Create your own DailyFlog at www.MyDailyFlog.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Unsubscribe: to opt out of further invitations from your friends to see their DailyFlogs, please click below: http://www.mydailyflog.com/go/system/euns=urbanstudygroup at sarai.net&md5=b36827804323a19c3f57227216bd34af Please do not reply directly to this email. Questions? Contact us - http://www.mydailyflog.com/go/contact_us MyDailyFlog, Refriendz Ltd. PO BOX 1184, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU1 9AT. From invitation at mydailyflogmail.com Mon Nov 23 17:23:20 2009 From: invitation at mydailyflogmail.com (avisirohi Lastname) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:53:20 -0600 Subject: [Urbanstudy] 1 new photo on MyDailyFlog! Message-ID: <836b33d288209b8f44a69a2a674c30cc@www.mydailyflog.com> Hi! I would like you to come and see my latest photos on MyDailyFlog. Check out: http://www.mydailyflog.com/go/invite_register/avisirohi/2315400&stc=71 Thanks! avisirohi Lastname ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ To unsubscribe of this type of email from MyDailyFlog in the future, please click below: http://www.mydailyflog.com/go/system/euns=urbanstudygroup at sarai.net&md5=b36827804323a19c3f57227216bd34af Please do not reply directly to this email. Questions? Contact us - http://www.mydailyflog.com/go/contact_us MyDailyFlog, Refriendz Ltd. PO BOX 1184, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU1 9AT. From info at alcazabahills.net Mon Nov 23 02:35:49 2009 From: info at alcazabahills.net (Alcazaba Hills) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:05:49 +0100 Subject: [Urbanstudy] ***SPAM*** Discover your exclusive offer at Alcazaba Hills Message-ID: <20091122210152.238022C48002@mail.sarai.net> Alcazaba Hills Exclusive pre-launch prices on offer now with limited availablility . An outstanding property ownership opportunity . Easy access to Estepona's beautiful beaches . A luxurious sanctuary set amongst picturesque valleys . Just moments from a challenging, 18-hole golf course . 15 minutes from fashionable Marbella and Puerto Banus . Elegant and convenient facilities to include hotel, spa and beach club . Enticingly priced for early enquirers . 25-30% discount of current bank valuations, available now on Phase 1 only . Low level cash deposit needed Be one of the first to know all about the best value resort in southern Spain CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR YOUR FREE DOWNLOADABLE BROCHURE If you do not want to receive any more e-mails from Alcazaba Hills Resort, please send a blank e-mail to unsubscribe at alcazabahills.net. Alcazaba Hills Resort complies with the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 and will remove your e-mail address from our database if you opt-out. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20091122/0e93bd22/attachment-0001.html From rajashree_m9 at hotmail.com Tue Nov 24 01:10:28 2009 From: rajashree_m9 at hotmail.com (RAJASHREE MAZUMDER) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:40:28 +0000 Subject: [Urbanstudy] series of SPAM emails Message-ID: Hi, I am recieving a series of SPAM emails on behalf of urbanstudygroup at sarai.net. I am no longer on the mailing list of this group and therefore was surprised to recieve this. Also, none of them are academic in nature. I am forwarding them to you. Please, look into the matter. thanks Rajashee Mazumder. _________________________________________________________________ New Windows 7: Find the right PC for you. Learn more. http://windows.microsoft.com/shop -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20091123/ef18e4d6/attachment.html From yanivbin at gmail.com Tue Nov 24 10:47:12 2009 From: yanivbin at gmail.com (Vinay Baindur) Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:47:12 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] Can Hyderabad be made livable? Message-ID: <86b8a7050911232117o42603961t8afe8ce309777037@mail.gmail.com> Can Hyderabad be made livable?Karuna Gopal, TNN 23 November 2009, 06:47am IST http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Can-Hyderabad-be-made-livable/articleshow/5259235.cms * * If livable cities give all citizens equal opportunity to lead healthy, comfortable and safe lives, how livable is our metropolis? Here’s a citizen activist’s perspective. Doctors prescribe half-an-hour walk everyday, among other things to stay healthy. For those who cannot afford the luxury of a gym, walking to offices is an option. How pedestrian-friendly are our Hyderabad streets? Fast food is fast becoming a pass time for children. How many outdoor choices can we show them in parks, municipal swimming pools and skating rinks? For teenagers who started relying on the Facebook for facing life’s challenges, what are the city avenues for adventure learning and sport facilities? The footpath to road ratio is poor in Hyderabad and the walkability index is a mere 0.68, making it one of the worst cities in India for pedestrian friendliness. With 30 lakh vehicles plying, Hyderabad has the highest density of traffic in India. Vehicle to road length ratio is bad, respirable particulate matter (RPM) several notches above the acceptable levels, 50% of the road accident victims are pedestrians and billions of working hours are lost with people stuck in traffic. Captive walkers may not be walking by choice; they have no access to public transport! My 65-year-old neighbour became healthy after a neighbourhood park appeared. He walks daily, made friends, does yoga and laughs his way to health. Studies on SROI (Social Return on Investment) show that parks also serve as instruments to forge communal, community bonding, resolve family conflicts, encourage informal official meetings reducing pollution. KBR Park that has been put in the league of Central Park of New York and Hyde Park of London is accessible only to Jubilee Hills residents. The rest of the city has not been so lucky. With just 600 parks developed in an inequitable fashion for eight million, citizens are desperately waiting to see parks in the 2,200 open spaces meant for that purpose. Currently, most colonies house fenced open spaces with faded boards declaring GHMC’s ownership! My maid who lives in a slum, fed up with contaminated water, disease burden and mounting medical bills asked me how much we pay for water. After quick calculations announced that she is willing to pay at the same rate! She just educated me about opportunity cost and her coping costs, technical term for lack of services and coping mechanisms used by the poor! In fact, all WTP (willingness to pay) studies prove that slums want basic services like water and sanitation and they are willing to pay for those. It is the government that is unwilling to charge! With 1,485 slums and more being created, our city has to act fast or Hyderabad while legitimising the illegitimate may well morph into a mammoth slum! Is it just insipid institutions, defunct departments and procedural pains that are responsible for this state of affairs? With a build-now, regularize-later culture, jurisdictional schizophrenia making a municipal ward nobody’s baby, multiplicity of agencies, conflicting executive and political interests, lake encroachments, lopsided development, rusted water pipes, gushing sewers, our greater city has to deal with systemic problems to get anywhere near livable status. Those, who expressed concern when Hyderabad became “greater” that it will have greater challenges of integration, providing equitable services and staying accountable to a larger population stand vindicated today! Why, the much hyped up Hi-Tech City has a maze of optic fibre lines, but sadly no sewerage lines! Governance framework is partly responsible for this state of affairs. Hyderabad, though a metropolis now is still a state’s baby. Despite the 74th