This story originally appeared in the October 2011 edition of the Searchlight South Asia newsletter created by Intellecap for the Rockefeller Foundation.
By Usha Ganesh
South Asia is home to about 20% of the world’s population. It is also home to over 60% of the world’s poor. Rapid urbanization and expanding cities are fast becoming ubiquitous in South Asian countries like India and Bangladesh.
As urban sprawl expands to engulf nearby rural areas, it is becoming increasingly difficult to draw a clear boundary between urban and rural areas. As a result, sizable peri-urban areas dot the landscape. These areas demonstrate urban as well as rural characteristics with traditional occupations giving way to more modern ones, changing lifestyles and social interactions. Most importantly, though, this “urban sprawl” is imposing severe pressure on infrastructure in these areas, particularly in terms of access to water. Peri-urban areas are a veritable no-man’s land, as they are no longer part of the rural governing bodies’ jurisdiction, and are yet to be assimilated into that of beleaguered urban governing bodies. This compounds their vulnerability to water access challenges, as no one is quite clear on who is responsible for ensuring fair water supply to the peri-urban poor. Continue reading
Hyderabad, state capital of Andhra Pradesh, is the sixth most populated city in India and holds the same ranking for the country’s most populated “urban agglomeration.” The city also has a significant urban poor population. According to the 
The city of Ahmedabad, India, is one of the country’s—and the world’s—fastest growing urban areas. This capital of Gujarat state has a population of nearly 
The need for quality employment in the developing world underlies the success of nearly all other development initiatives. Job creation has become one of the most pressing issues on the road towards fueling the economic engine and impacting complex and intertwined poverty issues, such as education, nutrition, healthcare and housing. Without the ability to have a stable, reliable income, there is little hope for the poor to engage in sustained solutions that will improve their circumstances. 
In an attempt to deal with the mounting energy crisis in the country, the Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet in Pakistan has approved a new framework for operational and maintenance contracts that essentially handover 
In India, 10 million people are estimated to have loco-motor disabilities, and only 5% of these disabled receive a wheelchair, brace or prosthetic that would allow them to be mobile, reports a 
Bangladesh’s capital city of Dhaka exhibits South Asia’s rapid urbanization in its most frenzied state. With over 14 million residents and more than one million commuters to the city every day, Dhaka is said to be the fastest growing city in the world. The trend is expected to continue: 
Over the last two decades, alongside the story of India’s impressive economic growth is the story of its urbanization. Average economic growth has been 6-7% per annum over the last 20 years. Urban centers like Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai have seen their industry and populations explode to new highs, placing tremendous strain on existing systems and infrastructure. The story of urban India’s success, though, seems skewed: media reports and research make allusions to the notion that South Indian cities have handled urbanization more successfully when compared to their northern counterparts. Is this indeed the case? And if yes, why so? 
