Reflections on 21st Century Human Habitats in India: Felicitation Volume in Honour of Professor M. H. Qureshi (Advances in 21st Century Human Settlements)

This book highlights various dimensions of human habitats in 21st Century India. The human habitats in the country are marked by perceptible inequality in social and economic spheres. This is occurring in tandem with rapid socio-economic transformation across both rural and urban landscapes. There is a plurality of transformative characteristics in terms of social and economic classes, gender and space. Inequality in access to natural resources such as land and water is still a big factor in socio-economic differentiation in rural habitats. This constructs a pedestal of unequal opportunities and access to basic human necessities such as healthcare, education, potable water and sanitation. Human habitats experiencing socio-spatial segregation and exclusion based on caste, community and gender are detrimental in formation of a civil society and its sustainability in long terms. The ideal situation for this would be formation of an inclusive society that celebrates age old socio-cultural diversities, reduces inequalities and reveres composite culture. Series Editor’s Foreword Preface List of Reviewers Contents Editors and Contributors Abbreviations List of Figures List of Tables Overview Introduction: Environmental and Socio-economic Dimensions of Human Habitats in India 1 Introduction 2 Changing Livelihood-Environment Nexus 2.1 Natural Resource Based Livelihood 2.2 Climate Change and Livelihoods 2.3 Common Property Resources and Rural Livelihoods 3 Post-Reforms Economic Growth and Regional Disparities 3.1 Impacts of Economic Restructuring 3.2 Imbalanced Regional Development 3.3 Urban-Industrial Expansion and Agricultural Land-Use 4 Socio-spatial Inequalities 4.1 Performance on Poverty and Hunger Reduction 4.2 Performance of Health Parameters 4.3 Performance on Educational Development 5 Structure of the Book 6 Epilogue References Journey in the Realm of Geography 1 Prelude 2 Sultanpur Town: Geo-historical Reflections 3 Learning Geography at Higher Education Level 4 Post-independence Period of Transition 5 Commencement of Teaching Career at St. John’s College Agra 6 The University Teaching and Landscape of Jodhpur 6.1 My Doctoral Thesis 6.2 Connecting with Rural Society Through NSS 7 Academic Discourse at JNU 7.1 Developing New and Forward-Looking Interdisciplinary Courses 7.2 Research Guidance 7.3 Understanding the Folk Regions 8 Academic Assignment at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia 8.1 Salient Features of Ethiopian Geography 8.2 Historical Events and Culture 8.3 Academic Assignment in Addis Ababa University 8.4 Cherishing the Memories of Ethiopia 9 A Brief Sojourn to Bremen University, Germany 10 Learning and Teaching Through Field Surveys 10.1 Socio-economic Surveys 10.2 Physical Surveys 11 Development of School Curricula and Textbooks 12 Academic Honors References Environment, Resource Base and Livelihood Livelihood Adaptation to Climate Variability in Jaunsar-Bawar Tribal Habitat of Central Himalayas, India 1 Introduction 1.1 Climate Change Impacts in Central Himalayas 1.2 Objectives and Scope of Study 1.3 Data Base and Methodology 1.4 Socio-economic Profile of Sample Villages 2 Trends of Climatic Variations 3 Perception of Climate Change 4 Adaptation Strategies by Local Community 4.1 Adaptive Measures in Agriculture 5 Concluding Remarks References Scarcity of Common Property Resources and Spatiality of Women’s Livelihood in Rural India 1 Introduction 2 Scope and Data Base of the Study 2.1 Objectives and Research Questions 2.2 Study Framework, Data Base and Limitations 3 Contextualizing Women’s Unpaid Domestic Work in the Larger Work Arena 4 Characteristics of Unpaid Domestic and Extra Domestic Duties for the Households: CPR Versus Non-CPR Related Works 5 CPR Scarcity and Emerging Spatialities and Trends of CPR-Dependent Work 5.1 Regions Categorized by CPR Status 5.2 Spatiality of Spread of CPR Use 5.3 Spatiality and