Vrindavan, Agra, Hyderabad, and Mysore are in the news these days because of the mass slaughter of full-grown trees. Our cities, once vibrant mosaics of biodiversity and cultural reverence for nature, are being strangled by a relentless wave of deforestation, driven by developers and builders who prioritise profit over planetary survival. The clandestine felling of trees, often abetted by lax or complicit authorities, has reached a crisis point, with recent cases drawing the ire of the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal.

Many cities in India are without safe and convenient pathways or pavements for pedestrians. In the past few years, there have been so many accidents of foot marchers and cyclists crushed to death by speeding trucks or buses and cars.

Over the past three decades, India has emerged as a major medical hub in the world. The mushrooming of private hospitals and nursing homes has certainly improved access to healthcare, but it has also earned notoriety for exploitation and mistrust. Across the country, the healthcare system is in shambles. In a recent ruling, the Supreme Court severely criticised both central and state governments.

“Rivers are our mothers, we must care for them”, This sentiment, echoed in a timeless song by the Hupa tribe of northern California, resonates deeply as we witness the dire state of Indian rivers, many on the brink of collapse. The urgency to recognize them as living entities with distinct legal rights has never been more pressing.

Last month, Union Health Minister JP Nadda praised the significant contributions of ASHA volunteers in the Rajya Sabha and promised that his ministry would consider their demands for salary improvements and provide more facilities.

What will Agra look like in the ‘Viksit Bharat’ of 2047? Will the city of the Taj Mahal and other historic monuments rise as one of India’s top five smart cities, or will it crumble into a dystopian nightmare, buried under urban chaos and neglect? Through the lens of a time machine, we take a haunting glimpse into the future. A report…