Question

Describe the problem of slums in India.

Answer 1

Urban centers in India are more differentiated in terms of the .social-economic, politico-cultural, and other indicators of development than any other area. They represent social-economic disparities of the highest order. On one hand are the highly posh areas with huge farmhouses, wide roads, entertainment centers, and all amenities required for leading a luxurious life, on the other hand, are the slum clusters, generally referred to as “jhuggi- jhopris-clusters and colonies of shanty structures. Those people who were forced to migrate from the rural areas to these urban centers in search of livelihood but could not afford proper housing due to high rent and high costs of land inhabit these slums. They occupy environmentally incompatible and degraded areas.

Slums are residential areas of the least choice, dilapidated houses, poor hygienic conditions, poor ventilation, lack of basic amenities like drinking water, light and toilet facilities, etc. These areas are overcrowded having narrow street patterns prone to serious hazards from fire. Moreover, most of the slum population works in low-paid, high-risk-prone, unorganized sectors of the urban economy. Consequently, they are undernourished, prone to different types of diseases and illnesses, es and can ill afford to give proper education to their children. Poverty makes them vulnerable to drug abuse, alcoholism, crime, vandalism, escapism, apathy, and ultimately social exclusion.

Dharavi, which is the second-largest slum in Asia, shows the extremely miserable and unhygienic conditions of existence. The area is devoid of sanitation and is infested by pests such as rats, causing miserable health conditions for the residents. The lanes of the slum are not wide enough to let a bicycle pass through them. People inhabiting the slum face chronic diseases- both communicable and the ones caused by deficiencies.
The lack of employment opportunities in the rural as well as urban areas of developing nations consistently pushes the population to urban areas.

The enormous migrant population generates a pool of unskilled and semi-skilled labour force, which is already saturated in urban areas. People coming to the slums are affected by the several ills which cities of developing countries face. The available social and economic infrastructure is unable to absorb the additional population. Lack of education, employment, and male selective migration tend to increase the crime rates. Due to failing infrastructure, people living in slums are devoid of the minimum required quantity of potable water. An improper sewage system creates unhealthy conditions. The massive use of traditional fuel severely pollutes the air.