Are slums developing?

By Kshitij Gaikwad

What is slum development?

Slum development in India represents a critical initiative aimed at enhancing the living conditions of marginalized communities, but its effectiveness varies across states due to a range of factors.1 Slum development encompasses endeavors to improve the living conditions and overall well-being of slum dwellers, addressing issues such as inadequate housing, basic amenities, overcrowding, and poor infrastructure.2 The core focus of these initiatives is to uplift marginalized communities by providing them with access to essential services, including clean water, sanitation, healthcare, education, and sustainable livelihood opportunities.3

The government's objective is to transform slums into habitable, safe, and sustainable living spaces, seamlessly integrating them into the broader urban landscape while offering residents an improved quality of life.

This complex task necessitates collaboration among governments, non-governmental organizations, communities, and various stakeholders to tackle the multifaceted challenges of slum living.4

Failing to work together in this endeavor can result in persistent poverty, deteriorating health, social unrest, environmental degradation, and economic stagnation.

PMAY as a solution

India is home to a substantial slum population, particularly in states like Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. Policies have been formulated by the government to address slum development challenges, such as the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), which has both urban and rural components.

PMAY has made substantial progress, constructing millions of houses and enhancing living conditions. It incorporates initiatives like "in-situ" slum rehabilitation, promotion of affordable housing for economically disadvantaged individuals through a credit-linked subsidy, and affordable housing partnerships with the public and private sectors. The government's subsidies for individual house construction or improvement also encourage self-sufficiency among beneficiaries.

Despite these positive efforts, ongoing monitoring, and periodic reviews are imperative to ensure the effective implementation of PMAY and the achievement of the "Housing for All" goal by 2022. Comparatively, PMAY-Urban has shown delays, attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, state-specific issues, unclear land titles, and fund withholding.

Several states are struggling to meet their housing construction targets under PMAY-U, with Bihar having one of the lowest completion rates due to issues related to unclear titles and documents. Additionally, some states have withheld funds due to political disputes or alleged rebranding of the scheme. Goa, Delhi, and Chandigarh have met their housing construction targets, while Bihar and Andhra Pradesh lag behind.5

To address these challenges and promote sustainable urban development, it is crucial to continue efforts to resolve state-specific issues, ensuring that all slum residents have access to basic amenities.

Local bodies play a critical role

In an interview with the Slum Rehabilitation Officer of PCMC, he explained that when addressing a slum, their approach involves conducting a comprehensive survey of the area. This survey is conducted to determine the population residing in the slum, assess the condition of their housing, and verify the legality of the land. Once these crucial aspects are assessed, the slum rehabilitation program focuses on providing essential facilities, including access to clean water, improved housing facilities, and the necessary infrastructure to uplift the living conditions in the slum.

Addressing slums is crucial for social equity, urban development, and poverty reduction, as it enables residents to break free from substandard living conditions and access the services and opportunities they need for a better quality of life. With improved housing, access to education, healthcare services, livelihood opportunities, legal recognition, and enhanced safety measures, the transformation of slum areas promotes community health, safety, and environmental sustainability, ultimately contributing to the development of more inclusive and sustainable urban environments in the country.

All slums aren't seen as slums

In my local area, there are two distinct slums: one is officially recognized and is undergoing rehabilitation and development by the government. However, the other, known as Shantinagar, remains keeping it off the government's radar.

This slum faces numerous challenges, including inadequate housing, a lack of basic services, health issues for women, unemployment among men, and limited access to education for children. To improve this situation, Shantinagar should be identified. This would grant its residents access to necessary facilities, ultimately leading to a more equitable and thriving society.

When a slum is officially addressed and recognized, it typically gains access to a range of essential facilities and services aimed at improving the living conditions of its residents. These facilities may include improved housing, basic services like clean water, sanitation, electricity, healthcare, and education, as well as infrastructure development, sustainable planning, and social and economic empowerment.

This comprehensive approach leads to a significant enhancement in the overall quality of life for slum dwellers.6

In conclusion, slum development in India is a critical endeavor to improve the living conditions and overall well-being of marginalized communities. While the government has formulated policies like the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) to address slum development challenges, the effectiveness of these initiatives varies across states and faces challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, unclear land titles, and fund withholding. Officially recognized slums that undergo rehabilitation typically gain access to essential facilities and services, leading to a significant enhancement in the overall quality of life for residents.7 

Addressing slums is crucial for social equity, urban development, and poverty reduction, as it enables residents to break free from substandard living conditions and access the services and opportunities they need for a better quality of life.

Efforts to resolve state-specific issues and ensure access to basic amenities for all slum residents are imperative for promoting sustainable urban development. This collaborative approach, involving governments, non-governmental organizations, communities, and various stakeholders, is essential to uplift these communities and create more inclusive and sustainable urban environments. Ultimately, addressing the multifaceted challenges of slum living is a fundamental step towards social equity, urban development, and poverty reduction in India.

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1.Implications for the measurement of health inequalities by Laura B.Nolan 2015. 2.Addressing slum redevelopment issues in India by M.Hindman 2015.  3.Water Supply ,Sanitation and hygiene by G Hutton.

4.Slum upgrading and health equity by J Corburn 2015.

5.PMAY (Urban) January 2021.

6. Implications for the measurement of health inequalities by Laura B.Nolan 2015.

7.Addressing slum redevelopment issues in India by M.Hindman 2015.

Kshitij is a student alumni of Astytva. Currently he is pursuing BA in Economics from DY Patil College, Pune. A football champ, he is also passionate about local politics and financial markets.