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<ul><li>Khalid has already been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) along with Jamia student and RJD youth wing president Meeran Haider, JCC media coordinator Safoora Zargar, and Danish, a resident of northeast Delhi's Bhajanpura.</li><li>Khalid was summoned on Saturday and Sunday. He was arrested after being questioned for around 10 hours and will be produced before a Delhi court on Monday.</li></ul><keyword id="6358992" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Delhi-Police">Delhi Police</keyword> arrested former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student <keyword id="3251888" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Umar-Khalid">Umar Khalid</keyword> under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with northeast <keyword id="2207894" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Delhi-Riots">Delhi riots</keyword> that broke out in February this year. Khalid has already been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) along with Jamia student and RJD youth wing president Meeran Haider, JCC media coordinator Safoora Zargar, and Danish, a resident of northeast Delhi's Bhajanpura. "My son Umar Khalid has been arrested tonight at 11 p.m. by Special Cell, Delhi Police under UAPA. Police was questioning him since 1 p.m. He has been implicated in Delhi riots," said Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas, father of Umar Khalid. Khalid was summoned on Saturday and Sunday. He was arrested after being questioned for around 10 hours and will be produced before a Delhi court on Monday. Earlier on September 2, Khalid was called by the Crime Branch for questioning in the northeast Delhi riots case. He was let off after the questioning. The arrest comes hours after Delhi police issued a statement on Sunday in which it has asked those who have doubts and questions about the northeast Delhi riots probe to take legal course at the appropriate time. The Delhi police said that various interest groups are using social media platforms and other online portals to raise questions about the fairness of investigation of the northeast Delhi riot cases. Earlier, retired IPS officer Julio Ribeiro, who was former Mumbai police commissioner, DGP Gujarat and Punjab, and former Indian Ambassador to Romania, has written to Delhi Police Commissioner S N Shrivastava, questioning the probe into the northeast Delhi riots cases. Since December, Delhi was brimming with tensions after the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was passed. A sit-in protest against it started at various parts of the national capital. An agitation also started near Jafrabad metro station in northeast Delhi. The protests in northeast Delhi turned violent and around 53 people were killed. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/news/a-supercomputer-found-a-promising-theory-about-why-covid-19-cases-go-downhill-fast-it-even-explains-the-bizarre-range-of-symptoms-/articleshow/78090337.cms">A supercomputer found a promising theory about why COVID-19 cases go downhill fast. It even explains the bizarre range of symptoms</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/news/the-first-public-test-flight-of-a-manned-flying-car-has-been-completed-in-japan-x2014-see-the-sd-03/slidelist/77962793.cms">The first public test flight of a manned flying car has been completed in Japan — see the SD-03</a>

Delhi Police arrests Umar Khalid in connection with Northeast Delhi riots

<ul><li>Delhi police officer shot dead in Rohini before reportedly shooting himself. </li><li>Three empty cartridges obtained from the crime scene in Rohini. </li><li>Delhi polling began at 8 am today for 70 assembly seats in Delhi.</li></ul>A woman police officer of Delhi police was shot dead in north-west Delhi, while walking back home from a metro station, on Friday 7.Delhi Police sub-inspector <keyword id="8743059" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="preeti-ahlawat">Preeti Ahlawat</keyword> was returning home from work and got off the metro near Rohini when a fellow cop shot her three times in a row before shooting himself, according to a TV channel, Mirror NOW citing sources. Ahlawat was shot in the head and died on the spot, the police said. Police also mentioned that the body had been sent for autopsy and the local CCTV footage was obtained. Delhi Police suspected a personal enmity and claimed that the attacker had been identified, but no arrests have been made as of now. Three empty cartridges of bullets were found with multiple gunshots from the crime scene, adding a case has been registered, the police <a href="https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/woman-cop-shot-dead-near-rohini-east-metro-station/1729095">said</a>. Ahlawat was posted in Delhi at the Patparganj Industrial Area police station. The sub-inspector belonged to Sonipat, Haryana and was presently staying at a rented apartment in Rohini. The news came less than 12 hours before Delhi election polling were left. The Delhi Police have tight security arrangements in place across the national capital as the polling began at 8 am today for 70 assembly seats in Delhi. Police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed at various polling booths, and the chief electoral office in Delhi is closely monitoring ‘critical’ polling booths at Shaheen Bagh with the help of CCTV cameras. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/delhi-elections-2020-voting-day-news-and-highlights/articleshow/74019928.cms?src=hp_ts">Delhi Elections 2020: Voting day news and highlights</a>

