Smart City plans hit Aligarh’s small businesses

Geeta Devi (22) points to where her kitchen and bathroom used to be, on the second storey of her house that was completely demolished in January because of the anti-encroachment drive. Pic: Meher Ali

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his campaign speech in Aligarh on April 14th, invoked three main development indicators, “bijli…kanoon vyavastha…sadak” (electricity, law and order and roads)**.” Development or “vikas” has been one of two constants in his campaign; the other being “karobaar ” or business. In his Aligarh speech, he specifically mentioned how this election was a fight to get “nyay” not only for youth, women and farmers but also for “chote karobaari” or small business owners. Yet, in Aligarh, vikas and chote karobaari clashed head on when shops belonging to small business owners were demolished to widen roads as part of the Smart Cities Mission. Continue reading on Citizen Matters