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22. Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban (SBM-U)
- Author:
- Avani Kapur and Sanjana Malhotra
- Publication Date:
- 07-2019
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- Centre for Policy Research, India
- Abstract:
- The Swachh Bharat Mission- Urban (SBM-U) is the Government of India’s (GoI) flagship programme targeting universal sanitation coverage in urban areas. Using government data, this brief reports on: Allocations, releases, and expenditures, State-wise and component wise trends in releases, Progress on toilets built, Progress on Solid Waste Management (SWM), and Open Defecation Free (ODF) status.
- Topic:
- Government, Infrastructure, Budget, Urban, and Sanitation
- Political Geography:
- South Asia, India, and Asia
23. Beyond Poles and Wires: How to Keep the Electrons Flowing?
- Author:
- Navroz K. Dubash and Ashwini K. Swain
- Publication Date:
- 06-2019
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Centre for Policy Research, India
- Abstract:
- India’s move to electrify every village and household in the country has been lauded as a success. Building on decades of targeted programmes and public investments by multiple governments, the country completed 100% village electrification in April 2018; a year after, it has electrified nearly all ‘willing’ households. Despite the time it took to get here, these achievements are important milestones in India’s development trajectory. But does connecting households to the electric grid resolve the electricity access challenge? The answer depends on whether electrons flow through the wires and whether all consumers are served equally and adequately.
- Topic:
- Development, Government, Infrastructure, Investment, and Electricity
- Political Geography:
- South Asia, India, and Asia
24. Policy Note: Dialogues On Sanitation: Legal Perspectives on Sanitation in Urban India
- Author:
- Scaling City Institutions for India: Sanitation
- Publication Date:
- 03-2019
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- Centre for Policy Research, India
- Abstract:
- The event was organised as a part of ‘Dialogues on Sanitation’ series and specifically focused on the legal and regulatory regime pertaining to urban sanitation. The event brought together senior policymakers, city and state level implementers, technocrats, members of the civil society and legal experts to brainstorm towards bettering the regulatory regime on urban sanitation. Several aspects such as the role of law and regulation in Faecal Sludge Management, rights of sanitary workers, and public-private participation in Urban Sanitation were discussed during the course of the workshop.
- Topic:
- Government, Law, Regulation, Urban, and Sanitation
- Political Geography:
- South Asia, India, and Asia
25. Sanitation in Large and Dense Villages of India: The Last Mile and Beyond
- Author:
- Aditya Bhol, Shubhagato Dasgupta, Anindita Mukherjee, and Aastha Jain
- Publication Date:
- 03-2019
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Centre for Policy Research, India
- Abstract:
- The aim of this white paper is to explore the nuances of the prevalence of on-site sanitation systems in large and dense villages of India. Villages which have a population of 1000 persons or more and a density of greater than or equal to 400 persons per square kilometre were classified as large and dense villages in an earlier research – Towards a New Research and Policy Paradigm: An Analysis of the Sanitation Situation in Large Dense Villages. Stimulated by the findings revealing a preferential pattern for selection of on-site sanitation systems in these settlements, a primary household survey was conducted in large and dense villages from five Indian states - Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The survey also included qualitative components – stakeholder interviews and transect walks. In this study the survey data has been canvassed to explore the preference patterns of households and the factors guiding them in their decision making for the construction and maintenance of on-site sanitation systems. We find that these large and dense villages exhibit a higher preference for septic tanks over pits in all states except West Bengal where pits are preferred. A majority of households have reported their toilets were private constructions. We find the preference patterns are manifested not only by the choices of building septic tanks or pits but also through the large variations in their design and sizes which are influenced by socio-economic, technical and behavioural factors. We also find specific trends in demand for desludging services by households which are influenced by internal factors such as their social status and economic well-being and by external factors such as availability of mechanised operators or continued reliance on manual cleaning and their costs which cumulatively constitute the supply side of sanitation services.
