An Ageing Society: Initiatives Addressing Greying Population in Smaller Cities

/
An Ageing Society: Initiatives Addressing Greying Population in Smaller Cities

With a fertility rate under 2.0 and life expectancy reaching above 70+ years, India is witnessing an exponential growth in the number and proportion of elderly people. A study by Kumar et al. (2024) revealed that advanced health facilities were more concentrated in metropolitan cities, while smaller cities lacked good health facilities which were not easily accessible. NIMHANS has collaborated with HelpAge India to train 10,000 workers and volunteers to provide geriatric mental health care through ‘Sarthak’, a community-based initiative. Likewise, Ivory Health - an age-tech startup is focusing on addressing cognitive decline among the elderly through cutting-edge technology and personalised interventions.

Read More

Navigating through the Evolving Landscape of Libraries in India

/
Navigating through the Evolving Landscape of Libraries in India

There’s an increasing trend of individuals establishing mini-libraries and fostering a culture of reading in smaller towns and rural areas. Sathyanarayan Mundayoor from Kerala, also known as Uncle Moosa, has been instrumental in promoting education in Arunachal Pradesh. He has organised book exhibitions and set up 13 Bamboosa Library libraries as part of the Lohit Youth Library Movement in a town called Tezu.

Read More

Elections 2024: Enhancing Democratic Participation in Smaller Cities

/
Elections 2024: Enhancing Democratic Participation in Smaller Cities

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has identified 266 Parliamentary Constituencies with historically low participation rates. 51 of these constituencies are urban, with cities like Kanpur, Allahabad, Secunderabad, Patna, Kalyan, & Nagpur on the list. Through the Systematic Voter Education & Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme, the ECI is promoting voter awareness through multi-intervention programmes & fostering community engagement in the electoral process.

Read More

From Small Towns to Big Leagues: The IPL's Expanding Reach & Rising Stars

/
From Small Towns to Big Leagues: The IPL's Expanding Reach & Rising Stars

As the brand value of the Indian Premier League grows, it's becoming more popular in smaller towns and cities. More people in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities are watching IPL matches, and more budding cricketers are coming from these regions. Realising the role of small cities, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) initiated the establishment of fan parks in 15 cities across India, with a particular focus on smaller towns, starting in 2015.

Read More

Emerging Health Landscape in the Small Indian Cities

/
Emerging Health Landscape in the Small Indian Cities

The healthcare landscape of India is undergoing a significant shift, with larger hospital chains redirecting their focus to small cities due to rising real estate costs and limited urban space. Furthermore, small cities are also witnessing a surge in demand for medicines post-pandemic due to increased health awareness, emerging pharma companies & government health schemes.

Read More

Parvatmala Pariyojana: Reconfiguring Urban Mobility through Ropeways

/
Parvatmala Pariyojana: Reconfiguring Urban Mobility through Ropeways

At a collective cost of ₹1.25 lakh crore, 200 such projects have been identified under the National Ropeways Development Programme. With nearly 30 projects underway, the Union government aims to enhance connectivity in difficult terrains, reduce commute time, & decongest urban areas that lack conventional mass transit systems.

Read More

World Water Day 2024: Water Challenges Beyond the Metropolitan

/
World Water Day 2024: Water Challenges Beyond the Metropolitan

Population growth, rapid urbanization, inadequate infrastructure, & overreliance on groundwater has exacerbated water scarcity. Smaller cities lack robust water supply systems & struggle with institutional inadequacies, along with the absence of centralized sewage systems.

Read More

Innovative Communities: Rethinking India’s Urban Informal Settlements

/
Innovative Communities: Rethinking India’s Urban Informal Settlements

Rapid industrialization in Rourkela & Angul has drawn migrant workers, leading to informal settlements around industrial zones. Despite efforts by the Odisha government’s Jaga Mission to improve slums, a study found that 84 slums in Bhubaneswar lacked access to safe drinking water.

Read More

Celebrating Women’s Work: Workforce Participation Insights from Small Cities

/
Celebrating Women’s Work: Workforce Participation Insights from Small Cities

Women are also participating in varied sectors & opting for unconventional roles according to Apna, a professional networking platform. In 2022, there was a 34% rise in women applicants for labor-intensive roles such as delivery, lab technicians, factory workers & drivers.

