What are Tsunamis? How and where are they formed? What are their consequences? Explain with examples. (Answer in 150 words)

Core Demand of the QuestionSmart City in India: Addressing the Issues of Urban PovertySmart City in India: Ensuring Distributive Justice

Introduction

Smart cities in India aim toreduce urban povertybyimproving access to housing, transport, health, and digital services,while advancingdistributive justicewhich implied fair sharing of public resources and opportunities across neighborhoods and social groups, especially the most vulnerable.

Body

Addressing Urban Poverty in Smart Cities

• Affordable Housing:Smart cities integratePradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY–Urban)for slum rehabilitation and affordable housing.Eg:Ahmedabad Smart Cityconstructed over10,000 affordable housing unitsfor slum dwellers.


• Eg:Ahmedabad Smart Cityconstructed over10,000 affordable housing unitsfor slum dwellers.


• Slum Redevelopment and Upgradation:Use of GIS mapping and smart planning for in-situ slum rehabilitation.Eg:Puneadopted GIS-based mapping for slum redevelopment under its Smart City plan.


• Eg:Puneadopted GIS-based mapping for slum redevelopment under its Smart City plan.


• Skill Development and Livelihood Creation:Smart cities converge withDAY-NULM(Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihoods Mission) to create jobs.Eg:Indoresmart city linked NULM to street-vendor training and e-rickshaw support.


• Eg:Indoresmart city linked NULM to street-vendor training and e-rickshaw support.


• Improved Service Delivery:Smart metering, waste collection apps, and e-governance ensure poor households get uninterrupted utilities.Eg:Bhubaneswarsmart city implemented24×7 water supplywith household-level meters.


• Eg:Bhubaneswarsmart city implemented24×7 water supplywith household-level meters.


• Accessible Urban Mobility:Smart cities promote affordable, inclusive transport for low-income groups.Eg:Kochi Smart Cityintegrated metro with feeder auto-rickshaw services for daily wage workers.


• Eg:Kochi Smart Cityintegrated metro with feeder auto-rickshaw services for daily wage workers.

Ensuring Distributive Justice in Smart Cities

• Inclusive Urban Planning:Participatory planning ensures poor communities have a voice.Eg:Bhubaneswar’s Child-Friendly City Planinvolved slum children in planning safe spaces.


• Eg:Bhubaneswar’s Child-Friendly City Planinvolved slum children in planning safe spaces.


• Equitable Resource Allocation:Focus on providing basic amenities to underserved areas, not just elite enclaves.Eg:Indore Smart Cityextended 24×7 water supply to slum clusters, reducing inequity.


• Eg:Indore Smart Cityextended 24×7 water supply to slum clusters, reducing inequity.


• Transparent Governance:Use of ICT (apps, grievance portals, dashboards) enhances accountability and fair distribution.Eg:Surat Smart City’se-governance portal allows real-time grievance redressal for poor households.


• Eg:Surat Smart City’se-governance portal allows real-time grievance redressal for poor households.


• Environmental Justice:Cleaner air, sanitation, and waste management improve quality of life for the poorest.Eg:Indore Smart City’s waste segregation systembenefited slum dwellers working as informal waste pickers.


• Eg:Indore Smart City’s waste segregation systembenefited slum dwellers working as informal waste pickers.


• Gender and Social Equity:Women, migrants, and vulnerable groups integrated in policy design.Bhubaneswar Smart Cityestablished gender-sensitive public spaces and e-rickshaw support for women vendors.


• Integration with Welfare Schemes:Smart Cities Mission dovetails with PMAY, AMRUT, Swachh Bharat, and NULM to ensure distributive justice.

Conclusion

Smart cities hold the potential to redefine India’s urban future not just withdigital appsandinfrastructure, but by ensuring that the poorest citizens haveequal access to opportunities, dignity, and justice. Their success will be measured by how far they can bridge the gap between urban elites and the marginalized.