Speakers at CEPT highlight disparity between Inclusive development vs progress

In a panel discussion on 'Inclusive Sustainable Cities in India' organised by CEPT University's Centre for Urban Equity on the occasion of World Habitat Day, speakers highlighted the disparity in the need for inclusive development and what is touted as progress in today's parlance.

The discussion, held on Monday, was chaired by Ghanshyam Shah and speakers were journalist Darryl D'Monte, activist Ila Pathak and educator Akhtar Chauhan.

"There are no open spaces for people. The Sabarmati Riverfront project, touted as development of the city, has taken away the access to the river from its people. The high profile makeover of Kankaria lake has also brought with it an entry fee of Rs10, which the poor cannot afford," Shah said.

"Is a city where you can drive faster a better city or a city where you can walk faster?" Chauhan questioned the audience. D'Monte pointed out that policies in metro cities these days are completely dictated by carwallahs. "Public transport is in absolutely pathetic shape. There is no space for cyclists or pedestrians," he lamented.

Chauhan pointed out that, in fact, our policies are so biased that there is no mention of human communities in our building bylaws. "We emulate the western methods of town planning without much thought. A better city for us will require a much more humane city than the ones we have now," he said.