constitutional amendment Act, it is not the city but the state that decides the urban infrastructure projects, levies and collects taxes. The state also interferes with the local governments property tax by deciding the tax base, rates and modes of assessment leaving the city government disempowered and financially weak. Though JNNURM (Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission) aims to rectify that, shuttle negotiations with the state have been leading to delays and sub-optimal development of Hyderabad. The City Development Plan of Hyderabad (CDP) that accessed the JNNURM funds for the city was sent without the mandatory stakeholder consultations. There is also a community participation law for urban projects just as there is a JNNURM framework for citizen participation. Citizens do not question enough. The government does not share enough. Town hall meetings that are the purest form of democratic governing are missing in our city. Citizens have to participate actively in city development. We must realize that managing cities is not just government business alone. It is ours too. We can make Hyderabad a livable city if citizens wear a reformer hat to cleanse institutions, an activist hat to question investment decisions and a partner hat to accelerate equitable development! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20091124/a3b3222e/attachment.html From bhargavi_srao at yahoo.com Tue Nov 24 11:21:01 2009 From: bhargavi_srao at yahoo.com (Bhargavi S.) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:51:01 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Urbanstudy] ID cards for public parks_ Lets act now Message-ID: <27779.75022.qm@web32608.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Dear All, The news clip enclosed below from TOI, highlighting that the government plans to make ID cards mandatory to enter Cubbon Park and Lalbagh, is the beginning of the state’s encroachment of people’s right to free access public spaces. The manner in which the policy is formulated encourages the particular exclusion of access rights of the urban poor, street and working children, elderly people, people of third gender, migrant workers, families with children, etc. for who the very concept of securing an ID card, and having to pay Rs.200 per year to merely use these two parks, fundamentally distances such communities from their rightful and free use of public spaces. Further, this policy promotes discriminatory access to public spaces and infringes on people's right to live freely, with dignity and  attacks their fundamental  Right to Live a Healthy Life. It is critical that we come together from our different persuasions and sectoral work areas, as peoples angry with such class based exclusionary policies, and oppose any such move for the present or future. I suggest this is best done by organizing a massive protest at Cubbon park, on Saturday the 28th of November. This could be preceded by a sign on petition which we could present to the government. If we all agree then, we could start mobilizing a massive presence for Saturday. In case we need to meet, ESG is more than willing to host a meet over some Coffee and Biscuits. Regards, bhargavi Text Size: | <a href="http://netspiderads2.indiatimes.com/ads.dll/clickthrough?slotid=36257" target="_blank"><img src="http://netspiderads2.indiatimes.com/ads.dll/photoserv?slotid=36257" border="0" width="670" height="50" alt="Advertisement"></a> Topics:BangaloreID cards BANGALORE: After Lalbagh Botanical Garden, the state government now plans to introduce identity cards for walkers and joggers at Cubbon Park. “We TwitterFacebookShare EmailPrintSaveComment have decided to put up a high security metal fence and gates around Cubbon Park before introducing ID cards,’’ horticulture minister Umesh V Katti told reporters here on Monday. That’s not all. The government also plans to introduce swipe cards (instead of the