Question

Explain the problems faced by slum dwellers in urban areas. How do these problems impact their quality of life?

Answer 1

Urban centres in India are more differentiated in terms of the socioeconomic, politico-cultural and other indicators of development. On one hand there are bungalows, high-rise apartments, etc., and on the other, there are slums, jhuggi-jhopari clusters and colonies of shanty structures.

1. Slums are inhabited by those people who were forced to migrate from the rural areas to these urban centres in search of livelihood but could not afford proper housing due to high rent and high costs of land.
2. 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.
3. Open defecation, unregulated drainage systems and overcrowded narrow street patterns are serious health and socio-environmental hazards.

Most of the slum population works in low-paid, high-risk-prone, unorganised sectors of the urban economy. These conditions make their lives harder.

1. Consequently, they are undernourished, prone to different types of diseases and illnesses and cannot afford to give proper education to their children. 
2. The poverty makes them vulnerable to drug abuse, alcoholism, crime, vandalism, escapism, apathy and ultimately social exclusion.