The outbreak has exposed some of the inherent problems in implementing the UN’s goals, especially SDG 11 pertaining to sustainable cities
The pandemic has laid bare and amplified urban vulnerabilities requiring a review of the very concept of sustainable cities as enshrined in the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)-11. The 17 SDGs originally set up by the United Nations (UN) in 2015 provided a blueprint for the world to achieve a better and sustainable future. They were able to develop and also stay current largely due to the efforts of think tanks and working groups, who realised that the millennium development goals focussed mostly on numbers and ensured that the SDGs and their relevance evolved fast. But nothing could have prepared the world for the devastating impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. Hence, it has become critical to redefine the SDGs and execute them in the background of the new normal conditions prevailing in the world. Currently it is vital to ensure that the progress made so far and the groundwork done towards achieving SDGs are not wasted. Considering the true scale of the economic and social crisis unleashed by the virus, it must be realised that the world is now more pressed than ever before for natural as well as financial resources. The drain on financial resources is mainly in the form of stimulus packages to bail out ailing economies and rapid investment on drug and vaccine research. With nearly 50 per cent of the global workforce under the threat of unemployment and poverty levels poised to hit the highest point in the last 30 years, the concept of sustainability in every walk of life has become very important. This in turn, needs to be guided by a much sharper plan of SDGs that ensures optimum utilisation of resources. The prevalent conditions have also opened up other weaker and traditionally troublesome areas for humanity. For instance, malaria mortality levels have suddenly spiked and threaten to revert to those of 20 years ago. On the social front, increased violence against women/girls/children due to virus-necessitated lockdowns has become a matter of concern globally. It has spurred the UN and the World Health Organisation to initiate urgent studies to gauge the depth of the malaise. The problem of domestic violence is, in fact, being termed as a shadow pandemic, with the number of victims suddenly increasing to hundreds of millions worldwide. The Coronavirus has exposed the hidden fault lines in society and proved that decades of work by developmental agencies has not solved the same. The current times are serving as a harsh but much-needed reality check and this must help shape the SDGs of the future. The UN considers the SDGs a “clear compass” that can help the world recover, with focus on stemming the impact of the pandemic. They will also help governments and people build a better and resilient future as they recover. The UN estimates that developing nations with humongous populations will be hard-pressed to handle the crisis and India seems to be at the epicentre.
According to a recent report by the National Commission on Population, India will comprise nearly 40 per cent urban dwellers by 2036 along with 57 per cent increment in the population. This cannot be good news considering the fact that populous cities directly mean higher risk of diseases and infections. This is reflected in a UN report on COVID-19 which observes that 90 per cent of the cases in India are reported from cities and urban sprawls. The problems that challenge SDG 11 are the complexities arising out of the issue of population in India. The more the cities are crammed with people, the more sanitation and hygiene standards are seen to be falling. The 2011 Census showed that 66 million Indians lived in slums which was 5.4 per cent of the population and 17.4 per cent of the urban population. This density means that basic amenities such as access to water and toilets are a luxury in many households across urban India. This very aspect tends to trip SDG 11 which aims for healthy citizens living in safe and affordable housing. Riding on this overcrowding of urban living spaces, the concept of social distancing has become a nightmare to implement. One can understand the gravity of the situation by referring to the National Family Health Survey, 2016, which estimated that 42 per cent of Indian urban households have more than three people sharing one room.
The outbreak has exposed some of the inherent problems in implementing SDGs, especially SDG 11. India particularly can see the lopsided urban growth and planning and how the same is now making it difficult in handling the crisis at hand. Urgent action needs to be taken to redefine SDG11 in urban India’s context. As a part of the same, compact settlements at the fringe of urban population hotspots must be encouraged to take the “rush” out of cities. In order to build these compact communities, the Government must improve connectivity, infrastructure, employment, water bodies and water supply besides bolstering natural resources in specific areas. Navi Mumbai is a fine example of this and must be emulated nationally. India has the potential and already established examples that can help redefine SDGs in response to the current crisis. This can help India to respond better to the virus and enable it to rebuild society and the economy in a robust and resilient manner.
(The writer is an environmental journalist)
