[sustran] Re:(Sustran):Public transport as a social phenomenon

[Sujit Patwardhan]

26 August 2001


Dear Kumudu Kusum Kumara,
We have been studying the Urban Transport Issue in Pune, India and would be 
happy to share our experiences insights with your student, who welcome to 
get in touch with us.
--
Sujit Patwardhan
Hon Secretary
PARISAR

A brief write up on Parisar
PARISAR

Parisar, which means 'surroundings' in Marathi, was formed on 5th June (the 
World Environment Day) 1981.

Since inception Parisar has been working as a non-political, independent 
citizen's group for the cause of environmental awareness and education.

Though started informally by a group of concerned individuals wanting to 
educate themselves and actively do something about the deterioration in the 
quality of urban life, Parisar is now a full-fledged registered body with 
about 150 members. It is no longer restricted merely to the narrow focus of 
improving the quality of the Urban Environment but also in to trying to 
understand 'Environment' in its totality - from its global ramifications to 
its rural and local implications.

Though active participation has been mainly restricted to local issues 
relevant to the Pune city, we have tried, both through the Parisar Varta, 
our news bulletin, as well as an exhibition of posters, to reach people all 
over Maharashtra.

Whenever open spaces -- be they lakes, ponds or hills, are threatened to be 
encroached upon by unthinking or vested interests of powerful lobbies, 
Parisar has tried to stall the encroachment by building up public pressure 
through signature campaigns, press releases, handouts, demonstrations, 
dharnas etc. and has often had to resort to legal intervention, mainly in 
the instance of violation of FSI and other building control rules. Today 
high rise buildings without adequate infrastructure of water, drainage, 
roads and parking facilities have led to an unplanned skewed growth of our 
city. With the builders increasingly taking charge of the land-use pattern 
of the city and the government lacking in political will, scarce urban 
resources are being diverted to the better-off sections of the population, 
leaving the majority in unhealthy deteriorating environmental condition.

Parisar believes that environmental concern should not merely be restricted 
to planting trees, beautifying the surroundings and creating sanctuaries 
for endangered species. Environmental orientation questions the very model 
of 'development', which exploits the natural resources and people at large 
for the benefit of a few. This conviction has led Parisar into diverse 
issues such as natural farming, urban planning, sustainable urban 
transport, the present mode of industrialisation, dangers of atomic energy, 
destruction caused by large dams and above all to evolving a model for 
environmentally sustainable development.
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At 09:05 PM 7/23/01 +0600, you wrote:
>A student of ours is writing her dissertation on Urban Transport as a 
>social phenomenon. she is examining the impact of poor urban transport 
>facilities on the lives of ordinary women and men both while in transit 
>and outside.
>I wonder whether you could direct us to some relevant literature on this.
>Thank you very much.
>
>Kumudu Kusum Kumara
>Dept of Sociology
>University of Colombo