Slums in India
Context:
Recently, the Bombay High Court (HC) proposed to review the Maharashtra Slum Areas Act, 1971, which aims to address systemic gaps that are leading to delays in slum redevelopment projects.
Relevance:
GS-02 (Government policies and interventions)
Dimensions of the article:
- What is a slum?
- Factors responsible for growth in slums
- Slum Development and Housing Schemes in India
- Way forward
What is a slum?
- A slum is a densely populated area marked by poverty, inadequate basic facilities, and a lack of tenure security.
- According to the Census of India 2011, a slum is a residential area where dwellings are unfit for human habitation due to reasons such as dilapidation, overcrowding, faulty arrangements and design of such buildings, narrowness or faulty arrangement of streets, lack of ventilation, light, or sanitation facilities, or any combination of these factors that are detrimental to the safety and health.
Factors responsible for growth in slums:
- Population burst: Population coupled with poverty forces the urban poor to live in slums. India’s urban population density has increased by 45%, and with this increase, the density of urban population also increases, creating a huge demand for land.
- This shortage of land forces the urban poor to live in increasingly dense communities, creating slums.
- Poor urban governance: Governments fail to incorporate slum dwellers as a part of their overall planning, which often leaves them unattended. Meanwhile, outdated urban planning regulations, which are typically bypassed by slum dwellers to meet their housing needs, also create slums.
- Lack of affordable housing: The cost of living in urban and semi-urban areas has doubled over the period of time.
- Recent data from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation indicates a substantial increase in average monthly per capita expenditure in urban areas compared to previous years.
- Rural to urban migration: More people from rural areas move towards cities in search of better opportunities, and this high influx of people into the cities ultimately causes housing shortages, unemployment, and leads to the development of slums.
Slum Development and Housing Schemes in India
- National Slum Development Programme (NSDP) (1996): Provided loans and subsidies to states for slum rehabilitation based on urban slum population.
- Valmiki Ambedkar Malina Basti Awas Yojana (VAMBAY) (2001): Focused on shelter for the urban poor, allocating 20% of funds for sanitation under Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan.
- Basic Services to the Urban Poor (BSUP)—Part of JNNURM, aimed at providing essential services to the urban poor in 63 major cities.
- Integrated Housing & Slum Development Programme (IHSDP): Merged NSDP and VAMBAY to provide shelter and infrastructure to urban slum dwellers.
- Interest Subsidy Scheme for Housing the Urban Poor (ISHUP): Offered interest subsidies to economically weaker sections for housing.
- Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY) (2013): Integrated slums into the formal system, addressed housing shortages, and improved amenities for slum dwellers.
- Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana—Housing for All (Urban) (2015)—aims to provide housing for all by 2022 through:
- In-situ slum rehabilitation using private developers.
- Credit-Linked Subsidy for affordable housing.
- Public-Private Partnerships for housing development.
Way forward:
- Secure Property Rights: Grant residents legal ownership of their homes, allowing them to leverage property as a financial asset.
- Infrastructure Development: Upgrade essential services, including water, electricity, sewage, solid waste management, street lighting, and enhanced security measures.
- Planned Urban Zoning: Introduce high-density, low-income zones where residents can safely upgrade homes and legally rent properties for commercial use.
- Policy intervention: Governments at all levels should implement effective urban planning, housing, and population policies based on housing rights and the right to a clean environment.
Mains Question:
- India’s urban development is yet to be inclusive. Comment. (250 words)
