College of Social Sciences

Seminar organised by the Centre for Sustainable, Healthy and Learning Cities and Neighbourhoods (SHLC)

Speakers:

Professor Ivan Turok, Human Sciences Research Council, South Africa

Professor Debolina Kundu, National Institute for Urban Affairs, India

Professor Mario-Delos Reyes, Centre for Neighbourhood Studies, Philippines

Background:

Almost no corner of the globe has escaped the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, but these impacts have not been felt equally. Research has shown that our ability to respond to Covid-19 is influenced by social and economic status, suggesting that where and how we live matters. Nowhere is this more acute than cities and towns in the developing countries.

Researchers at the GCRF Centre for Sustainable, Healthy and Learning Cities and Neighbourhoods (SHLC) are studying cities from the inside out examining the sustainability of different neighbourhoods right across the city.

In this webinar, three SHLC researchers (in-country Co-PIs) from Africa, South Asia and East Asia will present their work investigating how Covid-19 impacted different neighbourhoods and communities across the city. They will address the following questions: What are the defining characteristics of neighbourhood distribution in the city? How has Covid-19 impacted different neighbourhoods and have these impacts aggravated pre-existing spatial disparities? What actions can we take  to address the different needs of urban residents in different neighbourhoods?

The presentation will be followed by question and answers.

The seminar will be chaired and introduced by Professor Keith Kintrea, Deputy Director of SHLC, University of Glasgow.

 

Abstracts:

The asymmetrical impacts of Covid-19 across South African cities

Ivan Turok

I present original evidence that the pandemic and lockdown reflex have magnified pre-existing divisions within cities. Although COVID-19 has severely impacted the whole country, townships and informal settlements have proved more vulnerable than suburbs. This is apparent in terms of employment and hunger. The effect has been to magnify territorial divisions and exacerbate social discontent. Premature withdrawal of government relief is bound to aggravate the hardships facing poor communities that rely on these resources disproportionately.

Uneven Impact of COVID-19: Neighbourhood Experiences from India

Debolina Kunda

The present study aims to understand the differential experiences and response measures associated with the COVID-19 outbreak in different types of neighbourhoods in cities and towns of India, with a special reference to the National Capital Territory of Delhi. Delhi has been chosen as a case study as it has been hard hit by the outbreak and has seen a large number of casualties mostly affecting middle-income and high-income neighbourhoods due to the complete collapse of its public healthcare system. Based on an overview of existing academic literature, reports, blogs, and newspaper articles, the study brings varied experiences faced by residents in different types of neighbourhoods. The study also delves into various official websites to understand the response measures taken by the governing bodies.

As the majority of the megacities have been hard hit by the outbreak, the study first discusses how different types of neighbourhoods, viz, slums, high-density middle-income neighbourhoods, high-rise apartments, and gated communities have been affected by the virus outbreak and what are the different response measures taken at different neighbourhood levels. It also discusses the differential availability of healthcare facilities and vaccination drives across neighbourhoods and examples of good practices in this regard. It explores how different neighbourhoods in Delhi have experienced the pandemic and how different response measures have been adopted at various neighbourhood levels. It also discusses how the digital divide has led to the inaccessibility of adequate healthcare facilities and vaccination in slums of Delhi.

Uneven Impact of Covid-19: Neighbourhood Experiences and Lessons from the Philippines

Mario R. Delos Reyes

The study covers six (6) neighbourhoods and barangays in both the City of Manila (Capital City) and Batangas City (Regional City) which were selected based on neighbourhood income levels. Their perceptions and experiences during the lockdown were explored primarily focusing on the barangay’s healthcare systems, administration management, barangay norms and barangay-led initiatives. These were determined using photo elicitations, online focus group discussions with barangay officials, content analysis on the 2 cities public information Facebook accounts, and document analysis of the national government community quarantine guidelines. Results showed that barangays both in the high and middle income levels both generally felt sad, fearful and worried on how the virus will affect their lives particularly their daily routine, work and businesses. On the otherhand, barangays in the low income level have different general reactions toward the lockdown such as shocked, confused, fearful and worried to the situation brought about by the quarantine with some residents having hard time to adjust to the changes. The barangays are considered as game changers of the lockdown as they are implementers of support on the ground from national government, civil society organizations, private sectors and local government units, as mandated by law in providing services for their constituents. They exerted extra effort to alleviate the current conditions of their area thru initiating barangay-led initiatives.

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First published: 3 March 2022