Journal of Psychiatry

Psycho-social analysis of challenges facing Indiaâ??s smart cities

27^th International Conference on PSYCHIATRY & PSYCHOLOGY HEALTH

June 18-19, 2018 Paris, France

Neeta Sinha

Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University, India

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Psychiatry

Abstract:

Smart city concept entails four main system components which includes: smart technology (including ICT); smart innovation; smart system and smart people. In the Indian context, why emphasis leans towards the first three which are variously defined and discussed in terms of the intervention, there seems to be an absence of clarity in terms of smart people. Since the word smart in the broader sense of the term refers to application of certain kind of intelligence in finding solutions to the problems at people�??s level, it also becomes a training and behavioral issue. To make it simpler, what is meant here is that using smart technology and innovation efficiently would inevitable require smart behavior as well. In India, which is the case in point here, due to its enormous socio cultural and economic heterogeneity the people still lag the refinement in public behavior more particularly when it comes to meeting the basic expectation of sanitation, compliance to traffic rules, ecological awareness among other. Since there is a lack of bench marking in the minimum level of social behavior even the most efficient technologies and systems often fail to deliver the desired result. E.g. Open defecation, urinating in public places, spitting in public buildings, throwing remains of gutka and pan masalas in wash basins and urinals, general disobedience of traffic rules such as jumping signals, risky driving, chaotic parking are some of the basic issues which are rampant across India. These problems are not just related to infrastructure deficits as such but also with psycho social behavior for which little efforts towards its improvement have been attempted. Since technology alone cannot find all the answers, it can only be used to increase the efficiency of performance; a major change is actually required at the psychosocial behavioral level. It implies an operant conditioning (Skinner 1938) of sorts which includes both reward and reprimand. This paper will try to deal with the psycho-social aspect of the urban dwellers in India to propose the required benchmarking for smart people for smart cities.

Biography :

Neeta Sinha is a Behavioral Psychologist, Academician and Corporate Trainer. She has completed her PhD in the interdisciplinary area of Psychology and Management. She has more than 12 years of corporate experience and 13+ years of teaching experience. She has published and presented more than 25 papers in reputed journals and is the Managing Editor of Liberal Studies Journal. She is on the Editorial Board of several journals and also on the Advisory Board in many universities. She is also the Chairperson in PhD Program at PDPU.

E-mail: neetasinha2@gmail.com