- India’s last Census (2011) counted 1.21 billion people, including 65 million slum dwellers, but Census 2021 remains indefinitely delayed. This data gap undermines welfare targeting and questions the government’s commitment to “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.”
Slum in India
- ‘Slum’ as one or a set of people living in the same house in an urban area who lack one or more facilities, i.e., secure tenure, durable housing, sufficient living space, and access to improved water and sanitation facilities (UN).
- Population: India’s slum-dwelling population increased from 27.9 million in 1981 to 65.5 million in 2011, accounting for about 17.37% of the total urban population in 2011 (Census 2011).
Factors for the Growth of Slums in India
- Rapid Urbanisation: India is one of the fastest-urbanizing countries in the world. As per UN, India’s urban population is expected to nearly double from 461 million in 2018 to 877 million by 2050.
- Poor Housing Planning: Lack of affordable, low-cost housing and poor planning by the government encourages the supply side of slums.
- Migration: Rural to Urban areas in search of better work opportunities.
- Social Factor: Social backwardness forces people to live in congested areas away from main areas. E.g., one out of every 5 residents in slums belongs to the SC category.
Adverse Impacts of Slums
- Health Hazards: Overcrowding and poor sanitation in slums create ideal conditions for the spread of communicable diseases such as cholera, dengue, and tuberculosis.
- Educational Barriers: Children in slums face obstacles in accessing quality education. Limited schools and resources, coupled with need to contribute to family income, hinder their educational development.
- Poverty and Inequality: Both causes and consequences of slum development. Slum residents often lack education and skills, leading to low-paying, unstable jobs, making it hard to escape the poverty cycle.
- Environmental Stress: Overcrowded and unsanitary conditions (improper waste disposal, inadequate sewage systems) contribute to environmental degradation and pollution.
- Impacts Urban Planning: Slums, often made up of illegal structures, challenge city planners by straining urban infrastructure like transportation, sanitation, and utilities, impacting the city’s overall functionality.
- Social Isolation: Slum residents are socially isolated from others, partly by choice and partly by location.
Challenges in Slum Rehabilitation
- Limited Financial Resources: Urban poor lack formal financial resources to help them purchase new homes or maintain a new life in a new housing unit.
- Shortage of Land: Excess control over land creates an artificial urban land shortage, leading to urban sprawl and corruption in land licensing.
- Regulatory Constraints: Development projects in urban areas are subject to a long approval process from both state and central levels, which postpones tasks.
- Vote Bank Politics: Politicians prioritize short-term electoral gains by making promises of welfare schemes to slum dwellers, often neglecting long-term urban planning and infrastructure development.
- Political Deprivation: Slum dwellers often lack political representation and are excluded from decision-making, limiting their ability to advocate for their rights and improve living conditions.
Lessons from Slums
- Hotbeds of Innovation: E.g. Residents in many slums use locally sourced materials for cost-effective, sustainable housing, offering insights into affordable solutions.
- Promote Social Cohesion: Slum initiatives like self-help groups and resource pooling guide inclusive urban planning and strengthen community cohesion.
- Effective Use of Limited Space: E.g. In Dharavi, small spaces are efficiently used for both residential and commercial purposes. This model can inspire high-density, mixed-use urban developments.
- Effective Urban Planning: Slums are often self-organised, responsive to residents’ needs, and demonstrate unique development patterns and flexible space use that enhance resilience and sustainability.
Way Forward
- Survey Expansion: Undertake comprehensive, nationwide survey of slum households that goes beyond mere headcounts.
- Community Engagement: Involving slum communities as active participants helps accurately understand their lived realities.
- Definition Clarity: Establishing a clear and comprehensive definition of a slum that accommodates regional variations while offering a consistent framework for intervention is essential.
- Property Rights: Provision of clear, free title to the residents so that they enjoy the privileges of using property as a tangible asset.
- Data-Driven: Adopting a data-driven approach to slum rehabilitation as an investment rather than a burden.
Slum rehabilitation must shift from eviction to inclusion via PMAY-Urban and JNNURM, ensuring dignity, equity, and secure housing. Integrating AMRUT, climate-resilient infrastructure, and participatory governance can build sustainable, resilient, and inclusive urban futures.
Reference: Down to Earth
PMF IAS Pathfinder for Mains – Question 309
Q. Examine the factors responsible for the growth of slums in the flood-prone area, their socio-economic impact, and suggest policy measures to build inclusive and climate-resilient cities (250 Words) (15 Marks)
Approach
- Introduction: Write a brief Introduction about slums in India, and mention relevant data.
- Body: Examine the factors responsible for the growth of slums in the flood-prone area, its socio-economic impact, and suggest policy measures to build inclusive and climate-resilient cities.
- Conclusion: Emphasis on a multi-pronged approach to transform vulnerability into inclusive resilience.