Delhi Election 2020: Delhi police personnel shot dead in Rohini, day ahead of Delhi Elections

After a week of great <keyword id="25892" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="box-office">box office</keyword> action, mainly due to the runaway success of Rajinikanth-starrer <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Box-Office-Kochadaiiyaan-Thrives-On-Rajini-Power-Heropanti-Soaring-High/articleshow/35710189.cms">Kochadaiiyaan</a>, <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> is back to a dismal crawl. Last Friday (May 30) saw the release of just two flicks – Hansal Mehta-directed <keyword id="502037" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Citylights">Citylights</keyword> and newbie film-maker <keyword id="1307809" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Aman-Sachdeva">Aman Sachdeva</keyword>’s <keyword id="1444695" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kuku-Mathur-Ki-Jhand-Ho-Gayi">Kuku Mathur Ki Jhand Ho Gayi</keyword> (well, this one is produced by <keyword id="6354597" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ekta-Kapoor">Ekta Kapoor</keyword>, <keyword id="154993" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Shobha-Kapoor">Shobha Kapoor</keyword> and Bejoy Nambiar). Although both are hatke movies in a way and the former has earned enough critical accolades, none could manage an impressive showing at the <keyword id="827271" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Domestic-Box-Office">domestic box office</keyword> and recorded only 5-10% occupancy on debut day. 
 
Citylights, however, did considerably well after collecting just Rs 70 lakh on the opening Friday. The movie hit 500 screens and went on to earn Rs 3.57 crore at home in the first three days, according to <keyword id="6356809" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="producer">producer</keyword> figure (trade figure puts it at Rs 3.18 crore). But the crucial first Monday collections dipped again to Rs 60 lakh (approx). However, keeping in mind it is a <keyword id="2289947" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Low-budget-movie">low-budget movie</keyword> and cost around Rs 7 crore including P&amp;A, Citylights may just avoid losses. 
 
On the other hand, <keyword id="2289921" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kuku-Mathur">Kuku Mathur</keyword> Ki Jhand Ho Gayi, a rom-com drama with a <keyword id="2289946" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="quirky-title">quirky title</keyword> and an unmistakable <keyword id="2289944" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Delhi-flavour">Delhi flavour</keyword>, has garnered a paltry Rs 1.60 crore over the first weekend, against an estimated budget of Rs 6 crore. In addition, it has landed into further trouble as a resident of <keyword id="6355556" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="bhopal">Bhopal</keyword> has reportedly filed a Public Interest Litigation (<keyword id="6355791" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="PIL">PIL</keyword>) against <keyword id="766823" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Balaji-Motion-Pictures">Balaji Motion Pictures</keyword>, claiming that the film’s title has hurt the sentiments of the Kayastha community. Kuku Mathur was released across 700 screens but going by its performance, it can be a clean washout at the box office. 
 
But what has gone wrong with Citylights? For one, the movie gives you a taste of unsavoury reality that is bound to jolt viewers. Inspired by the British film <keyword id="467511" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Metro-Manila">Metro Manila</keyword>, Citylights by <keyword id="303" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Director">director</keyword> <keyword id="4684" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Hansal-Mehta">Hansal Mehta</keyword> (of Shahid fame) pieces together the gripping tale of an <keyword id="2289953" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Uprooted-family">uprooted family</keyword> and their desperate struggle to survive in the ruthless city of Mumbai. The <keyword id="1097560" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="storyline">storyline</keyword> unveils a touching human document, superbly portrayed by the lead couple – <keyword id="1946388" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rajkummar-Rao">Rajkummar Rao</keyword> (<keyword id="6357110" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="deepak">Deepak</keyword>) and debutante <keyword id="2222926" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Patralekha">Patralekha</keyword>. Even the crime drama blends well with the colourful kaleidoscope – gentle, sombre, harsh and tragic at times. The ending is undoubtedly filmy, but the rest shines with a rare sensitivity that saves Citylights from being a cliché. 
 