photo ID cards) to check misuse and duplication at Lalbagh and Cubbon parks. “We chose this technology because we didn’t want security issues in future,’’ Katti added. Once the high security fencing is ready at Cubbon Park, Katti said they will take steps to collect an entry fee as it’s done in Lalbagh and close the gates between 10 pm and 6 am. The ID cards will be for regulars to the parks. If necessary, traffic through the park will also be restricted. The minister said these measures are being initiated following widespread complaints of illicit activities in the park, especially at night. On the recent protest by Lalbagh Walkers’ Association, Katti said they had planned to charge an annual fee of Rs 200 for walkers in the wake of incidents of morning walkers being mugged and other security concerns. However, a public outcry forced the department to reconsider this decision. “It’s unfortunate that some walkers, who don’t mind paying Rs 200 daily for breakfast at a restaurant near Lalbagh, hesitate to pay for a greater cause,’’ Katti lamented. Highlighting the importance of securing Bangalore’s prime lung spaces, the minister said: “The government will soon start issuing ID cards to walkers identified by the Lalbagh Walkers’ Association and prevent motorists from entering the parks. Walkers will have to bear the expense of the card.’’ toiblr.reporter at timesgroup.com www.esgindia.org www.newsrack.in -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20091123/5579abfb/attachment-0001.html From bhargavi_srao at yahoo.com Wed Nov 25 17:23:23 2009 From: bhargavi_srao at yahoo.com (Bhargavi S.) Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:53:23 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Urbanstudy] Protest against fundamental encroachment of Our Right to Access all Public Commons Message-ID: <688074.49195.qm@web32606.mail.mud.yahoo.com> NO ENTRY FOR POOR AND COMMON PEOPLE TO CUBBON PARK AND LALBAGH (ENTRY RESTRICTED TO ID CARD HOLDING ELITES ONLY) The Government of Karnataka plans to make ID cards mandatory to enter Cubbon Park and Lalbagh, and that at a cost of Rs 200/person. This is the beginning of the state’s encroachment of people’s right to freely access public spaces. All sorts of reasons are being flung at the public, including security concerns, morality and misuse of parks by “unnecessary elements”.  The manner in which the policy is formulated encourages the particular exclusion of access rights of the urban poor (especially from minorities), street and working children, elderly people, transgenders , migrant workers, labourers, street vendors, drivers of autorickshaws and taxis, differently abled, families with children, etc. The idea of having to carry an ID merely to access these two parks, fundamentally distances them from their unfettered and constitutionally protected Right to Use Public Spaces. This policy also promotes discriminatory access to public spaces as it privileges 'regular walkers' and thus negates the very concept of parks as public commons.  Simply stated this draconian policy encroaches our very fundamental Right to Live a Healthy Life based on dignified and unfettered access to public spaces. Join the Protest against this fundamental encroachment of Our Right to Access all Public Commons COME JOIN THIS JUST PROTEST WITH FAMILIES, COLLEAGUES, FRIENDS, NEIGHBOURS Queen’s Statue, Cubbon park, Monday, 30th November, 4.00 pm Protest initiated by Environment Support Group, CIEDS, Vimochana, Dalit Sangharsh Samiti - (Bangalore Dist.), Sanmathi, Alternative Law Forum and Sangama For more details contact: Environment Support Group,1572, Outer Ring Road, Banshankari 2nd stage, Bangalore-560070 Tel:-91-80-26713559-60 Email:esg at esgindia.org,  bhargavi at esgindia.org Website:  www.esgindia.org www.esgindia.org www.newsrack.in -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20091125/0d2241a7/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: ProtestLeaflet_ParksAccess_CubbonPark_301109.doc Type: application/msword Size: 80384 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20091125/0d2241a7/attachment-0001.doc From bhargavi_srao at yahoo.com Wed Nov 25 17:54:03 2009 From: bhargavi_srao at yahoo.com (Bhargavi S.) Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:24:03 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Urbanstudy] Invitation to a Talk by Usha Ramanathan Message-ID: <447938.99914.qm@web32606.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Environment Support Group ® invites you to a talk on Changing Ideas of Rights, Wrongs and Public Interest (Enquiries into Changing Role of State vis a vis sovereignty, eminent domain, impoverishment and the return of the Contract)   On Friday, 27th November 2009 By Usha Ramanathan Time: 5.00 pm - 6.30 pm Venue:  Ashirwad, St. Marks Road (Behind Kabab Corner), Bangalore About the speaker Usha Ramanathan is an independent law researcher. She writes, speaks and teaches on the jurisprudence of law, poverty and rights. Her research interests include environmental law and policy, judicial process, human rights, child rights, gender, labour law, marginal communities and the law, and torts. She has devoted her attention to a number of specific issues such as the Bhopal gas disaster, the Narmada valley dams, slum eviction in Delhi and corporate accountability. Her interest has been lately kindled by the proposed UID, and its implications for freedom and rights.   Kindly confirm your participation by emailing: zeenath at esgindia.org or calling any of our numbers. Contact Address: Environment Support Group, 1572, 36th Cross, Ring Road, Banashankari  II Stage, Bangalore 560070. Tel: 9-80-26713559-61 Email: esg at esgindia.org Web: www.esgindia.org www.esgindia.org www.newsrack.in -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20091125/9c8f8c54/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: ChangingIdeas_Rights_Wrongs_PublicInterest_UshaR_ESG_271109.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 171059 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20091125/9c8f8c54/attachment-0001.pdf From cugambetta at yahoo.com Fri Nov 27 10:03:07 2009 From: cugambetta at yahoo.com (Curt Gambetta) Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:33:07 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Urbanstudy] Fw: Public Lecture: Urban Citizenship in India and China by Prof. Qin Hui November 30 6:30pm India Habitat Centre New Delhi Message-ID: <189624.44475.qm@web57413.mail.re1.yahoo.com> ----- Forwarded Message ---- From: Partha Mukhopadhyay To: cugambetta at yahoo.com Sent: Thu, November 26, 2009 7:21:02 PM Subject: Public Lecture: Urban Citizenship in India and China by Prof. Qin Hui November 30 6:30pm India Habitat Centre New Delhi Dear Curt: Can you please post this on the Urban Study Group? For those in Delhi, it should be an interesting lecture.. Thanks much. Best, Partha theindiancity.net Public Lecture Urban Citizenship in India and China Prof. Qin Hui Tsinghua University 30 November 2009 Ampitheatre, India Habitat Centre 6:30pm Introduction Mr. Raj Liberhan, Director, India Habitat Centre 6:45pm Lecture Prof. Qin Hui, Tsinghua University, Beijing 7:30pm Open Discussion 8:00pm Concluding Remarks Prof. K C Sivaramakrishnan, Chairman, Centre for Policy Research Prof. Qin Hui is at the Department of History at Tsinghua University in Beijing. His critically acclaimed research work and his spirit of activism have ensured international recognition for him. He has served as guest researcher in the John K. Fairbank Center at Harvard University and as visiting fellow at the Harvard-Yenching Institute in Massachusetts, USA. His prime area of research is the economic history of China. Some of his previous works are Idyll and Fantasia: The Guanzhong Mode and Re-examination of the Pre-modern Society and Modernization beyond