Slums in India : An Outcome of Unplanned Urbanisation

What are Slums ?

" Slums are self-sustaining micro-cities within larger cities".

The slums perceived as compact overcrowded residential areas (and not isolated or scattered dwelling) unfit for habitation due to lack of one or more the basic infrastructure like drinking water, sanitation, electricity, sewerage, streets, etc.

Census of India 2011 : 

explained slums as residential areas where dwelling are unfit for human habitation by reason of overcrowding, faulty arrangement, narrowness Street, lack of drinking water, ventilation, light, sanitation all these factors affected safety and health.

According to UN-HABITAT : 

Slums have a variety of living condition that fall along a continum.

UN-HABITAT employ 5 criteria to identify slums, each related to a living condition that household usually lacking-

1. Durable housing in a permanent nature.

2. Sufficient living space.

3. Easy access to safe water.

4. Access to adequate sanitation.

5. Security of tenure.

In India, slums are called by different name at different regions e.g. in Delhi- Jhuggi Jhompdi, in Mumbai- Jhopadpatti or Chawls, in Chennai- Cheris, in Kolkata- Busters.

Dharavi (in Dream City) is largest slum of Asia. Dharavi is spread over an area of 1.75 km along the Mahim River in Central Mumbai. 

Population of slums in India increased from 52 million in 2001 Census to 65.5 million in 2011 census.

Factors for Growing Slums in India :

*Mismatch of  Demand & Supply of Housing - whenever demand increases is not met by formal sector, then this fulfilled by an informal dwelling such as a slum.

* High House Rent in Cities - It lead to growing slum, because poor people unable to pay rent of houses in the cities.

* Rural to Urban Migration - It is primary reason for growth of slums in Indian cities. Rural people migrated to the urban area due to scarcity of water, electricity, healthcare, education, income and many more basic amenities. This influx of people causes housing shortages, unemployment and development of slums.

* Vote Bank Politics - Removal of slums create conflicts of interest of politicians. Some politicians want them as they are, because their upliftment and education may hurt their vote bank.

* Poor Governance - Slums occur due to poor rules and regulations, lack of urban planning, lack of 3A's  (Availability, Affordability, and Accessibility).

* Refugees - In some area of cities in habitated by the refugee. When an area is identified as slum it started growing because of increasing population pressure in towns.

* Increasing unemployment lead to poverty. It is also responsible for development of slums.

Summary of factors for growing slums:
Population explosion.
Poverty.
Poor Governance.

Characteristics of Slums in India :

The main characteristics of slum population are -

* According to 2011 census India's slums - 58% have open/no drainage; 34% no toilet; 19% open defecation.

* High rate of Poverty.

* High rate unemployment.

* Breeding ground of social problems like Crime, drug addiction, alcoholism.

* Gender issues - more crime against women.

* Child labour.

* Health issues - high mortality and high birth rate. Life expectancy in slums is lower than  national average.

* High rate of mental illness & suicide etc.

* Low standard of life.

* Inadequate infrastructure facilities.

* Lack of basic amenities like drinking water, sanitation, waste collection, electricity supply, drainage.

* Lack of basic healthcare.

* Unhealthy living condition and hazardous location - no basic services, open sewers, lack of pathways, uncontrolled dumping waste, polluted environment.

* No permanent housing structure.

Summary of Slums Problem :
Lack of basic amenities.
Unhealthy.
Social issues.
Low standard of life.

List (major) of Slums in India :

* in Bhubaneswar - Salia Sahi

* in Delhi - Kirti Nagar, Munnirka, Bhalsawa, Kusumpur Pahari

* Kolkata - Pilkhana, Basanti, Tikia Para

* Chennai - Nachikuppam, Vyasarpadi, Kasimedu, Royapuram

* Jaipur - Kathputhli

* Mumbai - Dharavi, Baiganwadi, Janupada.
* Literacy rate of the slum people is lower than National average.

Steps Taken by Government for Improvement of Slums Live :

According to the Ministry of Urban Development, 'Urban Infrastructure' should be equipped with all necessary facilities. It should give a decent quality of life to its residents, promising clean and sustainable environment by applying smart solution in the domain of sanitation, Waste management, public transport and governance.

The following steps taken by Government of India -

* National Slum Development Programme (NSDP) 1996 - 

Provide both loans and subsidies to States for slum rehabilitation project on the basis of urban slum population.

* Valmiki Ambedkar Malina Basti Awas Yojana (VAMBAY) -

Shelter for urban poor, with 20% for community sanitation under Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan.

*  Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme (IHSDP) -

  Merge  NSDP & VAMBAY to provide adequate shelter and basic infrastructure facilities to the urban slum dwellers.

* Rajiv Gandhi Awas Yojana 2013 - 

To provide better availabilities of basic amenities to slum dwellers, redressing the failure of formal system, available proper shelter for slum people.

* Slum Areas (Improvement and Clearance) Act, 1956 - 

This act aim is improve quality of life or complete eradication of slums. It empower competent authority to declare any slum area in accordance with the definition, look into possibility of improving life and eradicate slums.

* Pradha Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) 2015 - " Housing for All"

Provide Central assistance to implementing agencies through States and UT's for providing housing to all beneficiary by 2022. It incorporated the following -
+Slum rehabilitation through public and private partnership.
+Promotion affordable housing for weaker section through subsidies.
+ Provide subsidies to benificiaries for housing.
* Government steps for creating 100 Smart Cities, AMRUT rejuvenating towns etc.

Way Forward : 

* Providing housing is not enough for slums, they need economic (employment) and social status (equality) also.
* Effective urban planning - through better regulation, skilled personnel.
* They need better nutrition and education.
* Government must focus on 3 A's - Availability, Affordability, & Accessibility.
* Skill development program for them.
* Collect adequate data for better formulation of policies.
* Better training to municipality workers.


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