 
 
In contrast, Kuku Mathur is a <keyword id="2289956" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Light-comedy">light comedy</keyword>, telling the story of two fast <keyword id="343" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Friends">friends</keyword> – Kuku Mathur (<keyword id="803840" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Siddharth-Gupta">Siddharth Gupta</keyword>) and <keyword id="2289924" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ronnie-Gulati">Ronnie Gulati</keyword> (<keyword id="2222736" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ashish-Juneja">Ashish Juneja</keyword>) – and their coming of age. This one is Sachdeva’s debut film and there are the usual hiccups in terms of plot and characters. But the lead duo and <keyword id="38050" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Amit-Sial">Amit Sial</keyword> (<keyword id="2289962" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Prabhakar-Bhaiya">Prabhakar Bhaiya</keyword>, the baddie uncle trying to influence Kuku) have put in some fantastic acting; the humour is quite <keyword id="678332" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Subtle">subtle</keyword> at times and the <keyword id="2289967" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Delhi-backdrop">Delhi backdrop</keyword> adds some endearing local colours. Kuku’s culinary aspirations bring in a fresh <keyword id="30450" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="80" keywordseo="Touch">touch</keyword>, but a crisper storyline and engaging <keyword id="42057" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Screenplay">screenplay</keyword> could have improved the film vastly. Overall, an average movie with a few ‘wow’ moments and that partly explains the poor box office response. 
 But in case you are longing for another <keyword id="654103" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="smash">smash</keyword> hit like <keyword id="1849408" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kochadaiiyaan">Kochadaiiyaan</keyword> or even <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Box-Office-Kochadaiiyaan-Thrives-On-Rajini-Power-Heropanti-Soaring-High/articleshow/35710189.cms">Heropanti</a>, wait till you get to watch Akshay Kumar-starrer <keyword id="2113212" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Holiday-A-Soldier-Is-Never-Off-Duty">Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty</keyword>, to be released on June 6. It is a remake of the Tamil hit <keyword id="2289970" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tuppaki">Tuppaki</keyword> and also stars <keyword id="62210" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sonakshi-Sinha">Sonakshi Sinha</keyword>. Let us wait and see if ‘Akki’ can break the box office jinx. 
 
Images: Indiatimes

Citylights
Impressive But Tanks At Box Office; Kuku Mathur Doesn’t Take Off

New Delhi, Apr 30 () Amid the coronavirus-induced lockdown, the Delhi Police has registered over 140 cases under the Excise Act and arrested 155 people in the first two weeks of April, officials said on Thursday.On an average, police seized 1,237 liquor bottles daily between April 1 to 15, they said.The police have registered 147 cases and seized 18,556 bottles of liquor in the first two weeks of this month, senior officials said, adding the outer district registered the maximum 27 cases, arrested as many people and seized 1,243 liquor bottles from there.The Crime Branch seized the maximum 8,460 bottles, registered only one case and arrested one person. The New Delhi district, railways, metro and special cell units of the Delhi Police have not registered any case under the Excise Act, they said. Seventeen people have been arrested in 18 cases in Rohini district while 3,130 liquor bottles were seized. In Dwarka district, 1,713 bottles of liquor were seized, 16 cases registered and 20 people arrested police said. In North district, where some people had broken into a liquor shop earlier this month, eight cases were registered and 10 people arrested with 38 bottles. The government had last week allowed opening of neighbourhood and standalone shops, including those located in residential complexes in municipal areas, but at a 50 per cent strength and after taking necessary precautions. However, the liquor shops remain closed. NIT NSDNSD

147 cases registered under Excise Act, 155 held in first 2 weeks of April: Delhi police

