Q. How does smart city in India, address the issues of urban poverty and distributive justice?

Model Answer:

India’s Smart Cities Mission, covering 100 cities since 2015, aims to create inclusive urban spaces while tackling the challenge of 30% urban population living in poverty. The mission integrates technology with social development to address inequality.

Addressing Urban Poverty:

• Digital Inclusion: Free Wi-Fi zones and digital literacy centers enable poor communities to access e-governance services and online employment opportunities (Bhopal’s digital kiosks in slums).

• Affordable Housing Integration: Smart cities converge with PMAY for in-situ slum redevelopment, providing pucca houses with smart amenities (Bhubaneswar’s 2,500 slum households rehabilitation).

• Livelihood Generation: Infrastructure projects create construction jobs while smart skill centers provide training in emerging sectors (Pune’s IoT training centers).

Ensuring Distributive Justice:

The area-based development approach ensures equitable resource distribution across all neighborhoods, not just affluent zones. Smart transportation systems like Mysuru’s Intelligent Transport System and Indore’s iBus provide affordable mobility to all citizens. E-governance platforms reduce corruption and ensure equal access to services, while citizen engagement apps give marginalized communities a voice in urban planning (Surat’s SMC Connect app).

Challenges remain – risks of gentrification, digital divide, and technology-over-people approach threaten inclusive development. Some cities report displacement of poor to peripheries.

Conclusion: Smart cities show promise but need stronger pro-poor mandates and community participation for genuine inclusive development.