- Topic:
- Government, Water, Infrastructure, and Sanitation
- Political Geography:
- South Asia, India, and Asia
26. Synthesis Report on State of Water: A Look at the Legal and Regulatory Framework Governing Water Services across Jurisdictions
- Author:
- Maanav Kumar and Parag Mohanty
- Publication Date:
- 03-2019
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Centre for Policy Research, India
- Abstract:
- This study looks at the development of legal and regulatory framework governing drinking water and sanitation services in South Africa, England and United States. Around 780 million worldwide do not have access to clean drinking water and almost 2.5 billion people lack access to improved sanitation according to data published by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In such a situation, it becomes extremely important to study the legal and regulatory measures used internationally to control, manage and improve these resources. This study, covering South Africa, England and USA, sets out to identify, comprehend and analyze these legal frameworks and structures; examine the control exercised by national, state/provincial as well as municipal governments over water and sanitation-related questions; and the responsive measures being taken by them to preserve the water resources and their quality for future generations. The authors have observed that in presence of varying geographical, historical and social factors, while it would be impossible to compare each model against the other on the basis of merit, it becomes increasingly important for governments to balance the individual’s right to water with the planet’s ecological balance.
- Topic:
- Environment, Government, Natural Resources, Water, Law, Regulation, Legislation, and Sanitation
- Political Geography:
- South Asia, India, Asia, and Global Focus
27. Budget Brief 2019-20: Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana - Gramin (PMAY - G)
- Author:
- Sahithya Venkatesan and Avani Kapur
- Publication Date:
- 01-2019
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- Centre for Policy Research, India
- Abstract:
- Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana - Gramin (PMAY - G) is Government of India’s (GoI’s) flagship ‘Housing for All’ scheme. The scheme was launched in November 2016 and aims to provide monetary assistance for the construction of a pucca house with basic amenities to all rural houseless households and those living in dilapidated and kutcha houses. Using government data, this brief reports on trends in PMAY-G along the following parameters: Allocations and cost estimates; Releases and expenditures ; Beneficiary selection and target setting ; Target completion and physical progress of house construction ; Payments to Beneficiaries.
- Topic:
- Government, Poverty, Budget, and Rural
- Political Geography:
- South Asia, India, and Asia
28. Comments on the Proposed Amendments to the Electricity Act 2003
- Author:
- Ashwini K. Swain, Parth Bhatia, and Navroz K. Dubash
- Publication Date:
- 11-2018
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Centre for Policy Research, India
- Abstract:
- The proposed amendments to the Electricity Act 2003, released on 7th September 2018, are most critical among the set of planned reforms in the power sector. With significant changes, it seeks to provide an enabling framework for transformations in electricity market, pricing reforms, regulatory oversight, quality of supply and energy security. While we appreciate the endeavours and intent, in our comments we focus on some serious concerns the draft raises, vital gaps and issues that need serious consideration. These comments have been drafted based on an internal discussion at the Centre for Policy Research, and should not be considered an institutional position, as CPR does not take institutional positions on issues. Rather, these comments reflect the result of internal deliberations, aimed at understanding and reflecting on the draft amendments, with the aim of constructive feedback to the Ministry of Power.
- Topic:
- Security, Energy Policy, Government, Social Policy, and Legislation
- Political Geography:
- South Asia, India, and Asia
29. Demystifying the Indian Smart City: An Empirical Reading of the Smart Cities Mission
- Author:
- Persis Taraporevala
- Publication Date:
- 08-2018
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Centre for Policy Research, India
- Abstract:
- The newly elected federal Government of India (GoI) launched the Smart Cities Mission (SCM) in 2015 with the stated purpose of improving the governance and infrastructural deficiencies that plague Indian cities. Missing, however, in the pageantry of the new programme is a cohesive understanding of a smart city. While the government documentation repeatedly implies infinite liberty for cities to self-define their understanding of ‘smartness’, the actions demonstrate that there is a larger idea of ‘smartness’ that the federal government seeks to implement. It is at this disjunction, between the rhetoric and practice of the Mission, that this paper finds its core research question – ‘What constitutes a smart city in India?’ Through a detailed reading of the government documentation of the top 99 cities, the paper argues that the there is a profound chasm between the professed objectives of the Mission and the strategies enacted to achieve these objectives.
- Topic:
- Development, Government, Infrastructure, Social Policy, and Urban
- Political Geography:
- South Asia, India, and Asia
30. The Election in Karnataka: Caste, Class, and Regional Complexity
- Author:
- Pranav Kuttaiah and Neelanjan Sircar
- Publication Date:
- 05-2018
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Centre for Policy Research, India
- Abstract:
- Pranav Kuttaiah and Neelanjan Sircar discuss the complexities of the Karnataka election before vote counting the following day.
- Topic:
- Government, Elections, Ethnicity, Class, and Caste
- Political Geography:
- South Asia, India, Asia, and Karnataka