SMILE for Smart Cities: Making Urban
Governance Inclusive in India
Gurram Ashok* and D. Veerababu**
T
his note critically engages with the urban life and policy in the idea of
Smart cities in India. The Government of India launched SMILE
(Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise),
in 2021, for addressing the needs of the marginalised sections such as
transgender community and people engaged in begging in the Indian cities.
As India has been aspiring for creating world class Smart cities, it is highly
desirable to have SMILE as an integral part of the (smart) urban governance
of the Smart cities. This initiative will make urban governance more inclusive
and serve the purpose of social justice by making such marginalised
communities skilled and employable for digital jobs and IT industry. The net
result of such efforts will be high levels of liveability in the Smart cities with
low levels of poverty and hunger in the country.
India started witnessing a notable urbanisation process that “the National
Commission on Population (NCP) in India predicts that in the next 15 years,
about 38.6 per cent of Indians (600 million) will live in urban areas. The UN,
too, highlights that India’s urban population size will nearly double between
2018 and 2050, from 461 to 877 million” (Aijaz, 2021). The similar demographic
trend was observed by Sridhar (2020). Urbanisation is also historically
recognised as the indicator of civilisational progress. So, the cities and towns
require a different governing mechanism which is known as “urban
governance”. The idea of urban governance refers to the institutional
processes involving the government mechanisms and their delivery systems
in towns and cities (Raco, 2020). The “spatial expansion of urban population”
* Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, GSHS, GITAM Deemed
University, Hyderabad, Telangana, India. Email: gashok529@gmail.com;
agurram3@gitam.edu
** Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, School of Social Sciences,
University of Hyderabad, Prof. C.R. Rao Road, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, Telangana,
India. Email: veerababu.hcu@uohyd.ac.in
SMILE for Smart Cities: Making Urban Governance Inclusive in India 137
also poses a great challenge to the urban governance in India. Mathur (1994,
1995) points out the increasing poverty and deprivation of people in the
Indian cities in the context of globalisation.
Further, Ahluwalia (2019) argues that an “anti-urban bias in the political
regime” which favours the ‘rural sector’ is one of the major reasons for
ineffective governance in the urban areas in India. Singh (2020) also brings out
the issues in the financial mobilisation in urban planning and development in
Indian municipal administration.
However, there is a paradigm shift in even India’s development planning
after liberalisation of Indian economy in 1990s. The Government of India not
only recognised the need for urban planning, urban governance and
sustainable development in the populated (mega) cities in India, it also
adopted the concept of smart city to alleviate many urban ills facing the
country (Smith et al. 2019) Moreover, the term, smart city, incorporates
elements of sustainability and social inclusion, at the same time suits to the
evolution of new technologies (Deakin, 2012 cited in Eremia et al., 2017: 14).
Thus, the “Smart Cities Mission” was launched in 2015, replacing the existing
scheme, Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewable Mission (JNNURM),
under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
It is observed that: “India’s cities face massive challenges and
opportunities as high urbanisation rates swell in large urban centres. Housing,
transportation, water availability, sewer treatment, solid waste disposal and
energy production are but a few of the plethora of issues that need to be
addressed throughout urban India. The Smart Cities Mission is a programme
established by the GOI that attempts to tackle these issues” (Smith et al., 2019).
Thus, the “Smart Cities Mission” is perceived to be a game-changer in the
urban development discourse and governance mechanism as the technocratic
interventions such as ICT (Information Communication Technologies), IoT
(Internet of Things), digital infrastructure, and smart healthcare, provide
better job opportunities in a sustainable manner. da Cruz et al. (2019) argue
for the participatory approach for urban governance which will be inclusive
from its ’planning’, to budgeting’, to implementation’ in the new governance
in the cities.
138 NAGARLOK, Vol. 55, Issue 1, January-March, 2023
SMILE IN SMART CITIES WITH INCLUSIVE URBAN
GOVERNANCE
Social justice cannot be achieved without reaching out to the last man in the
society. Many downtrodden, poor, destitute, and socially marginalised people
live on the extreme margins of the society. They are mostly engaged in
begging. According to 2011 Census, “there are 4,13,670 beggars and vagrants
in the country…it is prevalent in seven cities namely Delhi, Bangalore,
Hyderabad, Indore, Lucknow, Nagpur and Patna” (PIB, 2021). Though
Bombay Prevention Act of Begging, 1959 was extended to metro cities like
Delhi in tackling the problem, this issue has not been addressed effectively
through a policy intervention. In addressing such a most neglected issue,
Government of India, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment launched the
“SMILE (Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and
Enterprise)” scheme on February 12, 2022. The Government of India has
allocated Rs. 365 crores for the scheme from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
Figure 1: SMILE Scheme logo
Source: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.
