Nagrika

🚨 Needles in Haystacks: Biomedical Waste Mismanagement in Small Town India 🏥🗑️ Did you know that India's healthcare market is projected to reach $638 billion by 2025? While this growth is promising, it's bringing an unexpected challenge to our smaller cities and towns. Key insights: 1️⃣ Biomedical waste is piling up, untreated and exposed, in many small Indian towns. 2️⃣ 15% of medical waste is hazardous, but improper segregation can contaminate the rest. 3️⃣ This waste often ends up in open dumps, waterways, and even re-enters the supply chain. 4️⃣ Lack of infrastructure and high disposal costs contribute to the problem. 5️⃣ The real price is paid by patients, sanitation workers, and the urban poor. But there's hope! 🌟 🔹 Decentralized waste treatment facilities for easier, cheaper, and more accessible disposal. 🔹 Financial incentives and subsidies to help small hospitals afford proper waste management. 🔹 Improved infrastructure and comprehensive training programs for healthcare professionals. 🔹 Stricter enforcement of existing biomedical waste management rules and regulations. And what can this translate to? ✅ Reduced environmental contamination and improved public health. ✅ Decreased risk of infections and diseases spread through improper waste disposal. ✅ Enhanced occupational safety for healthcare workers and waste management personnel. ✅ Potential cost savings and revenue generation through efficient waste management. Have you had any experience with biomedical waste in smaller cities? Share your thoughts below! 👇 #HealthcareWaste #EnvironmentalHealth #SmallTownIndia #SustainableHealthcare

Did you know 🚦 In Guwahati, half of all trips are under 4 km, yet e-rickshaws have been banned from 56 routes, despite being a crucial part of the transport network. The city has 47 IPTs per 1,000 people but less than 1 bus (0.79) per 1,000 people, making mobility harder for daily commuters. 🚶♂️ In Gwalior, two out of five people rely entirely on walking to get around. Yet, sidewalks are either missing or in disrepair, forcing pedestrians to share unsafe roads with motor vehicles. 🚆 Jaipur’s metro, launched in 2015, was expected to transform urban mobility. Nearly a decade later, it covers just 12 km and serves only 50,000 passengers daily—a fraction of the city’s 4 million residents. Meanwhile, informal transport continues to fill the gaps but faces increasing restrictions. ⚠️ Road accident deaths in smaller cities are on the rise. In Uttar Pradesh, some districts have seen a 200% increase in fatalities over the past year due to poor road design, weak enforcement, and unchecked speeding. 🛑 Nagpur has 25,000 auto-rickshaws, but only 9,500 drivers hold permits 🚲 Chandigarh once had 200 km of dedicated cycle tracks, but today many are blocked, repurposed as parking spaces, or have simply disappeared. When we think of urban mobility, we think of metros, flyovers, and big-ticket projects. But what about the transport we actually use every day across our smaller cities? India has the third-largest #metro network, yet most systems run at a loss. Ridership remains low, but the race to build new metros continues, especially in smaller cities. Are we building for #mobility or just for prestige? Meanwhile, the real backbone of mobility—buses, IPTs and NMTs remain missing. Only 63 out of 458 cities have formal bus services. Cities like #Lucknow have just 7 buses per lakh people, and #Nagpur only 8. If buses are essential, why aren’t we investing in them? With weak bus networks, Intermediate Public Transport (IPTs) like autos and e-rickshaws fill the gap. They are everywhere, keeping small cities moving. Yet, they are pushed into chaos instead of being supported by weak regulations and policy neglect. At the same time, Non-Motorized Transport (NMT) remains an afterthought—footpaths disappear under parked cars, and dedicated cycling lanes are rare. If small cities want sustainable mobility, they must prioritize both IPT and NMT, ensuring they are integrated, supported, and not just accommodated. So, what if we stopped chasing vehicle-focused mobility and started prioritising people-first transport solutions? What if small cities avoided the mistakes of the bigger ones and built systems that actually work for their citizens?It’s time to rethink urban mobility in smaller cities. What do you think? Read the full piece on our website. #Nagrika #UrbanMobility #smallcitymobility #IPTMatters #PeopleFirstPlanning Nagrika

🌟 Why Your City’s Elections Matter More Than You Think! 🌟 Do you also think that municipal elections in India operate under an "invisibility cloak"? While national elections dominate headlines, local polls—the backbone of grassroots governance—struggle with systemic challenges that impact our daily life. 🔍 Key Issues in Local Elections: -Erratic Schedules: Many states delay elections for years (e.g., Tamil Nadu held ULB polls after a 10-year gap, while Maharashtra awaits elections for 3+ years) -Accountability Gaps: Manifestos are often vague or unrealistic (e.g., a Dehradun candidate promised 5 lakh CCTV cameras for a city 3% Delhi’s size) -Bureaucracy vs. Democracy: Elected councillors frequently lack real power, with decisions driven by state-appointed officials -Ghost Voters & Missing Names: Uttarakhand’s recent polls saw eligible voters missing from rolls, while Hyderabad purged 5 lakh duplicate entries -Low Turnout: Voters feel disconnected due to opaque processes and broken links between their votes and civic outcomes 💡 A Call for Citizen-Led Change: Initiatives like Dehradun’s Mayor Samvad show how citizens can demand accountability. Citizens can push for: ✅ Transparent manifestos with actionable plans. ✅ Regular, timely elections. ✅ Stronger roles for elected representatives ✅ Cleaner voter rolls and accessible electoral data 📢 Join the Conversation! Nagrika’s latest article dives deeper into these challenges and how we can reclaim local governance. Whether you’re a policymaker, activist, or engaged citizen, your voice matters. 👉 Read the full commentarty here:  https://lnkd.in/gzNDrRJ7 #LocalGovernance #UrbanDemocracy #CivicEngagement #IndiaElections #NagrikaInsights 

𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐤 𝐨𝐧 𝐔𝐋𝐁 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐖𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤? There aren’t perhaps many city-level elections that make national news as much as the national elections that make the city-level news.... As the municipal elections in any city approach, citizens are filled with questions that ideally shouldn’t have existed in a functioning democracy. But they persist... 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗥𝘂𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀? Most of us know the Election Commission of India—the body that runs the grand general elections every five years. But ask about the State Election Commission, the institution responsible for municipal elections, and one is likely to get blank stares. The confusion is understandable. ....They are announced with minimal fanfare, contested with little scrutiny, and concluded with barely any public attention—except for those contesting and a few informed citizens. There doesn’t seem to be a rationale, a pattern, or a schedule to organise these elections. In Tamil Nadu, Urban Local Body (ULB) elections happened in February 2022, 10 years after the last elections! While in Uttarakhand, they finally happened this year, delayed since 2023 due to delimitation and reservation processes. Ideally, municipal elections are supposed to be held every five years, but this doesn’t seem to be the case in most states. In Maharashtra, cities have been waiting for a new city government for the last three years. In Jharkhand, the High Court had to intervene and order the state government to conduct municipal elections within four months. Similarly, in Haryana, municipal elections have been long overdue, with the state government planning to hold them by 2nd March this year. This inconsistency is a significant issue plaguing local elections across India. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀, 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 In many Indian cities, local election manifestos are often either nonexistent or generic enough to mean everything and nothing at the same time. Public transport is mentioned, but with no specifics on how, when, or through what funding. Many make promises, which they ideally shouldn’t be making as the actions are not within their jurisdiction. A mayoral candidate had made a promise of installing 5 lakh CCTV cameras in Dehradun, a city whose population is ~3% of Delhi. Delhi, as of this news article, had coverage of 2.6 lakh CCTV cameras. So a city that is 3% of the size of Delhi is promised to be given cameras—200% of the number of CCTVs present in Delhi. . . Read more here https://lnkd.in/gzNDrRJ7

📍Invitation to Webinar We are excited to invite you to attend the Web Launch and Panel Discussion of our latest edition to the Nagrikal series on Climate Change- "Declining Air Quality in small and mid-sized cities" on November 7th, Thursday 03:30 to 5:00 pm. Esteemed members of the panel are Ravi Gyanprakash Choudhary -Founder and President, Prayas Youth Foundation Ajay Mittal - Independent consultant focused on Sustainability Pradhi Rajeev - Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, IIT Patna Shivani Modi Maurya - Head of Marketing at uBreathe Access to the event is through registration, so please register to this link https://bit.ly/Nagrika_Air You may also circulate the invitation in your networks and through social media https://shorturl.at/Jm6o0 About Nagrikal Nagrikal is our initiative, which aims to bring voices and perspectives from smaller cities to the forefront of policy-making and citizen consciousness. The report titled “Declining Air Quality in small and mid-sized cities” is part of our Nagrikal Climate Change Series. Please read more about Nagrikal in the note below. In February 2024, we launched our first report under this initiative, a comprehensive study of urban wetland areas in India, titled “From Definition to Conservation: A Comprehensive Study on urban Wetlands of India.” In May 2024, we launched the second and third reports in this series titled "Contextualising Smaller Cities in Climate change" and “Rise in Temperature and Heatwaves in Small and Mid-sized Cities.” The most recent report, titled “Rise in Sea Levels: Fate of Small and Mid-sized Coastal Cities” was published in August 2024. You can access the reports here. https://lnkd.in/dnMv-Ma3 Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies Yutika Vora Tarun Sharma Ajay Mittal Ravi Gyanprakash Choudhary Pradhi Rajeev Shivani Modi Maurya

#Nagrika recently announced the opening of applications for the Nagar-Nagar Fellows Programme! The fellowship invites individuals aged 18 to 25 to explore diverse facets of small and mid-sized #IndianCities. If cities and citizens excite you, this program can serve as your gateway to meaningful experiences and impactful insights. Program Highlights ▪️ Remote location-to be based in your own city ▪️ For residents of smaller cities ▪️ Choose between three or six-month onsite experiences 📅 ▪️ Collaborate and network with fellow changemakers 🤝 ▪️ Conduct in-depth research on small and mid-sized cities 🌇 ▪️ Dedicate 6-8 hours per week 🕧 ▪️ Monthly stipend of INR 5000 Scan the code above to learn more and apply! You can also visit this link https://lnkd.in/gavb3Pwt Applications are open until October 6th! Don’t miss this chance to be part of an inspiring journey! #NagarNagarFellows #smallcities #UrbanResearch #Fellowship #ApplyNow