Trends of Depth of CPR Use 6 Exclusions or Forced Withdrawal: Emerging Exclusivity in CPR Use Across Regions 7 Concluding Remarks References Inequalities in Access to Groundwater for Irrigation in An Agriculturally Developed Region of India 1 Introduction 1.1 Scope of the Study 1.2 Study Area 2 Data Base and Methodology 2.1 Sample Design 2.2 Computation of Indices 3 Measures of Groundwater Access 3.1 Physical Accessibility of Groundwater 3.2 Cost of Groundwater Extraction 3.3 Economic Accessibility of Groundwater 4 Factors in Accessibility of Groundwater 4.1 Depth to Water Level 4.2 Cost of Irrigation 4.3 Size of Landholdings 4.4 Land Fragmentation 4.5 Determinants of Physical Accessibility 4.6 Determinants of Economic Accessibility 5 Conclusion and Policy Implications References Crisis of Water and Water in Crisis: Some Reflections from India 1 Introduction 2 Crisis of Water 3 Water in Crisis 4 Factor Inducing Water Crisis 4.1 Population Growth 4.2 Water Intensive Agriculture 4.3 Human Induced Water Pollution 4.4 Climate Change 4.5 Overexploitation of Groundwater Resources 5 Corrective Measures 5.1 Water Management: Collaboration of Past Practices and Present Skills 5.2 Agriculture: Using Efficient Irrigation Technologies and Diversify Cropping Pattern 5.3 Role of Water Governance 5.4 Raising Awareness About Water Conservation Among People 5.5 Climate Change: Pay Attention to the Experts in the Field 6 Concluding Remarks References Economic Development and Regional Disparities Socio-cultural Spaces and Dynamics of Transformation in Rural India 1 Introduction 2 Case 1: Co-production of Rural Power Structure and Access to Water 2.1 Socio-Ecological Contours of Water Availability and Accessibility 2.2 Decentralization and Democratization of Water Governance 3 Case 2: Khaps and Modernity—Survival Strategies 3.1 Adaptation of Khaps to Modern Changes and Challenges 3.2 Caste Endogamy and Marriage Fields 3.3 Khaps and Agency of Women 4 Concluding Discourse: Breakdown of Modernization or Traditions; Selective Modernization and Emergent Adaptations References Industrial and Commercial Geography of India: A Study of Changes in the Post-reform Period 1 Introduction 2 Industrial Policy and Spatial Dispersal of Industries 2.1 The Phase of Deliberate Location of Public Sector Industries in Backward Areas 2.2 The Phase of Concessional Finance (1971–1991) 2.3 The Phase of Economic Reforms and Increased Reliance on Market Forces 3 Locational Aspects of Industries 4 Constituents and Growth of Industries in India 5 Regional Distribution and Location of Industries 6 Impacts of Major Factors on Industrial and Commercial Growths 7 Conclusion and Policy Implications References Tourism, Urbanization and Spatial Reorganization: Some Reflections on Tourism Development in Goa, India 1 Introduction 2 ‘Industrial’ Nature of Tourism 3 The ‘Urban’ Problem 4 Situating Tourism Urbanization 5 Characterizing Tourism Urbanization 6 Tourism Urbanization Vs. Urban Tourism 7 Tourism, Spatial Reorganization and Coastal Urbanization: The Goan Context 7.1 Tourism Development in Goa 7.2 Complementarities of Tourism and Urbanization in Goa 8 Tourism Urbanization, Over-Tourism and Discontents 9 Path Ahead References Continuity and Changing Characteristics of Traditional Commodity Specific Markets in Varanasi City 1 Introduction 2 Objectives and Research Questions 3 Concepts, Context and Classification of Mandis 3.1 Commodities and Products Based Classification 3.2 Location Based Classification 3.3 Number Based Classification 4 Historicity of Mandis 5 Locational and Functional Relevance of Mandis 5.1 Coconut Mandi 5.2 Wooden Toys Mandi 5.3 Flower Mandis 5.4 Attar Market 5.5 Milk Mandis 5.6 Khowa Gali (Mandi) 5.7 Resham Katra 5.8 Thatheri Bazar 5.9 Naya Paan Dariba (New Betel Market) 5.10 Loha Mandi 5.11 Masala Mandi (Spices and Dry Fruits Market) 5.12 Galla Mandis 5.13 Sabzi Mandis 5.14 Furniture Market 5.15 Idol Market 5.16 Bird Market 6 Linkages of Mandis 6.1 Linkages among Traditional Markets 6.2 Linkages with Regional and National Economy 