Page 38 - Shelter - April 2025
P. 38
POLICY REVIEW
labour chowks and care such as social welfare hubs, when workers are away. This
centres for informal sector community canteens (e.g., would require visualising
workers, currently absent, Amma Canteen, Indira social infrastructure from a
could be good starting points. Canteen), public sanitation comprehensive and holistic
facilities, and community viewpoint.
However, to ensure that social
infrastructure is optimally toilets—is vital for creating 4. Convergence in Service
positioned to serve local a more coordinated and delivery & Operations
communities, it is essential efficient system. For example, Sustaining the success of
to identify key areas that a labour chowk could be social infrastructure requires
maximize both accessibility strategically placed near effective and consistent
and impact. Success depends public toilets and community operations, maintenance,
on a thorough understanding kitchens, improving access for and service delivery
of the specific infrastructure informal workers to critical mechanisms. These can be
required and a strategic services and facilities. This enhanced by leveraging
would enhance the utility of
selection of its location, community potential and
based on a comprehensive existing infrastructure and strengthening existing safety
improve the overall well-
evaluation of the local being of the workforce. Such nets. For example, local self-
context. This includes help groups, community
assessing demographic, hub and spoke approach interest groups, and area-
would optimise the use of
socio-economic, and cultural level federations can actively
characteristics, as well as existing investments and participate in the management
infrastructure.
existing infrastructure, local and upkeep of these facilities.
needs, and potential for future 3. Coordinated Infrastructure Moreover, aligning these
growth. Delivery projects with central and state
However, the lack of Maximising the efficient government schemes and
standards and guidelines use of land and developing exploring Corporate Social
to identify the location social infrastructure in an Responsibility (CSR) funding
and distribution of social integrated manner is crucial. can ensure the sustainability
infrastructure hinders the Infrastructure should be of operations. To further
ability of local governments designed to serve multiple improve service delivery,
to take these factors into functions and purposes, user feedback systems should
account. Such demand-based either by utilising the space be implemented to make
planning could be achieved at different times or by responsive adjustments based
by adopting a participatory allocating specific floor areas on the evolving needs of the
approach through involving for different uses. For instance, community.
the local communities and a public toilet, community Way Forward
informal worker groups, and learning centre and social
through the use of digital welfare hub could be located Prioritising social
technologies. on different floors of the same infrastructure is a reliable
building. Additionally, a large pathway for cities to become
2. Capitalize on Existing hall and play area in a labour inclusive and equitable. This
Infrastructure
chowk, designed with an calls for urban stakeholders
Revitalizing and reimagining open layout, could function to keep an additional 3-Cs -
the use of existing social and as a day care centre for Community, Creativity and
community infrastructure— children during the daytime Collaboration - at the heart
36 HUDCO-HSMI Publication
