Urbanization & Associated Issues

Informal settlements and slums, commonly known as shanty towns, are residential zones typified by substandard housing, inadequate access to fundamental services, and uncertain land tenure, and are materializing due to the swift urbanization, rural-to-urban migration, and a scarcity of affordable housing choices. According to the United Nations, around 1 billion people worldwide inhabit informal settlements, with 6.5 crore residing in slums in India, as reported by the 2011 Census. Further, according to a 2015 report by PwC and Save the Children, nearly one in six urban Indian residents lives in a slum. These communities confront a multitude of challenges, encompassing the following aspects:

Challenges Faced by Informal Settlements and Slums:

• Inadequate Infrastructure: The absence of proper infrastructure, including roads, sanitation, and electricity, is a prevalent challenge in informal settlements and slums. For instance, areaslike Kusumpur Pahari in Delhi lack proper roads and sewage systems, leading to poor living conditions and health risks.
• Basic Service Deficiency: The lack of access to essential services such as clean water, healthcare, and education is a pressing issue. Reports indicate that a significant portion of slum households, approximately 30%, lack access to clean drinking water, impeding the overall health and well-being of residents.
• Vulnerability to Disasters: Many informal settlements are situated in vulnerable locations prone to natural disasters such as floods and landslides. The 2013 Uttarakhand flash floods underscored the precariousness of settlements located in high-risk zones. It has also been demonstrated by the 2017 Mumbai floods.
• Lack of Legal Recognition: A lack of legal recognition and secure land tenure exposes residents to eviction threats and displacement. The demolition of settlements like Kathputli Colony in Delhi serves as a poignant example of the vulnerability faced by those without legal protection.
• Cyclical Poverty: Informal settlements and slums present another challenge in the form of perpetuating a cycle of poverty. For instance, the lack of quality education and job opportunities leads to limited upward mobility, trapping individuals in a cycle of disadvantage.
• Insecurity and Crime: High population density, inadequate lighting, and limited law enforcement presence can make slum areas more susceptible to criminal activities. According to a study, approximately 43% of individuals living in informal settlements indicated a rise in minor offenses such as disputes, altercations, and thefts within their community.
• Marginalization and Stigma: Residents of slums often face discrimination and exclusion, limiting their access to opportunities and social inclusion, as demonstrated by the people living in the slum area of Annawadi in Mumbai.
• Environmental Degradation: Overcrowded living conditions and lack of green spaces in these settlements intensify pollution and reduce overall environmental quality, insufficient waste management contributes to environmental degradation, as exemplified by the Dharavi, Mumbai.
• Education: Limited access to quality education, lack of proper infrastructure, overcrowded classrooms, and financial constraints hinder children’s educational attainment in slum areas. For instance, many children in Mumbai’s Dharavi slum struggle to access formal education due to inadequate school facilities.
• Multidimensional Poverty: Overlapping deprivations, such as inadequate housing, lack of clean water, sanitation facilities, and limited healthcare access, contribute to the multidimensional poverty experienced by slum dwellers. In Kolkata’s Sonagachi slum, residents face a range of interconnected challenges, perpetuating their state of poverty.
• Health: The combination of inadequate sanitation, poor waste management, and limited healthcare facilities in slums heightens health risks, leading to higher rates of infectious diseases and insufficient maternal and child healthcare, as observed in Kolkata’s Topsia slum where unsanitary living conditions and restricted medical access exacerbate the situation.
• Women Violence: Slum-dwelling women face heightened vulnerability to violence due to cramped living conditions, lack of security, and limited legal awareness, resulting in challenges to their safety and well-being, exemplified by the women in the slums of Koyambedu, Chennai.

Potential Approaches to Address the Issue:

• Vertical Urbanization and Smart Design: Exploring vertical urbanization and innovative architectural designs can maximize space utilization in cramped slum areas. Concepts like “micro-apartments” and “stackable housing” have shown potential in cities like Hong Kong, providing better living conditions within limited space.
• Mobile Health Clinics and Telemedicine: Implementing mobile health clinics equipped with telemedicine technology can bring essential healthcare services directly to slum areas. The “mClinica” initiative in the Philippines uses mobile technology to improve access to healthcare services in underserved communities.
• Community-Based Disaster Management: Empowering slum communities to become active participants in disaster management can enhance resilience, as exemplified by the COVID management model of Dharavi. Furthermore, projects like the “Participatory Action for Community Enhancement” program in the Philippines engage residents in disaster preparedness, making them active agents of change.
• Blockchain Land Tenure Records: Utilizing blockchain technology to establish secure and transparent land tenure records can protect residents from eviction threats. The “Bitland” project in Ghana uses blockchain to register land ownership, ensuring transparency and reducing land disputes.
• Skillful Upcycling and Waste Innovation: Encouraging residents to engage in upcycling and waste management initiatives can create economic opportunities while addressing environmental challenges. “Trash for Education” in Cambodia incentivizes waste collection by providing school fees to children in exchange for collected recyclables.
• Social Entrepreneurship Incubators: Establishing incubators within slum areas to foster social entrepreneurship can generate local economic growth. The “Hub-in-a-Box” initiative in Nairobi, Kenya, supports entrepreneurs with training, resources, and mentorship to create sustainable businesses.
• Green Energy Microgrids: Implementing microgrids powered by renewable energy sources can provide reliable electricity to slum communities. The “Kamuthi Solar Power Project” in India showcases how large-scale solar installations can bring clean energy to remote areas.
• Digital Learning Hubs: Creating digital learning hubs within slum areas can bridge educational gaps by providing access to online educational resources. The “eVidyaloka” initiative in India connects volunteer teachers with slum students for virtual tutoring sessions.
• Community Policing and Awareness: Implement community-based policing initiatives that involve local residents in monitoring and preventing criminal activities, fostering security through shared responsibility. For example, in Mumbai’s Dharavi, community watch groups have successfully contributed to a safer environment.
• Improved Lighting and Infrastructure: Enhance street lighting and infrastructure to discourage criminal activities and increase visibility at night. Pune’s Yerwada slum exemplifies this approach, where improved lighting and paths have positively impacted safety.
• Engaging Youth in Skill Development: Initiate skill development programs targeting youth, reducing vulnerability to criminal influences. In Chennai’s Perumbakkam slum, youth training in trades like computer literacy has empowered them with employable skills.
• Reskilling and Upskilling Adults: Introduce reskilling opportunities for adults to enhance employability and reduce reliance on criminal activities. The Kurla slum in Mumbai showcases success in providing adults with skills in carpentry and welding.
• Implementing SMART PDS (Public Distribution System): Incorporate technology-driven solutions in essential services like food distribution, reducing corruption and related criminal activities. Delhi’s Bhalswa slum has effectively utilized SMART PDS for transparent ration delivery.

Confronted by multifaceted challenges within informal settlements and slums, an innovative and collaborative approach aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly Goal 11 for sustainable cities and communities, becomes imperative for transformation. Through the synergistic use of technology, community engagement, and creative design, we can effectively tackle these issues, leading to improved living standards, economic prospects, and holistic well-being.