Settlements and Transport

Human settlements with sustainability, equity, and fulfillment. Sustainable, equitable means including non-motorised and public transport

This features both rural and urban areas, and the search to make human settlements sustainable, equitable, and fulfilling places to live and work in. This includes: sustainable architecture, localized generation of basic infrastructural, water and energy needs, urban biodiversity conservation, waste/garbage minimisation and recycling, efficiency and frugality in the use of these basics, the defense and revival of common and open spaces, participatory budgeting and planning of settlements.

We would also like to include stories of sustainable, equitable means of transport that can be accessed by all and that do not create ecological and social problems as is the case with a focus on privatized motorized transport. Stories on the promotion of public transport, cycling, walking, human/animal powered and other forms of ecologically sustainable and equitable transportation, planning for equitable access, reclaiming the roads and parking lots for public use, and so on, are featured.

Expensive, elitist models that may be ecologically sustainable but are not relevant for most people, are likely to be avoided here.

Living bioregionally, now

One compelling idea being put forward is that of bioregional forms of governance, which start from the biophysical realities of ecosystems, which are particular and even unique to places.

What if we designed homes to stay cool?

Ways in which residential buildings can be made cooler – a set of techniques called ‘passive design’ because they do not require the expending of energy for cooling.

झारखंड में उम्मीद की लाइब्रेरी (in Hindi)

किताबों के साथ बच्चे एक-दूसरे से सीख रहे हैं, उनमें पढ़ने की रुचि बन रही है, यह एक ऐसा मंच भी है, पढ़ने के साथ किताबों पर बात भी कर सकते हैं

In Ahmednagar, residents of a slum design their own homes

"... Just asking the communities that they are building for, how is it that they imagine their home to look?”

The man who speaks with his heart

Nazar Bandhu, a native of Muvattupuzha, who leads the village of Chakla in West Bengal to self-sufficiency through Zero Foundation.

PMC’s rooftop organic terrace garden project inaugurated in Kalyani Nagar’s Joggers Park

Pune Municipal Corporation’s Vadgaon Sheri ward office took an initiative to develop a rooftop terrace garden at the local Joggers Park, with the involvement of local residents.

Car-free Shimla

Activating and transforming the civic sensibilities around the issue of keeping Shimla car-free, and thereby, empowered the arguments favouring the car-free policy in the court.

Punekars Are Keen On Reducing Air Pollution In The City Through Sustainable Mobility

“Our survey is a good indicator that people are willing to switch to walking cycling and riding a bus; all they want is robust, reliable and people-friendly infrastructure."

Towards making Pune a no-waste city

The small steps taken in the form of individual projects can readily scale up to cover neighbourhoods across multiple cities