Zainab Bawa’s Blog

7 ^th May 2005

Last week, I was traveling with S to the BMC. S and me work together in an organization which aims at promoting transparency and accountability in governance. We were discussing e-governance and how it can impact people. As conversations steered, I spoke to S about whether e-governance tools can invariably used against the poor and to target specific groups. S started talking about hawkers, “You know Zainab most of the hawkers in the city are not from Maharashtra. They have a strong corruption and power network with the Corporation and the officers.” S continued talking about hawkers and how they take over public spaces and are free riders.

Yesterday, while sitting in one of the BMC offices, I was talking with the BMC officer about how the water supply systems in Bombay are the best given the regularity as against what prevails in other cities. He spoke about how at one time slum dwellers were given free water but were later charged for it. “Everyone from outside likes to come to this city because everything is good here and people can easily set up businesses and get work here.” He said all of this with earnestness and sincerity.

I am trying to understand how these notions of insider-outsider work. Have they always been there? Do everyday notions of insider-outsider refer to instincts and notions of territoriality? Again, are notions of property and territoriality the same?

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