<keyword id="6354552" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="hyderabad">Hyderabad</keyword> has emerged as the best city in terms of living standards among Indian cities three years in a row, while Vienna has been ranked at the top globally in a list by consultancy firm Mercer. The National Capital for the second straight year hit the lowest score among Indian cities for living standards, as per the Mercer's Quality of Living rankings 2017. Both Hyderabad and Pune ranked higher for quality of living than the country's traditional business centres Mumbai and <keyword id="6358777" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="New-Delhi">New Delhi</keyword>, which have been ranked at 154 and 161, respectively, by the report. However, Hyderabad fell by five places to 144 in this year's rankings from 139th rank last year due to decreased power supply and water availability. While New Delhi scored well on account of its airport facility, availability of international schools and low probability of natural disasters, these positives were offset by a variety of negatives including a 'notorious' crime rate, air pollution and water availability, the report said. "Delhi continues to be challenged with increasing air pollution, owing to growing traffic and industrialisation. Delhi's air is the worst among world megacities, even the World Health Organisation confirmed recently. Unfortunately, there has been no improvement in air quality," Ruchika Pal, Principal and <keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> Practice Leader, Global Mobility, said. Over time, cities like Hyderabad, Pune and Chennai have emerged as cities of choice due to factors such as relatively lower crime rate, lesser air pollution and improved options for international and reputable English speaking schools. Pal noted that Indian cities that have been part of the survey have not made much progress on the quality of living scale since last year. The only exception is Chennai, whose score has marginally improved mainly on account of public transport, including buses and a recently expanded two¬line metro system, and improved availability of expat housing. Globally, Vienna remained at the top for overall quality of living for the eighth year running, with the rest of the top-ten list mostly filled by European cities. European cities in the top ten list are: Zurich (2) Munich (4), Dusseldorf (6), Frankfurt (7), Geneva (8), Copenhagen (9) and Basel ¬¬ a newcomer ¬¬ at 10th place. The only non¬European cities in the top ten are Auckland (3) and Vancouver (5). The highest ranking cities in Asia and Latin America are Singapore (25) and Montevideo (79), respectively, it said. Mercer's survey also includes a city infrastructure ranking that assesses each city's supply of electricity, drinking water, telephone and mail services, and public transportation as well as traffic congestion and the range of international flights available from local airports. Singapore topped the city infrastructure ranking, followed by Frankfurt and Munich both in 2nd place, while on the other hand Baghdad (230) and Port au Prince (231) ranked at the bottom for city infrastructure. Amongst Indian cities, Mumbai is ranked the highest at 141, followed by Kolkata (149) and Pune (151), while Bangalore was rated the lowest (177) by the report. 
 
<a href="http://New Delhi rated worst and Hyderabad rated best city in India in terms of living standards">Image credit</a>

New Delhi rated worst and Hyderabad rated best city in India in terms of living standards

