The research examines how planned beautification projects of urban commons influence and reshape the Everyday State and environmental subjectivity of urban residents and users of the commons. It explores how individuals perceive and engage with their urban environment in the context of beautification efforts, and the ways in which these initiatives shape their everyday experiences and sense of belonging. Furthermore, the notion of the everyday state emphasizes the importance of examining governance beyond formal institutions, highlighting the role of informal practices, power relations, and lived experiences in shaping urban environments. This perspective draws attention to the ways in which everyday practices and negotiations between various actors influence the outcomes and implications of planned beautification project, often intersecting with issues of social inequality, gentrification, and environmental justice.
Urban political ecology serves as the theoretical framework for this research, offering a lens to analyse the socio-political forces that shape urban landscapes. The concept of planned beautification, often driven by governments and urban planners, represents deliberate interventions in urban spaces aimed at improving their visual appeal. However, the impact of such initiatives on local communities, ecosystems, and power dynamics remains understudied.
To explore these dynamics, this research paper employs a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative interviews, participant observation, and spatial analysis. By examining the planned beautification of Bada Talab in Ranchi, India, this study aims to provide empirical evidence and theoretical insights into the contestation of environmental subjectivity, and the influence of the everyday state.
The findings of this research will unveil the environmental subjectivity and everyday state within the theory urban political ecology. Moreover, this research aims to provide practical implications for urban planning and governance, encouraging a more inclusive and participatory approach that recognizes the diverse needs, values, and aspirations of urban communities in the pursuit of sustainable and equitable urban development.
