Issues Related To Slum Redevelopment

Slums, characterized by inadequate housing and basic services, pose a significant challenge to urban development worldwide, particularly in rapidly urbanizing nations like India. This article delves into the complexities of slum growth, focusing on the Indian context, exploring the factors contributing to their proliferation, the consequences for residents, and the various strategies employed for slum redevelopment and upgrading.

What Is A Slum?

According to the United Nations Program on Human Settlements, a slum is “a contiguous settlement where the inhabitants have inadequate housing and basic services. A slum is often not recognized and addressed by the public authorities as an integral or equal part of the city.”

Purpose

The primary purpose of this article is to delve into the key issues and challenges associated with slum redevelopment projects.By providing global and Indian perspectives on slum growth, including statistics and underlying factors.

• Understand the complexities of slum redevelopment: By discussing the challenges faced in implementing successful redevelopment projects, such as:
• Social and economic disparities: Addressing the needs and concerns of slum dwellers while ensuring their participation in the redevelopment process.
• Land ownership and tenure issues: Resolving land disputes and ensuring secure land rights for slum dwellers.
• Financing and resource allocation: Securing adequate funding and efficiently utilizing resources for sustainable redevelopment.
• Urban planning and infrastructure development: Integrating redeveloped areas into the broader urban fabric, providing adequate infrastructure, and ensuring long-term sustainability.

Theme

The article will discuss the global and Indian perspectives on slum growth, including statistics and underlying factors. It will discuss the challenges faced in implementing successful redevelopment projects, such as social and economic disparities, land ownership and tenure issues, financing and resource allocation, and urban planning and infrastructure development. The existing programs and policies in India aimed at slum redevelopment, such as PMAY-U, IHSDP, and ISHUP, and their effectiveness were analyzed.

Understanding The Growth Of Slums: A Global & Indian Perspective

According to UN-Habitat, over 1 billion people live in slums, and the number is projected to increase due to urban population growth, especially in developing countries. Smaller cities and towns in many regions record faster growth in slum populations than major cities.

Globally, slums are characterized by inadequate housing, lack of access to basic services like clean water and sanitation, and often insecure tenure. Rapid urbanization, poverty, and inequality are major drivers of slum growth worldwide.

As one of the world's most populous countries, India has a significant share of slum-dwellers. The 2011 Census reported around 65 million people living in slums, a number likely to have increased since. Major cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, and Kolkata have large slum populations, with Dharavi in Mumbai being one of the most famous.

During the last two decades; migration from villages and small towns to metropolitan areas has increased tremendously in India. It leads to the degradation of urban environmental quality and sustainable development, especially in metropolitan cities. Every year, hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children die worldwide, and India alone is responsible for 25% of the deaths.

India is the third largest country that suffers from poverty, malnutrition, diseases, unhealthy conditions, and more in Indian slums, which is alone responsible for more deaths of children than any other country in the world. Because of the dramatic rise of slums after independence, India’s population has tripled. Most of the population is currently slum dwellers in India. According to the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, about 34% of India's population lived in urban areas in 2019, and this is projected to reach 40% by 2030, contributing to the expansion of slums.

Upgrading Slums : A Key To Sustainable Cities

The economic disparity between the rural and urban population is a key factor pulling/inducing the rural poor population towards cities in search of economic betterment. Cities grow by migration, natural increase, and reclassification of rural areas as urban. The migration and urbanization process, with city authorities not being able to provide space to the increasing number of poor that cities need, has led to the mushrooming of slums.

Developing Countries like India need to recognize that the slum dwellers and not just beneficiaries of development. Developing cities requires local solutions. Local authorities need to be empowered with financial and human resources to deliver services and infrastructure to the slum dwellers in India. Cities must draw up local long-term strategies for improving the lives of slum dwellers in India.

The Government of India has adopted a two-pronged approach to deal with the problems of slums and urban poverty in the country: These include the provision of basic services and shelter to the urban poor and addressing their concerns of skill development, employment, and income generation.

