Writing women out: a gendered deconstruction of India's national mission on sustainable habitat

Abstract

This work critically examines India’s National Mission on Sustainable Habitat (NMSH) through a gendered and intersectional lens. While the NMSH promotes inclusivity and sustainability, its technocratic approach often overlooks the lived experiences of women in urban informal settlements. At the core of my analysis is the claim that the language used in these policies promotes an exclusionary form of development. By analysing the language and discourses used in the NMSH, the study reveals how these policies construct an ideal urban subject, marginalizing those who don’t fit this mould. Using a deconstructive methodology informed by Jacques Derrida, the research examines how terms like “vulnerability,” “efficiency,” and “safety” depoliticize social inequalities and undermine the distinct experience of urban poor women, who often find themselves at a delicate juncture of class, caste, and gender identity. This research contributes to feminist scholarship on urbanization and climate policy, calling for frameworks that are both more inclusive and accountable.