Page 56 - designs_Neat

VIEWPOINT
Future of Work

We tend to look at swanky and shiny new buildings, a
growing number of fuel-guzzling private vehicles on the
road, and flyovers that only temporarily fix traffic problems
and misconstrue all of that for development and prosperity.
Technically, these can be labelled as material development,
but these are also coming at a great cost to the environment
and all the beings it sustains.
Glass-paned buildings are not suited for the tropical climate
we have in India. We are valuing aesthetics more than simple
and practical solutions by blindly aping building designs that
are ideal for colder climates. By adding more private vehicles
on the road, we are contributing to more traffic snarls and
emissions. It is just sad how everyone is in a hurry, but no one
is reaching their destination on time while losing their
temper and breathing fumes when stuck in traffic.
Growth in industries/businesses and their concentration in a
handful of cities have caused cities to collapse under the
strain of a dramatic rise in the number of people moving to
live in them. Unfortunately, our civic infrastructure has not
kept pace with the growth and concentration of businesses
and population in cities. The consequence of this is wild,
unplanned, and unscientific concrete jungles that are
worsening the urban heat island effect and making life I took up cycling during the lockdown to keep fit
unhospitable in cities.A great deal of these problems can be and have never looked back since than. I use my
solved by spreading businesses and industries equitably bicycle as much as possible for my commute
across geographies and encouraging WFH/Hybrid working now. It helps me save money that would have
as much as possible in sectors and job roles that do not otherwise been spent on costly fuel and beat a
necessitate office/onsite presence. This will not only fix the sedentary lifestyle, which is a major health issue
regional economic imbalance but will also help in in my line of work. However, I wish our roads were
55 society. I feel everyone must start by turning the heat on the community to fix these issues via direct actions
more bicycle friendly. There are a lot of aggres-
decongesting cities.
sive people with motor vehicles and no sense of
traffic rules, potholes, dust particles, and fumes
We must also take active participation in activism and
politics and strive to bring about sustainable changes in
on our roads. I hope we can come together as a
and participative democracy. I wish to see cy-
government to improve the public transport service and
cling, at least for shorter commutes, become the
build safe and protected bicycle lanes in all cities and towns.
norm in India soon.
Ajay Kote