An alarming rise in the demand for <keyword id="24545" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Child-pornography">child pornography</keyword> material (also referred to as 'Child Sexual Abuse Material') has been seen ever since the Covid-19 induced lockdown was enforced, the <keyword id="9047685" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="india-child-protection">India Child Protection</keyword> Fund (<keyword id="5125330" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="ICPF">ICPF</keyword>) claimed on Monday. According to the ICPF, the online data monitoring websites are showing an increase in demand for searches like '<keyword id="73039" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="child-porn">child porn</keyword>', 'sexy child' and 'teen sex videos'. Data from Pornhub, the world's largest pornography website in the world, also reveals that traffic from India has increased by 95 per cent between 24th and 26th March 2020, as compared to their average traffic, pre-coronavirus, the ICPF claimed. In its report the ICPF said that New Delhi was amongst the cities where there is a "high demand" for child pornographic material, thereby posing grave risks to its children during the Covid induced lockdown. The ICPF has released a report titled 'Child Sexual Abuse Material in India', a research of child pornography demand in 100 cities in India like New Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar and Indore. The overall demand for child pornography was an average of 5 million per month in 100 cities on the public web during December 2019, which has now spiked. The report reveals up to a 200 per cent increase in demand for violent content which shows children "choking", "bleeding" and 'tortured". "Metro cities like New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai, besides many Tier II and capital cities, which are seeing a sharp increase in coronavirus cases, have been red-flagged by the December study as hotspots for child pornography," the ICPF said. "ICPF has warned that this indicates millions of paedophiles, child rapists and child pornography addicts have migrated online, making the Internet extremely unsafe for children. Without stringent action, this could result in a drastic rise in sexual crimes against children," it added. The report cites Europol, United Nations, ECPAT reports which say that children are now more prone to online grooming and sexual coercion, and also refers to recent news of the Childline India Helpline reporting more than 92,000 SOS calls asking for protection from abuse and violence in 11 days of the lockdown. "This presents a chilling reality of the extreme threat faced by India's children during this period of lockdown. Demand for child sexual abuse material indicates children are more vulnerable to sexual predators," ICPF said. The organisation has requested the authorities to further step up online vigil in these cities for potential exploiters. Also the Rajya Sabha Committee on the issue, instituted by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, has recommended stringent laws for Internet service providers like Jio and Airtel, and platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, to hold them accountable for child abuse enabled by these companies. The ICPF reiterated the urgent need to implement these recommendations. "This is a blatant violation of the directions of the Honourable Supreme Court, and a violation of national policy. Pornographic websites are playing hide-and-seek with Indian law and judiciary by simply changing their website URLs," Nivedita Ahuja, spokesperson for the ICPF said. "The Government of India must urgently crackdown on child pornography and also initiate a global dialogue for an international convention against child sexual abuse material," she added. The India Child Protection Fund (ICPF) is one of the largest child protection organisations in South Asia, working to end child trafficking and child rape. It seeks to achieve its mission by supporting organisations with strategic funding and resources across South Asia.

Demand for child pornography in India spiked since lockdown: ICPF

It’s a welcome move by <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Home+Minister+Rajnath+Singh+">Home Minister Rajnath Singh</a> who would soon propose that the 100 'Smart Cities' should be developed as 'Safe Cities' with the help of the latest security equipment like CCTVs, command control centers, patrol cars, aerial surveillance and more women cops. 
 
The 100 <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=%E2%80%98Smart+Cities%E2%80%99+">‘Smart Cities’</a> project announced by the <keyword id="71" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Prime-Minister">prime minister</keyword> last month is the part of a government flagship programme. 
 <keyword id="6355121" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Rajnath-Singh">Rajnath Singh</keyword> will make a proposal to the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Urban+Development+Ministry+">Urban Development Ministry</a> that the former's 'Safe City' project should be combined with the Rs 48,000 crore 'Smart Cities' concept so that the 100 cities could be made smart as wells as safe from crime or terror. 
 The present 'Safe City' project of the MHA covers only seven metros - Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. The MHA now proposes to cover all 100 'Safe Cities' under the concept in association with the <keyword id="6696781" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Urban-development-ministry">Urban Development Ministry</keyword>. 
 
Rajnath Singh chaired a meeting in this regard with MoS Home <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Kiren+Rijiju">Kiren Rijiju</a>, the <keyword id="123228" type="POSITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Director-General">Director General</keyword> of <keyword id="3043518" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="40" keywordseo="Bureau-of-Police-Research-and-Development-NR-Wasan">Bureau of Police Research and Development NR Wasan</keyword> and MHA <keyword id="230912" type="POSITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="security-advisor">Security Advisor</keyword> <keyword id="3043517" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="40" keywordseo="K-Vijay-Kumar">K. Vijay Kumar</keyword> on Monday. "The smart cities need to be safe cities as well. We are planning to propose the same for planning in advance," Rijiju told ET. 
 
Last month, the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=%E2%80%98Smart+Cities%E2%80%99+">Prime Minister</a> had announced names of 98 cities which will be specially developed as 'Smart Cities' as part of a government flagship project, with one nomination of a city pending from Uttar Pradesh and J&amp;K each. 
 "The idea is that MHA and <keyword id="81069" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="UD-ministry">UD Ministry</keyword> should not work in isolation on each of its projects and it is better that MHA works with UD on the latter's project rather than planning for the safety of the cities subsequently," a MHA official said. 
 