On the occasion of launching the scheme, Minister for Social Justice and
Empowerment, Virendra Kumar said, “As a progressive and developing
society, it is our duty to respect the identity and dignity of all sections of
SMILE for Smart Cities: Making Urban Governance Inclusive in India 139
society. The Ministry has ensured that each and every need of transgender
community and persons engaged in the act of begging are taken care of, in a
most professional way” (ET Government, 2022). It is noted that “this
scheme will be implemented with the support of State/Union Territories
governments/local bodies, voluntary organisations, CBOs (Community-
based Organisations, institutions and others” (PIB, 2021). Thus, the urban
governance can be made inclusive in its functioning in the Indian cities. It is
in the interest of the social justice that the Indian Constitution promises in its
Part-IV of Directive Principles of State Policy. The welfare of the people is
given primacy in its governance of the people.
TARGET BENEFICIARIES
The SMILE is an umbrella scheme which aims to provide welfare and
rehabilitation to the transgender community and the people engaged in the
act of begging. These sections are most vulnerable and do not find place in
planning and developmental discourse as they do not constitute any electoral
vote bank. Subsequently, they could not negotiate with the political parties for
their welfare in rehabilitation as well. But, the Government of India has not
only recognised the issues they face but also has come up with a
comprehensive programme to address their development. This policy
reversed the earlier view of treating begging as a criminal act under Bombay
Prevention Act of Begging 1959. Indeed, Supreme Court of India has also
agreed to examine the decriminalising the begging for a PIL filed by H.K
Chaturvedi (The Hindu, 2021). In such a context, the SMILE invokes the right
to life under Article 21 of Indian Constitution. As the urban governance is an
important element in addressing this issue, the Government of India is also
maneuvering with the state governments and local bodies in its
implementation.
ASPECTS COVERED UNDER SMILE
The SMILE (Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and
Enterprise) scheme has subcomponents. First one, “Central Sector Scheme for
Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons” and
second one, “Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of
those engaged in the act of begging”. These two schemes aim at bringing
140 NAGARLOK, Vol. 55, Issue 1, January-March, 2023
dignity of life and minimum source of livelihood. This scheme has a multi-
pronged approach in addressing the livelihood and empowerment of the
marginalised in the urban areas in India.
EDUCATION
This scheme also considers the educational aspects of these vulnerable
sections. It enables students from transgender community to pursue higher
education upto post-graduation by offering scholarships from IX class level
onwards itself. Williamson (2015) advocated for smart education by
technological experts, in the smart cities. This would develop young people
as active, smart citizens (Williamson, 2015) with required technical skills for
future digital jobs and IT (Information Technology) industry in the country.
HEALTH
It provides the “Composite Medical Health” which is a comprehensive
package under PM-JAY (Pradhan Mantri-Jan Arogya Yojana) which is also
known as Ayushman Bharat. The transgender people can get their “Gender-
Reaffirmation” surgeries at designated/selected hospitals in the country. It is
highly desirable to connect these hospitals with the smart healthcare system
because the healthy population can be a great source of development in the
Smart cities in India. Ristvej et al. (2020) argue for making “smart city” as the
“safe city” by providing a smart healthcare system to its residents. It amounts
to say that the Smart city should be able to provide a quality healthcare at
affordable prices and improving the accessibility to healthcare in the rising
number of smart cities in India. SMILE scheme can be a stepping stone in
turning Smart cities into safe cities in India.
SKILL DEVELOPMENT
The SMILE scheme also recognises the need for upgrading and updating the
people’s skills. Government of India enables this scheme to use PM-DAKSH
(Pradhan Mantri-Dakshata Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi) Yojana to provide
Skill Development and Livelihood for targeted group. Maximum of Rs. 6000
training incentive will be provided to each trainee by Ministry of Social Justice
and Empowerment (MoSJE) and Ministry of Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship (MSDE) mutually. Most of urban areas, especially the Smart
SMILE for Smart Cities: Making Urban Governance Inclusive in India 141
cities require the skilled forces for various services such as electronic, digital,
and other infrastructural sectors. With such initiative, the Smart cities can also
be employable and liveable for the urban people as well.
HOUSING
Most of these transgender and other marginalised people engaged in begging,
suffer a lot due to lack of housing in the cities and towns. SMILE provides the
facilities such as clothing, housing and food in the form of “Garima Greh” for
all those identified in the urban areas. This will stabilise their lives and fulfil
their basic necessities. This scheme also provides employment opportunities,
and recreational activities as well. The homeless people will be benefited from
this initiative and they can be integrated with mainstream society.