Government and Enterprises: A Comparative Study of Public Welfare Undertakings, and also The Rural Commune, Reform and Revolution. A selection of his translated works in English is available in three special issues (4 to 6) of the Chinese Economy vol. 38 2005. Last year, his series of articles in the Southern Metropolitan Daily, which included Urbanisation and the rights of migrants: Changing community conditions of the lower class in modern worlds, ‘South Africa’s Soweto phenomenon: The past and the present,’ and ‘Residential rights before welfare improvements’ have provoked a growing public debate in China on the rights of migrants. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20091126/e6c930a1/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Public Lecture Qin Hui Announcement.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 136692 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20091126/e6c930a1/attachment-0002.pdf -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: City_Slums_as_a_Recognition_of_Migrants'_Rights_Qin_Hui.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 214292 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20091126/e6c930a1/attachment-0003.pdf From yanivbin at gmail.com Fri Nov 27 14:04:21 2009 From: yanivbin at gmail.com (Vinay Baindur) Date: Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:04:21 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] Undisciplined City November 30 and December 1 2009 In-Reply-To: <759b94b30911270024x1d373d02h24b2863287d017a@mail.gmail.com> References: <759b94b30911270024x1d373d02h24b2863287d017a@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <86b8a7050911270034k5c7198c9sa19b7936935699e4@mail.gmail.com> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Partha Mukhopadhyay Date: Fri, Nov 27, 2009 at 1:54 PM *The Undisciplined City* November 30 and December 1, 2009 Gulmohar Hall, Indian Habitat Centre, New Delhi** The Undisciplined City is a open workshop that is an attempt to speak to the urban experiences through multiple disciplinary perspectives or without one, if it is indeed possible. More prosaically, it is to discover common spheres of inquiry that may exist across disciplines on specific urban themes and acquaint each discipline with other discipline’s approaches. To this end, it is organized across four broad thematic sessions focused on the Indian urban experience, viz. (a) Urban Politics, (b) Urban Society (c) Urban Economy, and (d) Urban Interventions. A programme is attached. Each of the first three sessions will begin with a panel with a short opening statement from each of the panelists. Each panelist will be from a separate discipline and will address the session theme from their individual disciplinary perspectives. We expect the opening statements to be sufficiently provocative to stimulate a rich open discussion on the session theme, which may cover important areas of inquiry, existing and ongoing work, issues of data, implications for issues of urban policy, etc. The final session will begin with a presentation on JNNURM, the most visible central urban intervention as well as a short presentation on the creation of private cities in various states, largely under the auspices of the SEZ initiative. This will be followed by a discussion on how urban policy is being conceived and attempted in India. Please feel free to email me, Partha Mukhopadhyay, on partha at cprindia.org or call me on +919810005303 for any questions that you may have. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20091127/ccd5d0be/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Undisciplined City Invite.