The 'Smart City' concept involves promoting mixed land use in area based developments, housing and inclusiveness, creating walkable localities, promoting a variety of transport options and giving an identity to the city based on its main economic activity. 
 
(Image: Indiatimes)

Sounds cool! ‘Smart Cities’ to also become the safest in the entire country!

The <keyword id="6360789" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Modi-Government">Modi government</keyword>’s plan to develop 100 <keyword id="6377036" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="smart-cities">smart cities</keyword> has stirred a debate on its strategy or lack of it on the fate of the existing cities in the country. 
 
Over the years, lack of infrastructure and unplanned growth turned Indian cities into a real mess. While urbanisation has enhanced economic, social and political progress, it has resulted in socio-economic mismatch among people. Also, rapid growth of urban population has put enormous pressure on public utilities like housing, sanitation, transport, water and electricity besides pushing unemployment among rural immigrants. Urbanisation deserves immediate attention as according to reports by 2030, more than 50 % of India’s population is expected to live in urban areas. 
 
Urban sprawl, the expansion of the cities in terms of population and geographical area (which is rapidly taking over the precious agricultural land) has been one of the key problems which authorities failed to tackle. Continuous immigration from rural areas has consistently added to the size of the cities. This has led to a situation where economic base of most cities is incapable of dealing with the problems created by the huge growth of urban population. Metro cities are clear examples urban sprawl due to large scale migration of people from the different states, seeking employment opportunities. 
 
Unplanned growth has also resulted in overcrowding—a situation where too many people live in too little space. For instance, Mumbai has one-sixth of an acre open space per thousand people though four acre is considered normal. This kind of overcrowding leads to heavy pressure on infrastructural facilities. 
 
Overcrowding leads to shortage of houses in urban areas. Housing is a bigger issue in those cities where there is large influx of immigrants. According to a recent study, around 40% of all married couples in India do not have an independent room for themselves. Around 35% of families in urban areas live in one-room houses. About one third of urban Indian families have houses without a proper kitchen, bathroom and a toilet—and there is no supply of water or power in some cases. 
 
Overcrowded cities are a breeding ground for unemployment. According to an estimate, about 50% of all urban unemployed who are educated are concentrated in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. Though those living in cities earn more than those in the villages, their incomes are low considering the high cost of living in urban pockets. Unless government streamlines the large-scale migration to cities, unemployment in cities will continue to rise. 
 Another consequence of unplanned growth of urban areas is the spread of <keyword id="6367743" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="slums">slums</keyword>. In the recent years, industrialisation has led to rapid urbanisation which has resulted in undeterred growth of slums. 
 
A slew of reasons such as the large influx of rural migrants to the cities, the shortage of land for housing development and high prices of land contribute to the growth of slums. No wonder, this has been exerting huge pressure on civic amenities and infrastructure. 
Inadequate transportation is another challenge faced by people living in cities. As cities grow, more people are required to travel to work or shop, leading to clogged roads and unending traffic jams. 
 
Scarcity of drinking water is perhaps the biggest challenge thrown up by haphazard development of cities in India. In fact, no city in India gets sufficient water to meet the needs of city dwellers. In many cities, people get water from the municipal sources for less than half an hour every alternative day. In dry summer season, taps remain dry for days together. 
 
This in addition to growing problems of lack of proper sewerage management, trash disposal and pollution besides surging crime rates in cities. It is high time the government figured out whether developing select smart cities or solving the litany of problems faced by people living in existing cities should be its priority. 
 
Image: thinkstock

Smart Cities Are Good Idea, But What About Existing Ones?

