Urbanisation in India is an undeniable reality that stems from the growth and development of the service sector. As the industry expands, the population pressure on cities has intensified. Delhi is a prime example of urbanisation as the sixth-largest metropolis globally, home to a third of its residents living in slums without access to basic necessities.
Understanding Slums
Slums, illegal urban settlements on public lands, develop over time in a haphazard and unchecked manner. However, these settlements are viewed as an inherent part of urbanisation and reflect the overall socio-economic policies and planning in the urban sector. Slums are often described as chaotic, unsystematic, neglected areas overpopulated by persons living in poorly maintained, dilapidated structures. The existence and rapid expansion of slums are global urban phenomena.
Key Points: Urbanisation and its Aftermath
Urbanisation refers to the population shift from rural to urban regions and the subsequent decrease in the proportion of people residing in rural areas. This transition necessitates society’s adaptation to new changes. Rapid urbanisation results in overpopulation, an acute shortage of housing and fundamental amenities, environmental pollution, unemployment, and social unrest. Covid-19 pandemic additionally amplified the woes of the urban poor or slum dwellers who depend on city workers across various sectors.
The Status of Slums in India
India is home to 65.49 million people living in 13.7 million slum households nationwide. Slums border around 65% of Indian cities, with people dwelling in small houses adjacent to one another. Delhi slums are infamous for being the dirtiest among all metropolitan cities in India. A National Service Scheme survey (July 2012-December 2012) unveiled that Delhi contained around 6,343 slums housing over a million households where 52% of the city’s total population resided.
The Impact of Covid-19 on Slum Dwellers
Slum dwellers who form nearly 81% of India’s population working in the informal sector were severely impacted by the sudden Covid-19 lockdown. The loss of employment, dues from previous months, wage reduction, and other effects were reported widely. The urban poor’s access to foodgrain via the Public Distribution System was minimal compared to rural residents. Similarly, social security schemes had better coverage among the rural poor since they had more access to PDS rations.
The Unveiling of Existing Inequalities
The pandemic exposed the harsh realities of slums where hygiene practices like hand washing and physical distancing are impossible to follow. Around 21.8% of slum households in Delhi rely on shared water sources such as public taps. Furthermore, there has been a significant decline in nutritional quality and quantity amongst urban respondents, along with increased borrowing for procuring food.
Issues Arising from Neglecting Slum Development
Neglecting slum development results in several issues including susceptibility to diseases like Typhoid, cholera, Cancer and HIV/AIDS, incidence of social evils like prostitution, begging and child trafficking, and an increase in crime rates due to official neglect. Poverty is a major issue as many slum dwellers earn their livelihood from the informal sector without any financial security or decent wages, leading to a continuous cycle of poverty.
Government Initiatives for Slum Dwellers/Urban Poor
Several government initiatives like Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan (self-reliant India), and PM- Awas Yojana- Urban were undertaken to alleviate the issues faced by slum dwellers.
Recommendations
Increasing the efficiency of welfare and relief schemes, allowing access to free vaccines, ensuring food security and proper shelter in the slums, improving sanitation and transport facilities, establishing clinics and healthcare facilities, and aiding nonprofits and local support bodies are necessary measures to tackle the problems presented by slums.
The Way Forward
New approaches to urban planning and effective governance are required to address these issues. Establishing sustainable, robust, and inclusive infrastructure is a crucial step towards improvement. Recognising the unique challenges faced by the urban poor demands a shift from a top-down to a bottom-up approach.