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 41408 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20091127/ccd5d0be/attachment-0001.pdf From leofsaldanha at gmail.com Sat Nov 28 18:47:51 2009 From: leofsaldanha at gmail.com (Leo Saldanha) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:47:51 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] Join Protest Against Electronic ID Entry to Public Parks in Bangalore: Endorse Sign On Petition Message-ID: <4B1122FF.8020404@gmail.com> Dear Friends, Employing a highly illegal policy, the Government of Karnataka intends to restrict entry to Bangalore's heritage Cubbon Park and Lalbagh only to electronic ID wielding folks. Needless to state, this electronic ID comes at a price and will be regulated based on a highly restrictive application process. The intent is to prevent common folks from using such public spaces. All this is an effort in showcasing Bangalore as an elite friendly and global investment friendly city - with its public spaces out of bounds for local residents, especially the poor. To protest such abhorrent acts of exclusion, the undersigned have organised a protest on Monday, 30th November 2009, 4 pm to 6 pm at Queens Statue, Cubbon Park, M. G. Road. We urge you to join us in large numbers in this very critical struggle against encroachment of the Fundamental Rights to Access Public Spaces. The victims of this abhorrent policy will most certainly be the urban poor and voiceless, and this practice may soon extend to make such restrictive practices more common place. It may even initiate conversion of our public commons, such as Parks, Playfields and Open Spaces, into private havens - a practice already in vogue by the State granting large parts of Cubbon Park to the Karnataka Lawn Tennis Association, Century Club and various other private clubs. Enclosed please find a Leaflet urging you to join the Protest. Kindly circulate this amongst your communities. Also enclosed is a Petition to Karnataka Horticulture Minister Shri. Umesh Katti, who has initiated this policy, demanding that he immediately stop this illegal move. You may endorse this petition online at: . Alternatively, you may send an email to zeenat at esgindia.org latest by 10 December 2009. (Please note that when you sign the online petition, you may be asked to contribute, which you could ignore and proceed to sign the petition. When endorsing please provide your full contact details. Leave these contact details in the comments section of the online petition - if you wish.) We look forward to your support for this important cause that matters to you now, a step that will also secure the Rights of Future Generations. Thank you and best wishes, Bhargavi S. Rao and Leo Saldanha Environment Support Group, Bangalore on behalf of Slum Jagatthu, CIEDS, Vimochana, Dalit Sangharsh Samiti- Samyojaka (Bangalore Dist.), Sanmathi, Alternative Law Forum, Sangama, Stree Jagruthi Samithi, CIVIC Bangalore, Hasiru Usiru and Open Space. *NO ENTRY FOR POOR AND COMMON PEOPLE TO CUBBON PARK AND LALBAGH * *(ENTRY RESTRICTED TO ID CARD HOLDING ELITES ONLY)* The Government of Karnataka plans to make ID cards mandatory to enter Cubbon Park and Lalbagh, and that at a cost of Rs 200/person. This is the beginning of the state's encroachment of people's right to freely access public spaces and a stage is being set to privatise public commons. All sorts of devious reasons are being flung at the public, including security concerns, morality and misuse of parks by "unnecessary elements". The manner in which the policy is formulated encourages the particular exclusion of access rights of the urban poor (especially from minorities), street and working children, elderly people, transgenders , migrant workers, labourers, street vendors, drivers of autorickshaws and taxis, differently abled, families with children, etc. The idea of having to carry an ID merely to access these two parks, fundamentally distances them from their unfettered and constitutionally protected Right to Use Public Spaces. This policy also promotes discriminatory access to public spaces as it privileges 'regular walkers' and thus negates the very concept of parks as public commons. Simply