<ul><li>India is sitting on a demographic time bomb. People over the age of 60 are expected to account for 25% of India’s <keyword id="48933" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="population">population</keyword> by 2050.</li><li>The concept of <keyword id="2995734" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="senior-living">senior living</keyword> has been gaining traction in recent years owing to the migration of Indians and the breakdown of the joint family model. </li><li>However, most senior care options are mostly geared towards the upper-middle class. The low-cost options leave a lot to be desired. </li></ul> My father was 64 when he had his first heart attack in September 2015. He downplayed the pain and told my brother and I, who were 23 years old at the time, that it was just acidity. We didn’t know better. Four days later, on his 65th birthday, the heart attack led to a stroke, which affected a small part of his brain that dealt with his speech and comprehension. Following his discharge from the hospital, my brother and I worked out an arrangement with our respective employers wherein we worked from home on alternative days so we could take care of him. My father slowly regained his verve and became somewhat self-sufficient by the end of 2015. However, he suffered another stroke and an epileptic seizure in April 2016. After my father suffered a third stroke in February 2017, the idea of putting him in an assisted living facility was floated by my uncle. My brother was living in Bombay by this point and I was spending more time at work so it seemed like the sensible thing to do. The concept of senior living, while relatively new to India, has been gaining traction in recent years and with good reason. There were 103.8 million citizens above the age of 60 in India in 2011, according to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, and the number is expected to reach 143 million by 2021 and 173 million by 2026. Concurrently, as nuclear families are in vogue, the safety net afforded to old people by the joint family model is disintegrating. India has also seen a wave of migration in the last few decades as young people have gone to big metros as well as foreign countries in search of better opportunities, leaving their parents behind. More and more old people are living alone- which makes them vulnerable to <a href="https://www.firstpost.com/india/increase-in-crimes-against-senior-citizens-in-chennai-forces-them-to-shift-to-retirement-homes-3109622.html">crime</a> and depression. And the problem will only get worse. People over the age of 60 are expected to account for 25% of India’s population by 2050. India’s emerging market counterparts like Brazil and China are also sitting on a similar demographic time-bomb resulting from decades of exponential economic growth, improved health outcomes and stretched budgets. While Western countries like the US and UK started laying the foundational groundwork for their senior care industries in the latter half of the 20th century, BRIC countries only began developing an industrial framework to address the problem in the recent past - that too, by encouraging foreign participation and co-opting the western model of senior living which marries real estate development with at-home care. The Senior Care Act The Indian government has made some noticeable interventions but they haven’t produced the desired results. For example, in 2007, there government of India passed the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and <keyword id="20566" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="senior-citizens">Senior Citizens</keyword> Act. The act requires children to take care of their parents in <keyword id="6378960" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="old-age">old age</keyword>. It also mandates the establishment of old age homes by state governments. The act has failed on both fronts. Senior citizens neither have the knowledge of their rights or the will to take their children to court. As of mid-2017, only 360 homes had been built by state governments with central funding under the Integrated Programme for Older Persons (IPOP), according to data from the social justice ministry. India’s private sector takes the lead However, India’s private sector has spotted the gap in the market, taking inspiration from the US’s $300 billion senior living industry. By 2013, India had 30 assisted living projects in India, with another 30 in the pipeline, according to Jones Lang Lasalle, a commercial real estate firm. There are a number of developers building “retirement resorts” in North India to cater to the high-end segment. Max India, a <keyword id="6354525" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="healthcare">healthcare</keyword> giant, has a 200-block senior living facility called Antara on the outskirts of the city of Dehradun. Pitched as the confluence of lifestyle and life care, the community boasts state-of-the-art medical facilities with in-house doctors as well as a a fitness centre, which includes a gym, spa and a swimming pool. Prices for a property here start at a cool $300,000. However, the senior living trend actually took flight in south Indian states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, where a large number of non-resident Indians (NRI) hail from, before spreading to the North. In recognition of their high purchasing power, Covai Care, a Coimbatore-based developer, launched S3 Retirement Homes, one of India’s first retirement projects, according to its general manager, S