Consider the following statements :
- 1. ‘Right to the City’ is an agreed human right and the UN-Habitat monitors the commitments made by each country in this regard.
- 2. ‘Right to the City’ gives every occupant of the city the right to reclaim public spaces and public participation in the city.
- 3. ‘Right to the City’ means that the State cannot deny any public service or facility to the unauthorized colonies in the city.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1 only
3 only
1 and 2
2 and 3
Answer is Wrong!
Answer is Right!
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2021
Statement 1: While ‘Right to the City’ is not yet a universally codified international human right in the same vein as, say, the right to life or liberty, the concept is gaining traction and is incorporated in international documents like the New Urban Agenda adopted at Habitat III (2016). The New Urban Agenda mentions the ‘Right to the City’ and UN-Habitat is the custodian agency for monitoring progress towards the Agenda’s goals, which align with the principles of inclusive and equitable cities. Given this context, Statement 1 can be considered correct in the sense that it is a recognized concept promoted in UN forums, and UN-Habitat plays a role related to it.
Statement 2: A core aspect of the ‘Right to the City’, as conceptualized by thinkers like Henri Lefebvre and David Harvey, is the right of all urban inhabitants to use, occupy, and produce the city, emphasizing democratic control over urban space and resources, including the right to reclaim public spaces and participate in urban decision-making. Thus, Statement 2 is correct.
Statement 3: The ‘Right to the City’ concept promotes inclusion and equitable access to services for all inhabitants. However, stating that the State “cannot deny any public service or facility to the unauthorized colonies” is an oversimplification and not a universally accepted legal implication of the concept. Provision of services to unauthorized settlements is a complex legal and policy issue and the State’s capacity and obligation often depend on specific national laws and policies, which may distinguish between legal and unauthorized settlements. Thus, Statement 3 is not correct.
Based on the analysis, Statements 1 (interpreted generously in the context of international recognition and UN-Habitat’s role) and 2 are correct, while Statement 3 is incorrect. Therefore, the correct option is C.
– It advocates for the right of all inhabitants to shape the city and participate in its governance.
– While promoted in international forums like UN-Habitat, its status as a legally binding, universally agreed human right is debated.
– The concept does not automatically grant residents of unauthorized settlements an absolute right to demand all public services regardless of legal status.