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U) - It has In-Situ Slum Redevelopment (ISSR) as one of its four components under which slum rehabilitation can be taken up using land as a resource. The Integrated Housing & Slum Development Programme (IHSDP) merged the National Slum Development Programme (NSDP) and Valmiki Ambedkar Malina Basti Awas Yojana (VAMBAY). It sought to offer adequate shelter and infrastructure to slum dwellers in urban areas.

State governments have to develop strategies to prevent the formation of new slums. These should include access to affordable land, reasonably priced materials, employment opportunities, and basic infrastructure and social services.

Public investments must focus on providing access to basic services and infrastructure. The cities need to invest in housing, water, sanitation, energy, and urban services, such as garbage disposal. These services and infrastructure must reach the poor living in informal settlements.

The transportation needs and safety concerns of a city’s poorest residents should be a high priority in planning urban transportation systems, which can expand the choices people have regarding where to live and work.

The Interest Subsidy Scheme for Housing the Urban Poor (ISHUP) - The Scheme envisages the provision of interest subsidy to EWS and LIG segments to enable them to buy or construct houses. It will provide home loans with Central Government subsidy to EWS/LIG persons for the acquisition of houses as well as for the construction of houses.

The Need For Slum Redevelopment

Slums are characterized by high population density, resulting in cramped and inadequate living spaces. This leads to a lack of privacy, increased stress, and difficulty in maintaining hygiene. The houses are often constructed from makeshift materials, lacking durability and safety. Example: Dharavi is Asia’s largest slum. It is spread over 2.5 square kilometers and has a population density of 227,136/square kilometer.

Many slums have limited access to essential services like clean drinking water, sanitation, and reliable electricity. Contaminated water and poor hygiene lead to health risks. The scarcity of toilets forces residents to use open spaces or overcrowded public facilities, exacerbating health and dignity concerns. The conditions in slums, including poor sanitation, inadequate nutrition, and overcrowded living spaces, contribute to the spread of communicable diseases like tuberculosis and cholera. Limited access to healthcare exacerbates these issues. Unhealthy living conditions result from a lack of basic services, with visible, open sewers, lack of pathways, uncontrolled dumping of waste, polluted environments, etc. Their houses can be built on hazardous locations or land unsuitable for settlement, such as floodplains, in proximity to industrial plants with toxic emissions or waste disposal sites, and areas subject to a landslip. The settlement layout may be hazardous because of a lack of accessways and high densities of dilapidated structures.

A significant portion of slum residents are employed in the informal sector, which offers unstable and low-paying jobs. This lack of job security and benefits such as healthcare and pensions contributes to the economic vulnerability of these populations. Women in slums face specific challenges, including limited access to healthcare, especially reproductive health services, and higher vulnerability to violence. Cultural and societal norms often restrict their mobility and access to education and employment opportunities. Many slums are built on land without legal permission, making it difficult for the government to provide basic services or enforce regulations. This uncertain legal status also leaves residents vulnerable to evictions and displacement.

Social Economic Consequences Of Slums

Children in slums face challenges in accessing quality education. Schools in these areas are typically under-resourced, with high student-teacher ratios and inadequate infrastructure. This results in lower literacy rates and educational attainment, perpetuating the cycle of poverty.A significant portion of slum residents are employed in the informal sector, which offers unstable and low-paying jobs. This lack of job security and benefits such as healthcare and pensions contributes to the economic vulnerability of these populations. Women in slums face specific challenges, including limited access to healthcare, especially reproductive health services, and higher vulnerability to violence. Cultural and societal norms often restrict their mobility and access to education and employment opportunities. Many slums are built on land without legal permission, making it difficult for the government to provide basic services or enforce regulations. This uncertain legal status also leaves residents vulnerable to evictions and displacement.

Need For Planned And Sustainable Urban Development

Housing status in slums is mostly inadequate, and problems include insecure tenure, overcrowding, and lack of basic services leading to deplorable living conditions. It is also true that tenure insecurity itself powers the vicious cycle of poverty. The insecurity of tenure, along with urban poverty, reinforces social exclusion and propagates squatter and slum settlements. Therefore we must look after them and help them uplift their basic living standards.

