While the recent directive to shop owners to remove footpath encroachments by March 31 may appear a positive step to reclaim walking spaces, such a reactionary measure is not the way.
As experts have rightly warned, such measures, taken without thought or planning, only hurt the nation in the long run and also exposes a gross lack of thought from the relevant authorities.
We must first acknowledge that pavements are indeed meant for pedestrians, and reclaiming them is a legitimate goal. With that said, the manner in which this order has been issued -- suddenly, without viable alternatives -- ignores the complex economy that has thrived for decades around these shops and stalls.
For thousands of families, these small businesses are livelihoods, and simply eliminating them overnight without any thought or arranging an alternative is not a solution.
Moreover, these shops and stalls have long become part of the informal economy, providing a certain service to millions. To abruptly dismantle them is to dismantle incomes and further push vulnerable people deeper into poverty.
What is needed therefore is policy, not such over-reaction. It is the gross and perpetual lack of urban planning that is at fault here, and we must find balance between pedestrian convenience with economic realities.
The onus is on the authorities to ensure that footpaths can be cleared while livelihoods are simultaneously preserved. Transparent consultation with relevant stakeholders, from the stall owners to the city corporation and residents, will be essential to crafting solutions that are both humane and sustainable.
Our future depends on creating a nation that is livable, equitable, and inclusive. Clearing footpaths without addressing livelihoods is not progress but displacement. We need a better way.