Read More

Wildlife within Cityscapes: Managing India’s Human-Animal Conflicts

/
Wildlife within Cityscapes: Managing India’s Human-Animal Conflicts

An AI-based surveillance system has been utilized in Coimbatore to track elephant presence along railway tracks to avoid accidents. Similarly, drones & thermal cameras have been deployed in the Gadchiroli district to mitigate human-animal conflicts.

Read More

Pedaling Forward: Is Your City Cycling-Friendly?

/
Pedaling Forward: Is Your City Cycling-Friendly?

Providing access to bicycles in docking hubs for short-term use, the PBS has intended to be an eco-friendly & affordable choice of transportation. However, Bhopal’s PBS service has faltered due to administrative mismanagement, with bikes in disrepair & cycle tracks encroached on by parked vehicles.

Read More

A New Digital Demographic: Content Creators from Smaller Cities

/
A New Digital Demographic: Content Creators from Smaller Cities

Affordable accessibility to smartphones & internet since the last decade led to the proliferation of social media beyond tier 1 cities to tier 2 and tier 3 cities. The COVID-19 pandemic pushed people towards online platforms for entertainment & education, along with earning their income when they had no other means during lockdowns.

Read More

World Wetlands Day: Celebrating Conservation & Community Action

/
World Wetlands Day: Celebrating Conservation & Community Action

Wetlands are intrinsically tied to cities, as they are hosts to diverse life forms and offer ecological services that are vital for sustaining urban communities. This is evident in the case of the East Kolkata Wetlands. As the world's largest natural sewage management system, it treats 60–80% of Kolkata's sewage, saving approximately ₹4680 million annually in purification costs.

Read More

Traversing Time: Knowing Your City Through Heritage Walks & Tours

/
Traversing Time: Knowing Your City Through Heritage Walks & Tours

The Heritage Affected Committee’s heritage walk highlighted the residents’ precarious living conditions around Shan heritage awareness. They advocated for amending the Heritage Preservation Act to extend support to the locals in refurbishing homes.

Read More

Riding the Electric Wave: The Rise of E-Rickshaws in India

/
Riding the Electric Wave: The Rise of E-Rickshaws in India

Considered a part of sustainable development, e-rickshaws also face challenges due to inadequate regulation. While Guwahati grapples with intense traffic due to the unauthorized operation of e-rickshaws, nearly 1 lakh Delhi e-rickshaws are running on old and potentially unsafe lead-acid batteries.

Read More

Transforming Trash: Technological Developments in Waste Management

/
Transforming Trash: Technological Developments in Waste Management

Community-driven initiatives are also contributing to cleaner environments while providing livelihoods to those in need. Guwahati's Shree Guru Plastics is recycling waste while employing socio-economically disadvantaged women.

Read More

Local Legacies: Industries in India’s Smaller Cities & Towns

/
Local Legacies: Industries in India’s Smaller Cities & Towns

These lesser-known industries are slowly coming to the lime-light. A hub for silverware utensils, Khamgaon houses Shraddha Refinery, which has been recognized for contributing silver-based components for ISRO satellites. Similarly, Meerut is renowned for sports goods manufacturing, with companies like Nelco Pvt. Ltd. supplying for international athletic events since the 80’s.

Read More

Preserving Heritage Homes: Pillars of Tradition amid Urban Transformation

/
Preserving Heritage Homes: Pillars of Tradition amid Urban Transformation

Centuries-old structures have been affected by the climate crisis. Frequent rains, humidity, and extreme temperatures are damaging traditional sandstone homes in Jodhpur and Jaisalmer. Heritage buildings also suffer from encroaching redevelopment and a lack of comprehensive conservation policies.

Read More

Fast Food Frenzy: The spread of Quick Service Restaurants

/
Fast Food Frenzy: The spread of Quick Service Restaurants

The untapped potential and low rental costs in Tier 2 and 3 cities, along with people’s changing lifestyles, have caught the attention of QSRs. By providing dining services and speedy deliveries, QSRs are recognizing the growing need for convenient and hygienic options by marketing themselves as affordable for the young middle class.

Read More