UPSC Editorial Analysis: Eco-precariat struggles in unliveable cities
Kartavya Desk Staff
*General Studies-1; Topic: **Urbanization, their problems and their remedies.*
Introduction
• Bengaluru, once celebrated for its temperate climate, has witnessed a dramatic transformation in recent years.
• Extreme heatwaves followed by torrential rains have disrupted its urban ecosystem, disproportionately impacting the city’s most vulnerable groups, such as gig workers and street vendors.
Bengaluru’s Changing Climatic Profile
• Extreme Weather Events: Bengaluru’s summer heatwaves have reached record temperatures, causing health risks and reduced productivity. Torrential rains have led to flooding, especially in poorly planned urban areas, disrupting transportation and economic activities.
• Bengaluru’s summer heatwaves have reached record temperatures, causing health risks and reduced productivity.
• Torrential rains have led to flooding, especially in poorly planned urban areas, disrupting transportation and economic activities.
• Urban Heat Island Effect: Rapid urbanization has intensified the heat island effect, with concrete structures and asphalt absorbing more heat than natural landscapes.
• Rapid urbanization has intensified the heat island effect, with concrete structures and asphalt absorbing more heat than natural landscapes.
• Erratic Weather Patterns: Sudden transitions between extreme heat and heavy rainfall exacerbate vulnerabilities for communities dependent on outdoor work.
• Sudden transitions between extreme heat and heavy rainfall exacerbate vulnerabilities for communities dependent on outdoor work.
Socio-Economic Vulnerabilities
• Gig Workers
• Disruption of Work:
• Gig workers, such as delivery personnel, face blocked access to platforms due to absences during extreme weather. Prolonged exposure to heatwaves or floods compromises their health and earning potential.
• Gig workers, such as delivery personnel, face blocked access to platforms due to absences during extreme weather. Prolonged exposure to heatwaves or floods compromises their health and earning potential.
• Gig workers, such as delivery personnel, face blocked access to platforms due to absences during extreme weather.
• Prolonged exposure to heatwaves or floods compromises their health and earning potential.
• Street Vendors
• Exposure to Climatic Hazards: Heatwaves, waterlogging, and pollution reduce their working hours and damage perishable goods, leading to significant income loss.
• Legislative Gaps: The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, does not address climate-related vulnerabilities.
• Eco-Precariat Workers
• Definition: Eco-precariat workers are those in environmentally exposed jobs with low pay, no job security, and inadequate benefits.
• Vicious Cycle of Poverty: Loss of income due to extreme weather plunges families into cyclical poverty, exacerbating socio-economic inequities.
The Need for Inclusive Urban Planning
• Reimagining Cities as Habitats
• Move away from viewing cities as economic centers focused on capital gains.
• Prioritize social well-being by integrating resilience, community development, and equity in urban planning.
• Ensure liveability through:
• Climate-adaptive infrastructure, such as flood-resilient drainage systems.
• Urban greenery to mitigate the urban heat island effect.
• Public transportation systems designed for climate extremes.
Innovative Solutions for Building Climate Resilience
• Micro-Insurance for Eco-Precariat Workers
• Implement micro-insurance for gig workers and street vendors to compensate for income losses during extreme weather events.
• Case Study: Gujarat’s Extreme Heat Income Micro-Insurance Program Mechanism: Compensation triggered by algorithms based on satellite-recorded temperatures.
• Mechanism: Compensation triggered by algorithms based on satellite-recorded temperatures.
• Financial Innovations
• Heat Cess: Imposing a cess on high-emission industries can generate revenue for climate resilience programs.
• Climate Risk Funds: Create a dedicated fund to provide emergency relief for vulnerable groups during climatic disasters.
• Strengthening Existing Frameworks
• Amend the Street Vendors Act, 2014, to integrate climate risk assessments and mitigation strategies.
Way Forward
• Collaboration and Community Participation Foster partnerships between government, NGOs, and private stakeholders for integrated climate resilience planning. Encourage the participation of workers in policy formulation to address their specific needs.
• Foster partnerships between government, NGOs, and private stakeholders for integrated climate resilience planning.
• Encourage the participation of workers in policy formulation to address their specific needs.
• Legal and Policy Interventions
• Enact climate legislation under Entry 23 of the Concurrent List to classify eco-precariat workers as climate-vulnerable and ensure targeted protections.
• Develop policies emphasizing equitable urban development and social justice.
• Financial Sustainability of Compensation Models: Frequent payouts during escalating climate disasters may strain state resources. Augment revenue through diversified taxes or private-sector contributions.
• Frequent payouts during escalating climate disasters may strain state resources.
• Augment revenue through diversified taxes or private-sector contributions.
• Pre-emptive Strategies: Strengthen early warning systems for extreme weather. Develop alternative employment opportunities during periods of climatic disruptions.
• Strengthen early warning systems for extreme weather.
• Develop alternative employment opportunities during periods of climatic disruptions.
Conclusion
• By integrating climate adaptation into urban planning and focusing on social equity, Bengaluru can serve as a model for other cities grappling with the dual crises of climate change and urban vulnerability.
• The need of the hour is a unified approach that balances economic growth with ecological and human well-being.
Practice Question:
Urbanization has exacerbated socio-economic vulnerabilities among marginalized communities like gig workers and street vendors. Examine the challenges faced by these groups due to erratic weather patterns and propose remedies to address these issues. (250 words)