PROTECTIVE MEASURES
This Scheme also has a provision of “Protection Cell” for the transgender
community. This Cell will be institutionalised in each state and Union
Territory to monitor the “cases of offences against the transgender community
for timely registration and prosecution of offences” (PIB, 2021). This
“Protection Cell” needs to be connected with smart policing and digital
surveillance (CCTV cameras throughout the Smart cities) to prevent the
crimes against transgender community and people engaged in the act of
begging. This will also protect them from harassment and social stigma in the
urban life. Further, creating a National Portal & Helpline under this scheme
will ensure in proving all the essential information service and solutions to
those vulnerable groups. As Smart cities mission is survived on ICTs,
integrating such “National Portal & Helpline” with e-Governance will enable
the participatory urban governance in the Indian cities as well. The people
engaged in begging can also have similar protective measures in escaping the
unsolicited violence in the urban areas.
Hong et al., (2022) argue that the use of ‘big data’ for scientific urban
management in the smart cities can revolutionise the services in the
governance as well. Swist & Magee (2019) also emphasise on the altruism in
urban services rendered by big tech companies such as Google, Facebook, and
Microsoft in the metro cities. This can be achieved by integrating SMILE’s
142 NAGARLOK, Vol. 55, Issue 1, January-March, 2023
“National Portal and Helpline services” with big data networks in the Indian
Smart cities as well.
REHABILITATION AND RESETTLEMENT
SMILE also undertakes the survey and identification of the persons involved
and survived by the act of begging. In a major step towards social inclusion,
the scheme aims at rescuing people trapped in the begging and mobilising
them to leave such life. Both Central and state government agencies arrange
the Shelter Homes for the rescued people for further comprehensive
resettlement. The urban governance has a vital role to play in implementation
of the SMILE scheme in Indian cities.
Lee et al., (2022) give the account of a transaction of smart city towards an
inclusive development in the countries such as USA, South Korea,
Netherlands, and Vietnam. The “co-production of place” such as service
delivery, freedom to move, read, and social interactions also happens via
socio-technical practices of visualisation, lived experience, and imagination
(Forlano, 2013 cited in Swist & Magee. In such a scenario, the transgender
community and people survived on begging. Malik & Roy (2012) argue that
there is a need for counselling the people engaged in begging and instill the
self-esteem and a sense of self-respect in them so that they can come out of
their psychological depression and visualise a better society for themselves. It
was observed that smart cities have potential for sustainable and inclusive
development:
“Overall, smart city transitions represent a socio-cultural and
organisational process, through which varied urban actors collaboratively
engage in solving urban problems with the support of information and
technology. Building an integrated platform, smart city transitions contribute
to facilitating opportunities for making cities more inclusive and resilient”
(Repette et al., 2021 cited in Lee et al., 2022).
The above view infers that the smart cities provide the scope for greater
collaboration for effective participation in the governance process and
developmental activities with the help of technologies such as e-governance,
ICT, and data analytics in the growing urbanisation in India. The technology
can promise efficient and effective options that will enable cities to become
more ’inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable” as required by the UN
standards (Allam & Newman, 2018). In addition, SMILE has the potential to
offer skill development and employment opportunities to the marginalised
SMILE for Smart Cities: Making Urban Governance Inclusive in India 143
sections in the Smart cities. Further, socio-economic transformation of a city
requires a smart governance. In conceptualising, “smart governance is just the
governance of a smart city: smart governance is about making the right policy
choices and implementing these in an effective and efficient manner” (Meijer
& Bolívar, 2016).
Thus, the urban policy and urban governance can transform the socio-
cultural and economic landscape of the smart cities in India. This initiative
also sends a message that the political commitment for reduction of urban
poverty and hunger is taking momentum in the country. Such endeavour
reflects Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of Sarvodaya (upliftment of all) that prospers
with peace and social harmony in the country.
CONCLUSION
It is imperative for Indian society to march for urbanisation in the pursuit of
development. But this urbanisation process should be humane by making the
urban governance more inclusive for a sustainable development. Smart Cities
Mission is one such initiative to address the urban issues in India. However,
it is SMILE scheme which should be made as an integral part of Smart City
governance in order to eliminate poverty and hunger from the society.
Especially, the poor and marginalised people from transgender community
and begging activity are highly neglected though their livelihood is a socio-
economic problem in the society. Increasing technocratic interventions
through ICTs, Digital infrastructure, and IoT can offer smart solutions to such
a problem. By making them skilled and employable, the Indian cities not only
become liveable but also contribute to the Indian economy in all possible
ways. Thus, the Smart cities enable the marginalised to access the health,
education, housing, food and clothing at affordable prices by having smart
urban governance. Such an inclusive urban governance will help us to become
a better society that people like Mahatma Gandhi envisioned where the least
advantaged can reap the fruits of the development process.
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