6.3 Linkages of Mandis with Religious Places 7 Changes and Continuity in Traditional Market Structure 8 Conclusions References Dynamics and Spatiality of Socio-economic Development during Post Liberalization Period: A Study of Ahirwal Region (Haryana), India 1 Introduction: Conceptual Framework of Socio-Economic Development 1.1 Regional Disparity in Development 1.2 Post-reform Economic Dynamics and Regional Inequality 1.3 Preview of Developmental Process in Study Area 2 Scope, Material and Methods of Study 2.1 Material and Methods 2.2 Selection of Indicators and Computation of Development Indices 3 Social Development 3.1 Parameters of Demographic Development 3.2 Parameters of Educational Development 3.3 Parameters of Household Amenities 3.4 Levels of Social Development 4 Economic Development 4.1 Parameters of Agricultural Development 4.2 Parameters of Industrial Development 4.3 Parameters of Workforce Development 4.4 Levels of Economic Development 5 Infrastructural Development 5.1 Parameters of Educational Infrastructure 5.2 Parameters of Health Infrastructure 5.3 Parameters of Road Transport, Communication and Banking Infrastructure 5.4 Levels of Infrastructural Development 6 Levels of Socio-Economic Development 7 Conclusion and Policy Implications References Socio-spatial Inequalities Socio-spatial Dimensions of Disease Transition and Health Preparedness in Haryana, India 1 Introduction 2 Conceptual Framework and Objectives of Study 3 Data Base and Methods 4 Pattern of Mortality Causes 4.1 Shifts in Mortality Causes 4.2 Spatial Pattern of Mortality Causes 5 Shifts in Morbidity/Disease Pattern 5.1 Trend of Disease Occurrence 5.2 Variations in Disease Occurrence 6 Health Care Preparedness 6.1 Spatial Variations in Availability of HCFs 6.2 Availability of Health Manpower 6.3 Utilization of Public Health Facilities 7 Summing Up References Gender, Urban Spaces and Gendered Resistances: Towards Inclusive and Fear Free Cities in India 1 Introduction: Gender, Urban Spaces and Gendered Resistances 2 Gender, Gendered Resistance and Fear Free City-Assembling a Theoretical Toolkit 3 Gender, Fear and City—Circumcising Access, Reinforcing Control 4 Fear Free Cities 5 Reclaiming the City-Reading Gendered Resistances in Delhi 6 Concluding Thoughts References Nature of Access to Higher Education in India: Emerging Pattern of Social and Spatial Inequalities in Educational Opportunities 1 Introduction 2 The Database and Methodology 3 Policies Promoting Equity in Higher Education 3.1 Initiatives to Achieve Regional Balance in Provisions of Educational Facilities 3.2 Initiatives for Educational Development of Students from SEDGs 3.3 Strategies to Facilitate Progress Through HE 4 Massification of Higher Education and Diversification of Students 4.1 Massification of Higher Education Sector 4.2 Diversification of Higher Education Student Body 5 Emerging Forms of Inequalities in Access to Higher Education Opportunities 5.1 Widening Regional Inequalities 5.2 Socio-Economic and Intersecting Spatial Inequalities 5.3 Social Inequality in Access to Selective HEIs and Programme of Study 5.4 Socio-Spatial Inequalities in Quality Educational Pathways 5.5 Unequal Learning Outcomes 6 Concluding Remarks and Policy Implications References Everyday Practices of Urban Poor to Access Water: Evidence from Delhi Slums 1 Introduction 2 Study Area 3 Sample Design and Methodology 4 Availability of Safe Water 4.1 Safe Water Coverage in India 4.2 Access to Water in Slum and Non-slum Households in Delhi 5 Accessing Water: Evidence from the Slum 5.1 Location and Ownership of Water Sources 5.2 Source of Drinking Water by Economic Classes 5.3 Time and Duration of Water Supply 6 Satisfaction Levels of Water Users 7 Everyday Struggles to Access Water 7.1 Time Spent on Fetching Water 7.2 Conflicts and Fights Associated with Accessing Water 7.3 Complexities of Gender and Caste in Accessing Water 8 Coping Strategies and Adaptive Responses to Water Insecurity 9 Willingness to Pay for Better Water Services 10 Conclusions and Policy Implications References