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POLICY REVIEW
spaces created through informal economic class and gender? By caring for the elderly etc. Hence,
processes has led to unsafe taking example of footpath as a they use private spaces much
situations at times.
Public Space is a space, which is
supposed to be used equitably
by all including physically
challenged, people belonging to
different kind of communities
i.e. LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-
sexual and Transgender) and
different kind of challenges
faced by persons of different age
groups especially children and
old age persons. Hence, public
spaces shall help in creating safe
and resilient cities within a
region. The role of planners is
important to ensure an equitable
and justifiable society where
spaces are created to be usable
by all and not exclusively by a
privileged few. All includes
people from all sections of
society in terms of caste,
whether it shall be considered as
reserved classes i.e. Open
General (OG), Schedule Caste
(SC), Schedule Tribe (ST), Other
Backward Class (OBC);
economic classes i.e. Vaishyas,
Shudras, Brahmins and
Kshatriya; income groups
classified as High Income
Groups (HIG), Middle Income
Groups (MIG), Lower Income
Groups (LIG) or Economically
Weaker Section (EWS) or Gender
classes i.e. Male or Female. Is it
important to begin with one
category and go in hierarchy in
descending category so as not to
offend anyone or neutrality shall
be exercised for social class,
52 HUDCO-HSMI Publication
public space, this paper tries to more than public spaces. Males
understand effective utilization are involved in productive
of spaces through study of activities and use public spaces
gender, government policies and more than females to carry out
usage of footpath as a public their social and economic
space. responsibilities (Grundstorm
LITERATURE REVIEW 2005). During planning of
Gender Neutrality and footpaths, gender characteristics
Optimisation of Public Spaces are often ignored. Public spaces
need to be designed in such a
Public spaces entail equal access way that they are safe and
to all the people living in cities. inclusive towards women. Due
During planning of public to safety concerns, many women
spaces, the relation between prefer private public spaces i.e.
gender and their respective public spaces with restriction on
activities is either neglected or entry such as malls etc.
given very li le a ention. Although the economic
Whether female need of public restriction imposed on such
spaces is more than male's is public spaces can lead to
difficult to prove; however, it exclusivity but such restrictions
can be safely said that women can eliminate perceived threats
occupy these spaces for (Munshi 2014).
collective interaction more than
Footpath as a Public Space
males. The safety for women has
Footpath- a part of road, is
been more viewed as safety
considered as a public space. It is
against physical assault whereas
as significant as the constructed
for women's safety safe spaces
road, which accommodates
need to be a ma er of concern
transportation by vehicles
for urban planners and city
(Srilertchaipanij 2014). It is a
managers (Nair 2014). Public
basic requirement to connect
space management needs to gain
pedestrians from one destination
a centrality position in public
to another. The fundamental role
discourses (Carmona, Magalhaes
of footpath space is, therefore, to
and Hammond 2008). Public
facilitate the pedestrians'
spaces are designed for neutral
commuting activities by foot
users. The division of labour
(Neal 2010). However, footpath
between men and women results
is also used for many other
into different use of public and
formal (public) facilities such as
private spaces. Females are
electrical poles, provision of R.O.
mainly engaged in domestic
water, sanitation,
activities such as childcare,
telecommunication facilities, bus