stated this draconian policy encroaches our very fundamental Right to Live a Healthy Life based on dignified and unfettered access to public spaces. *Join the Protest against this fundamental encroachment of Our Right to Access all Public Commons* */COME JOIN THIS JUST PROTEST WITH FAMILIES, COLLEAGUES, FRIENDS, NEIGHBOURS/* *Queen's Statue, Cubbon park, Monday, 30^th November, 4.00 pm -- 6.00 pm* */Protest initiated by Environment Support Group, Slum Jagatthu, CIEDS, Vimochana, Dalit Sangharsh Samiti- Samyojaka (Bangalore Dist.), Sanmathi, Alternative Law Forum, Sangama, Stree Jagruthi Samithi, CIVIC Bangalore, Hasiru Usiru and Open Space./* *For more details contact: *Environment Support Group,1572, Outer Ring Road, Banshankari 2^nd stage, Bangalore-560070 _Tel:-91-80-26713559-60 _ Email:_esg at esgindia.org , bhargavi at esgindia.org _ Website: _www.esgindia.org _ *PÀ§â£ï ¥ÁPïð ºÁUÀÆ ¯Á¯ï¨ÁUïUÀ¼À°è §qÀªÀjUÉ ºÁUÀÆ ¸ÁªÀiÁ£Àå d£ÀjUÉ ¥ÀæªÉñÀ«®è* *(**UÀÄgÀÄw£À aÃnAiÀÄ£ÀÄß ºÉÆA¢zÀ UÀtåjUÉ ªÀiÁvÀæ ¥ÀæªÉñÀªÀ£ÀÄß ¹Ã«ÄwUÉƽ¸À¯ÁVzÉ**)* ¥Àæw ªÀåQÛUÉ gÀÆ.200/-gÀAvÉ, PÀ§â£ï ¥ÁPïð ºÁUÀÆ ¯Á¯ï¨ÁUïUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ¥ÀæªÉò¸À®Ä UÀÄgÀÄw£À aÃnUÀ¼À£ÀÄß PÀqÁØAiÀĪÁV¸À®Ä PÀ£ÁðlPÀ ¸ÀPÁðgÀ AiÉÆÃf¹zÉ. ¸ÁªÀðd¤PÀ ¸ÀܼÀUÀ¼À GavÀ ¥ÀæªÉñÀzÀ d£ÀgÀ ºÀPÀÌ£ÀÄß ¸ÀPÁðgÀªÀÅ CwPÀæ«Ä¸ÀĪÀÅzÀgÀ ¥ÁægÀA¨sÀ EzÀÄ. ¸ÀÄgÀPÀëvÉAiÀÄ PÀ¼ÀPÀ½, £ÉÊwPÀvÉ ºÁUÀÆ "¨ÉÃqÀzÀ ªÀåQÛ"UÀ½AzÀ ¥ÁPïðUÀ¼À zÀħð¼ÀPÉAiÀÄAvÀºÀ ºÀ®ªÁgÀÄ PÁgÀtUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ¸ÁªÀðd¤PÀjUÉ ¤ÃqÀ¯ÁUÀÄwÛzÉ. £ÀUÀgÀzÀ §qÀd£ÀgÀÄ («±ÉõÀªÁV C®à¸ÀASÁåvÀ ªÀUÀðPÉÌ ¸ÉÃjzÀªÀgÀÄ), ©Ã¢ ºÁUÀÆ PÁ«ÄðPÀ ªÀÄPÀ̼ÀÄ, ªÀAiÀĸÁìzÀªÀgÀÄ, »eÁØUÀ¼ÀÄ ºÁUÀÆ °AUÀ §zÀ¯ÁªÀuÉ ªÀiÁrPÉÆAqÀªÀgÀÄ, ªÀ®¸É §AzÀ PÁ«ÄðPÀgÀÄ, PÀÆ°AiÀiÁ¼ÀÄUÀ¼ÀÄ, ©Ã¢ ªÁå¥ÁjUÀ¼ÀÄ, DmÉÆÃjPÁë ºÁUÀÆ mÁåQì ZÁ®PÀgÀÄ, «PÀ®ZÉÃvÀ£ÀgÀÄ, ªÀÄPÀ̽gÀĪÀ PÀÄlÄA§UÀ¼ÀÄ, EvÁå¢UÀ¼À ®¨sÀåvÉAiÀÄ ºÀQ̤AzÀ ªÀAavÀUÉƼÀÄîªÀÅzÀ£ÀÄß F PÁAiÀÄð¤ÃwAiÀÄ ¤gÀÆ¥ÀuÉAiÀÄ£ÀÄß ªÀiÁqÀĪÀ «zsÁ£ÀªÀÅ GvÉÛÃf¸ÀÄvÀÛzÉ. PÉêÀ® F ¥ÁPïðUÀ¼À ¥ÀæªÉñÀPÁÌV UÀÄgÀÄvÀÄ aÃnAiÀÄ£ÀÄß MAiÀÄå¨ÉÃPÁzÀ ªÀåªÀ¸ÉÜAiÀÄÄ, CªÀgÀ C¤§ðA¢üvÀ ºÁUÀÆ ¸À«ÄézÁ¤PÀªÁV gÀQëvÀªÁzÀ */¸ÁªÀðd¤PÀ ¸ÀܼÀUÀ¼À §¼ÀPÉAiÀÄ ºÀQÌ/*¤AzÀ ªÀÄÆ®¨sÀÆvÀªÁV ¨ÉÃ¥Àðr¸ÀÄvÀÛzÉ. F PÁAiÀÄð¤ÃwAiÀÄÄ ¸ÁªÀðd¤PÀ ¸ÀܼÀUÀ¼À ¥ÀPÀë¥ÁvÀAiÀÄÄPÀÛ ®¨sÀåvÉAiÀÄ£ÀÄß GvÉÛÃf¹, "¤AiÀÄ«ÄvÀ £ÀrUÉzÁgÀ"jUÉ ªÀiÁvÀæ F C£ÀÄPÀÆ®ªÀ£ÀÄß MzÀV¹, ¥ÁPïðUÀ¼ÀÄ ¸ÁªÀðd¤PÀ ¨sÀƪÀiÁ¼ÀUÀ¼ÉA§ aAvÀ£ÉAiÀÄ£Éßà £ÀUÀtå ªÀiÁqÀÄvÀÛzÉ. ¸ÀgÀ¼ÀªÁV ºÉüÀĪÀÅzÁzÀgÉ, ¸ÁªÀðd¤PÀ ¸ÀܼÀUÀ¼À UÀA©üÃgÀ ºÁUÀÆ C¤§ðA¢üvÀ ®¨sÀåvÉAiÀÄ, DgÉÆÃUÀå fêÀ£ÀªÀ£ÀÄß £ÀqɸÀĪÀ £ÀªÀÄä ªÀÄÆ®¨sÀÆvÀ ºÀPÀÌ£ÀÄß F PÀptªÁzÀ PÁAiÀÄð¤ÃwAiÀÄÄ CwPÀæ«Ä¸ÀÄvÀÛzÉ. *¸ÁªÀðd¤PÀ ¸ÀܼÀUÀ¼É®èzÀgÀ ®¨sÀåvÉAiÀÄ £ÀªÀÄä ºÀQÌ£À ªÉÄÃ¯É £ÀqÉAiÀÄÄwÛgÀĪÀ F ªÀÄÆ®¨sÀÆvÀ CwPÀæªÀÄtzÀ «gÀÄzÀÞ £ÀqɸÀĪÀ ¥Àæw¨sÀl£ÉAiÀÄ ¨sÁUÀªÁV* */PÀÄlÄA§UÀ¼ÀÄ, ¸ÀºÉÆÃzÉÆåÃVUÀ¼ÀÄ, ¸ÉßûvÀgÀÄ ºÁUÀÆ £ÉgɺÉÆgÉAiÀĪÀgÉÆqÀ£É, F £ÁåAiÀÄAiÀÄÄvÀ ¥Àæw¨sÀl£ÉUÁV £ÀªÉÆäqÀ£É ¸ÉÃj/* *gÁtÂAiÀÄ ¥ÀæwªÉÄ, PÀ§â£ï ¥ÁPïð, ¸ÉÆêÀÄĪÁgÀ, 30£ÉAiÀÄ £ÀªÉA§gï, ¸ÀAeÉ 4.00 WÀAmÉ * *¥Àæw¨sÀl£ÉAiÀÄ gÀƪÁjUÀ¼ÀÄ: J£ïªÉÊgÀ£ïªÉÄAmï ¸À¥ÉÇÃmïð UÀÆæ¥ï, ¸ÀèA dUÀvÀÄÛ, ¹AiÉÄqïì, «ªÉÆÃZÀ£À, zÀ°vÀ ¸ÀAWÀµÀð ¸À«Äw - ¸ÀAAiÉÆÃdPÀ (¨ÉAUÀ¼ÀÆgÀÄ f¯Éè), ¸À£Àäw, D®Ögï£ÉÃnªï ¯Á ¥sóÉÇÃgÀA, ¸ÀAUÀªÀÄ, ¹Ûçà eÁUÀÈw ¸À«Äw, ¹«Pï ¨ÉAUÀ¼ÀÆgÀÄ ºÀ¹gÀÄ G¹gÀÄ, ºÁUÀÆ N¥À£ï ¸Éàøï.* *_ºÉaÑ£À «ªÀgÀUÀ½UÁV ¸ÀA¥ÀQð¹: _*_J£ïªÉÊgÀ£ïªÉÄAmï ¸À¥ÉÇÃmïð UÀÆæ¥ï, 1572, Olgï jAUï gÉÆÃqï, §£À±ÀAPÀj 2£ÉAiÀÄ ºÀAvÀ, ¨ÉAUÀ¼ÀÆgÀÄ __--__ 560070 zÀÆ: 91-80-26713559-60 F-ªÉÄïï: __:esg at esgindia.org , bhargavi at esgindia.org __ ªÉ¨ï vÁt: www.esgindia.org __ _ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20091128/49cf8b3f/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Protest_Petition_Leaflet_Parks_Access_CubbonPark_Kannada&Eng_301109.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 259314 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20091128/49cf8b3f/attachment-0001.pdf -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: leofsaldanha.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 310 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20091128/49cf8b3f/attachment-0001.vcf