Slum development is essential for promoting social equity and inclusivity. It ensures that marginalized and vulnerable populations have access to decent housing, clean water, sanitation, education, and healthcare, reducing social disparities. Improved slum development leads to better health outcomes. Access to clean water, sanitation, hygiene facilities, and healthcare services can reduce the spread of diseases and enhance the overall well-being of slum residents. Slum development initiatives often include provisions for better educational facilities. This allows children in slum areas to receive quality education, breaking the cycle of poverty and providing a brighter future.

In-Situ Upgrading, Resettlement, Redevelopment

The primary goal of in-situ upgrading is to enhance the living conditions within the current slum areas, improve infrastructure, and provide adequate housing for slum dwellers without displacing them. This process ensures that people remain in their existing communities, maintaining access to work, social networks, and services while transitioning to formal urban settlements. In-situ slum rehabilitation using land as a resource with private participation for providing housing to eligible slum dwellers is an important component of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) – Housing for All mission.

This approach aims to leverage the locked potential of land under slums to provide houses to the eligible slum dwellers bringing them into the formal urban settlement. Slumsso redeveloped should compulsorily be denotified. In Situ Slum Redevelopment (ISSR, part of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana—Urban scheme), ISSR’s focus on attracting private capital to redevelop India’s slums reflects a perceived rent gap on slum lands. This paper dissects this perception using a probabilistic simulation model to assess the scheme’s feasibility and profitability, integrating data on slums, real estate markets, and policy incentives.

Resettlement generally refers to the relocation of slum dwellers to new areas, often far from their original homes. While this can be a solution in some cases, it disrupts livelihoods and community ties. In contrast, in-situ upgrading is less disruptive as it allows residents to stay in their original locations while their living conditions are improved.

Resettlement can be a necessary option when the physical upgrading of slums isn't feasible, but in-situ upgrading minimizes displacement, which is often a major challenge in slum rehabilitation efforts.

Through redevelopment and resettlement strategies that focus on improving the living conditions of slum dwellers while keeping them within their original communities, this approach aligns with the broader goals of the Housing for All mission and aims to create more inclusive, sustainable urban spaces.

Key Issues & Challenges In Slum Redevelopment

Land ownership and tenure in India are characterized by a complex mix of government, private, disputed, and forest land. This complexity, coupled with unclear land titles and insecure tenure, particularly for slum dwellers, creates significant challenges. Land acquisition for development projects often leads to displacement and resettlement issues, further exacerbated by the involvement of land mafias and vested interests. The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, aims to address these concerns by providing for fair compensation, rehabilitation, and resettlement of those affected by land acquisition.

Conclusion

Slum redevelopment is a complex undertaking, requiring a multi-faceted approach that addresses not only physical infrastructure but also the social, economic, and legal dimensions of slum life. While government programs like PMAY-U and IHSDP provide a framework, their success hinges on effective implementation, community participation, and addressing the root causes of slum formation, such as poverty, inequality, and lack of affordable housing.

FAQs

A few FAQs on Issues Related To Slum Redevelopment are:

Q1. How many people live in slums in India?

The 2011 Census reported around 65 million slum dwellers in India, a number likely to have increased since.

Q2. What is the Indian government doing to address the slum problem?

The Indian government has implemented programs like PMAY-U (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban) and IHSDP (Integrated Housing & Slum Development Programme) to provide housing and basic services to slum dwellers.

Q3. What are the challenges in slum redevelopment projects?

Challenges include land ownership issues, financing, social and economic disparities, and integrating redeveloped areas into the broader urban fabric.

Q4. What is the role of the PMAY-U scheme in slum redevelopment?

PMAY-U includes In-Situ Slum Redevelopment (ISSR) as a component, using land as a resource to provide housing to eligible slum dwellers.

Q5. What are the different strategies for slum redevelopment?

The main strategies are in-situ upgrading (improving existing slums), resettlement (relocating residents), and redevelopment (completely rebuilding the area).