Prabhakar, in 2007 to cater to this market. While the senior living market has doubled since then, says Prabhakar, it is still in a nascent stage. Covai Care primarily offers three forms of care facilities for its residents- assisted care for senior residents, palliative care for terminally ill patients and memory care for patients with dementia or Alzheimer's with properties in Bangalore, Mysore, Coimbatore and Pondicherry. The properties don’t come cheap either. With prices ranging from $60,000 to $150,000 depending on size, residents also have to pay around $270-$300 a month for medical and maintenance fees. Prabhakar maintains that these costs are in line with the average cost of living for these patients anyway. He also expects the demand for these properties to be robust, citing the increase in life expectancy and growing trend of senior citizens who crave independence. The middle ground India is striving to create cheaper offerings for the middle class too. Arun Gupta, the chief executive of Age Ventures India (AVI), a non-profit organisation that petitions builders to develop properties, echoes Mr Prabhakar’s beliefs about the industry’s prospects. “The senior citizen population is growing at a rate of 3.8% per annum, while the overall population of India is growing at 1.8%” he says. For a small consulting fee, AVI works with developers to build elder care homes and communities by sharing best practices and identifying project locations. These homes are modestly priced, with a 1BHK unit starting at $22,500 at the organisation’s first project in Bangalore. Ashiana Housing, a Delhi-based real estate developer, pitches its retirement communities to the middle class in tier-1 and tier-2 cities . The price ranges between $45,000 million and $100,000 for the units, and that demand for them follows the same pattern as the housing market. Amit Dogra, the sales manager for Ashiana's senior living segment, doesn’t think much of India’s cultural aversion to old age homes. “98% of our residents chose senior living independently. They were not forced by their children.” Abhishek Mohanty, a facility design and marketing consultant at Epoch Elder Care, feels otherwise. “Social stigma, especially from relatives, is more of a problem than affordability”, he says. “This is why we target higher-net-worth individuals and NRIs as they are more open to the idea of senior living and are willing to spend the money”. Founded in 2011, Epoch Elder Care originally started as a provider of home care services and personnel before transitioning into the assisted living space. It follows a rental model, entailing a one-time deposit and monthly rental fee, which is better suited to middle class customers. Epoch has three retirement homes with monthly fees of $1,800 for short-term single occupancy guests and $1,350 for long-term guests, which excludes the rather-high 18% GST rate on senior living. Around 60% of Epoch’s residents are dementia patients, which limits the amount of residents per facility. Mohanty is optimistic about his company’s prospects given the country’s increasing awareness about dementia and the growing number of senior citizens. By 2022, Epoch plans to have as many as 12 facilities, with an average of around 50 guests each, operating all over India. The sense of stigma attached to senior living, while declining, is still a consideration for the relatively well-off. Rachna (name changed), a corporate lawyer in her 40s, says that the decision to send her father to a retirement home outside Gurgaon last year was not an easy one. “My friends felt that I was relinquishing my sense of duty,” she said, “and my father likened the experience to being sent to jail”. However, she feels that it was the best option since she and her husband had full-time jobs and two teenage children to take care off. Now, her father, a former stroke victim and arthritis patient, benefits from round-the-clock care and companionship in the facility. No respite at the bottom Senior living seems to be an effective solution for people who can afford it, but for the hundreds of millions that can’t, their options are few and far between. At the lower end of the spectrum, the government-operated old age homes, which feature dormitories instead of rooms, are understaffed and in a deplorable condition, according to Matthew Cherian, the chief executive of HelpAge India. There are a number of cheaper nursing homes that are run by private owners, however quality is still an issue given the lack of government-imposed industry standards. And some of these also operate without licenses and accreditation. In 2012, <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/68-nursing-homes-dont-have-licences/articleshow/13238672.cms">68 nursing homes </a>were found to be operating illegally in Pune. A variety of non-profit organisations like HelpAge India also run and support old age homes, but the supply of beds in such homes is drastically outweighed by the number of people that need them. As I write this, it’s been more than 13 months since my father’s last stroke. He’s in good spirits. He’s been eating well and going for walks every evening with other senior citizens in our gated community in Gurgaon. He has moved past his initial resistance and softened his stance towards senior living facilities, in anticipation of my eventual departure from home. “If I have to go one day, I’ll go”, he says. “Maybe I can get my friends to come with me too”. If only other Indians like him had the same option.

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