Public Policy – Page 2 – NICKELED AND DIMED

Glocalization of Slum Housing Policy in India: Inspiration from The Brazil Favela-Bairro Program

By – Ayushmaan Abstract This article examines the limited efficacy of India’s current Slum Housing policy – PM Awas Yojana Urban, despite receiving a significant and increased budget every 5 years. The centralised decision-making framework of the policy hinders implementation at the lowest level, affecting the beneficiaries in return, resulting in a lower use value…
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Biometric Schooling: Are We Normalising Surveillance for an Entire Generation?

By – Ann George Abstract As biometric technologies become increasingly embedded in educational settings, from facial recognition for attendance to emotion-detecting AI, the school is no longer just a site of learning but one of surveillance. This article critically examines the growing normalisation of biometric surveillance in schools and its psychological, behavioural, and legal implications…
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The Broke Generation: Why Gen Z’s Economic Reality Is Nothing Like What Boomers Think

By – Ann George Abstract This paper challenges prevailing stereotypes that label Generation Z as “lazy” or “entitled” by exploring the distinct economic challenges they face in contrast to previous generations. Factors such as soaring housing costs, stagnant wages, overwhelming student debt, and insecure labor markets, exacerbated by technological changes like AI, have created significant…
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Quiet Quitting the City: Should Public Policy Support Digital Nomadism?

By – Ann George Abstract Digital nomadism, a growing lifestyle enabled by advances in remote work and digital technology, is reshaping traditional notions of home, work, and mobility, particularly among younger generations such as Generation Z and Millennials. This paper explores the complexities of digital nomadism, highlighting its appeal alongside significant global inequalities rooted in…
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The Power of Being Counted: Caste Census and the Future of Indian Governance

By -Vansh Aggarwal Introduction: “Justice has always evoked ideas of equality… But equality requires the absence of special privileges.” – Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. For a country that often speaks of caste-based injustice, its governance remains oddly blind to the actual numbers that define its social landscape. The last comprehensive caste enumeration was conducted in 1931,…
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Who and what drives the Great Indian Public Transport

By – Anubhi Srivastava Abstract India’s public transport system stands at a crossroads. While public systems ensure affordability, they often suffer from inefficiency and poor service. Privatisation brings innovation but risks inequity and exclusion. Drawing from global models and domestic public-private partnerships, this paper argues for a hybrid and regulated approach that integrates equity, environmental…
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Beauty & The City: Beautification Drives in Indian Urban Spaces

In the guise of modernization and beauty, cities in India often undergo beautification campaigns that hide a more profound politics of exclusion. From flyovers painted with murals to sanitized lakefronts, these initiatives tend to hide the displacement of slums, the eviction of street vendors, and the criminalization of urban poverty. This paper critically analyses the…
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Reforming Waqf Governance: Striking a Balance Between Faith and Fairness

“Public policy is not about choosing between right and wrong but about navigating between competing rights.”
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Is Sagarmala Project India’s Maritime Revolution for Global Dominance

By Vansh Aggarwal Introduction: The Sagarmala Programme, launched by the Government of India in 2015, is a comprehensive initiative designed to harness the country’s extensive maritime resources for economic development. With a coastline spanning 7,517 kilometers and 14,500 kilometers of potentially navigable waterways, India is strategically positioned along key international maritime trade routes. Sagarmala aims…
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What does it mean to be a woman in Afghanistan: An analysis of the human rights crisis under the Taliban

Being born as a woman in today’s Afghanistan is tantamount to receiving a life sentence of profound misery under Taliban rule. This regime has systematically stripped women of fundamental rights, including access to work, education, and freedom of movement, essentially erasing their public presence. This piece briefly explores Afghanistan’s geo-political history, setting the context for…
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Policies for the ‘tiger-eaters’

Human-wildlife conflicts are rising in Kerala, often leading to tragic encounters like the recent tiger attack in Wayanad. This piece explores how quick-fix policies overlook deeper issues like habitat destruction and the risks faced by marginalized communities
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Influence of Language: Detrimental to Democracy?

In this paper, we will delve into the inimical impact of language’s influence on democracy. The paper revolves around the seminal work of George Orwell’s “Politics and English Language” in the political discourse of India and around. The study considers contemporary linguistic strategies used by state actors to gain political benefits. It further examines the…
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