Happy Teachers’ Day ❤️   ✨ Gratitude and Growth ✨ I truly believe that every person we meet is destined to teach us something in this journey of life. While I am deeply grateful to my teachers and everyone who has shaped me along the way, I am equally thankful for life's experiences that have pushed me forward. One such moment came during a visit to the fest at Island Grounds, Chennai, which sparked the idea for my entry in the Nagrika Youth Writing Contest. Though I didn’t win, I'm excited to share that my entry, titled "A Kolam of Memories: My Chennai, Our Fair," was shortlisted in the top 20! 🎉 This reminds me that opportunities can arise from the most unexpected places—whether through a conversation, an event, or a moment of reflection. As we celebrate Teachers' Day, let's embrace curiosity, cherish our lessons, and recognise the extraordinary in the ordinary. Here's to the teachers in classrooms and beyond – may we always be open to learning! What unexpected teacher has life presented you with recently? Share your story below!

Our comprehensive and evolving Nagrikal series look at the critical relationship between climate change and urban centers, with a particular focus on small and mid-sized cities in India. With an aim of 'generating knowledge that everyone needs but no one is creating', we hope that our efforts drive the conversation and action in this realm. The various reports highlight the dual role these cities play as both contributors to and sufferers of climate change. By examining key impacts such as declining air quality, rising temperatures, increasing heatwaves, and sea level rise, we aim to shed light on the unique challenges faced by these cities. Our findings also reveal specific gaps in data availability and monitoring networks, which hinder effective climate action and policy-making. For example, as per the CPCB criteria, cities with a population of 1 to 5 million should have at least 5 CAAQMS (continuous ambient air quality monitoring systems). Begusarai, a city with a population of close to 3 million was recently featured as the most polluted city not just in India but in the world. The city only has one 1 CAAQMS. Interestingly, the lack of monitoring stations itself has been cited as a significant factor contributing to the questionable accuracy of pollution rankings, as limited data from few stations can lead to potential inaccuracies in assessing the true pollution levels of these areas. Similarly, Meerut, with a population of 1.3 million has 3 CAAQMS. Bhubaneswar has 2 while Vizag, Mysuru, Belgaum have 1. The series emphasizes the urgent need for localized data collection and resilient infrastructure to better equip these cities against climate extremes. You can download the full reports here https://lnkd.in/dwSPDGuR Nagrika Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies India Development Review (IDR) NDTV Manisha Natarajan Indian Meteorological Department

On the 78th Independence Day, our Co-Founder - Tarun Sharma was invited to be on the panel for NDTV #TheUrbanAgenda, which discussed "How Leading Citizen Initiatives Drive Meaningful Change?" alongside Shishir Joshi, CEO & Co-Founder of Project Mumbai, & Divya Narayanan, Executive Director of Jhatkaa.org.At Nagrika, our mission is to provide knowledge for and from smaller cities, that empowers people to take action and spark conversations. Based on multiple experiences across Indias smaller cities, our Co-Founder, Tarun Sharma, highlighted the transformative power of citizen led movements which are sparked either by urgent issues impacting citizens directly and deeply, vision of a better reality, or a strong local leadership. We've seen incredible momentum when communities come together for a common cause!To know more about Nagrika's work watch the full episode on NDTV's YouTube Channel or visit nagrika.org! #Nagrika #SmallCities #UrbanChange #CitizenPower #CommunityEngagement #SustainableCities NDTV NDTV Profit Jhatkaa.org Project Mumbai Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies

"While the previous improvements in IMD focused primarily on augmenting infrastructure, the latest endeavour will be directed at developing computer simulated models tailored to local specifics. This would require data collectors to narrow their focus to district, block, panchayat, village or even ward and street-levels. The scientists will also need to be equipped with a denser network of measuring instruments." The Indian Express editorial highlights the need for data for more accurate predictions and planning. Our Nagrikal series has identified and mapped the various monitoring and measuring networks in India's cities and identified the gaps that lead to a lack of data pertaining to smaller cities. The report highlights significant deficiencies in air quality monitoring, where many small and mid-sized cities lack adequate and continuous data collection despite having numerous monitoring stations. Weather monitoring is similarly compromised, with insufficient coverage and inconsistent data availability, which hampers localized weather predictions and planning. Additionally, the monitoring of sea level rise is challenged by the limited functionality and coverage of tide gauges, leaving many smaller coastal cities underrepresented in research and vulnerable to climate impacts. These gaps also highlight the urgent need for a denser network of measuring instruments and more localized data collection to support accurate climate modeling and effective policy responses. The reports can be downloaded here. https://lnkd.in/dnMv-Ma3 The Indian Express Indian Meteorological Department