Lecture 30: Urbanization and Slums

IIT Roorkee July 2018
30 Aug 202144:13
EducationalLearning
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TLDRThe video discusses the key issues around slums and informal settlements in cities, examining the link with rapid urbanization and gaps in planning and governance. It reviews global slum population trends, concepts like slums vs informal settlements, reasons for slum proliferation, harsh living conditions, and potential policy and planning interventions. Case studies of slum upgrading approaches in India and internationally are touched upon. Overall, the talk analyzes the persistent housing inadequacy and slum challenge that remains an impediment to sustainable urbanization and calls for inclusive, participatory solutions.

Takeaways
  • 😟 The rapid growth of slums is a major challenge linked to urbanization trends, especially in developing countries
  • 📉 Over 1 billion people were living in slums globally in 2018, with the highest rates in Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America
  • 🏘️ Slums lack durable housing, sufficient living area, water, sanitation, secure tenure and pose risks to health and wellbeing
  • 🔍 Monitoring slum populations is critical to meet SDG 11 on sustainable communities and the New Urban Agenda
  • 🤝 A people-centric, participatory approach focused on community priorities is needed for slum upgrading
  • 🗺️ Slums must be addressed through integrated citywide policies linked to affordable housing and infrastructure
  • 💰 Long term investments in slum upgrading should combine public, private and community-based financing
  • 📜 Providing security of tenure is essential to enable slum dwellers to invest in incremental housing
  • 😥 Health, education, jobs and mobility are daily struggles for slum dwellers with impacts on quality of life
  • 🌇 Case studies like slum networking in India show holistic approaches can substantially transform slums
Q & A

  • What is the link between urbanization and the growth of slums?

    -Rapid urbanization, especially in developing countries, has led to poor planning, governance, and stagnant economies, resulting in the growth of slums and informal settlements with extreme poverty concentrated in them.

  • What is the projected global slum population by 2025?

    -It is estimated that Asia will have more than 50% of the total global slum population by 2025.

  • How does India define a slum area?

    -India defines a slum area as a compact settlement with at least 300 people or 60-70 households lacking access to basic services like water, sanitation, electricity etc. It can be a notified, recognized or identified slum.

  • What are some reasons for slum growth according to UN Habitat?

    -Some reasons are - weakness in housing policies, poor planning and land management, inability to handle urban migration and densities, natural disasters and conflicts leading to long term poverty.

  • What kind of living conditions exist in slums?

    -Slum dwellers lack security of tenure and live in overcrowded, unsafe areas with limited sanitation, open sewage, lack of clean water, and common open defecation areas.

  • What does the UN recommend for slum upgrading and prevention?

    -Recommendations include - people-centric approach, government leadership, strengthened policies, systemic & large scale approaches, community participation, tenure security, financing support, data collection etc.

  • What government programs aim to provide housing and services to the urban poor in India?

    -Some key programs are - Valmiki Ambedkar Awas Yojana, Rajiv Awas Yojana, JNNURM, National Urban Livelihoods Mission, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana etc.

  • How does the Slum Networking approach work?

    -It takes a holistic approach for the entire city, reducing costs and mobilizing resources significantly while increasing community responsibilities and overall quality of life.

  • What is the objective of the Shelter for Urban Homeless scheme?

    -It aims to ensure availability and access of urban homeless people to permanent shelters and provide special services to vulnerable groups like women, children, disabled etc.

  • What are some examples of slum redevelopment projects in Indian cities?

    -Some examples are - Dharavi in Mumbai, Nochikuppam in Chennai, Basanti slum in Kolkata which employed different redevelopment schemes.

Outlines
00:00
😀 Link between urbanization and slums

The lecture begins by establishing the link between rapid urbanization and the growth of slums, especially in developing countries. Lack of adequate housing and urban infrastructure leads to informal settlements where poverty is concentrated. It's estimated over 3 billion people globally will require adequate housing by 2030.

05:03
🌆 Global slum population trends

The second paragraph examines slum population trends globally and regionally. Asia has over 50% of the total slum population projected by 2025. The map shows share of urban population living in slums by country. India has reduced slum population from 60% to 40% between 1990-2018 but still high.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡urbanization
Urbanization refers to the population shift from rural to urban areas. The video links urbanization to the growth of slums, explaining that rapid urbanization without proper planning and governance often results in inadequate housing and proliferation of slums.
💡slum
A slum refers to informal settlements lacking adequate housing and basic services. The video analyzes trends in slum populations globally and regionally. It also examines definitions of slums and life within slum communities.
💡informal settlement
Informal settlements lack legal recognition and tenure security. Residents have no formal rights to the land and housing. The video distinguishes informal settlements from slums based on adequacy of infrastructure and services.
💡housing
Housing conditions are a central focus, discussed in context of adequacy, durability, accessibility, affordability and other criteria. Inadequate housing is linked to proliferation of slums and informal settlements globally.
💡sanitation
Sanitation refers to availability of clean water and toilet facilities. Lack of sanitation is a defining trait of slums highlighted throughout the video and a key parameter in slum improvement initiatives.
💡infrastructure
Infrastructure comprises amenities like water, sanitation, electricity etc. The video analyzes how lack of adequate infrastructure in informal settlements and slums perpetuates poverty.
💡tenure
Tenure refers to the legal right to land and housing. Lack of security of tenure is characteristic of slums and informal settlements, enabling forced evictions.
💡upgradation
Upgradation refers to slum improvement programs that provide housing, infrastructure and services. The video discusses upgradation frameworks and interventions at length.
💡clearance
Slum clearance programs aim to completely remove or relocate slum settlements. This method is compared to participatory upgradation methods focused on in-situ upgrading.
💡governance
Governance gaps are identified as an underlying cause of inadequate housing and growth of slums. The video thus stresses need for government leadership in slum upgradation and prevention.
Highlights

Steady trend towards urbanization will influence every phase of human work including health, economic, social and environmental aspects

High rates of urbanization in developing countries have shown stagnating economies and poor planning, creating extreme poverty concentrated in slums

Housing and slum challenge remains critical in persistence of poverty, depriving people of adequate housing

Asia estimated to have over 50% of total global slum population by 2025

India brought down share of urban population living in slums from 60% in 1990 to under 40% in 2018

UN defines slum as lacking durable housing, sufficient living area, improved water, sanitation or secure tenure

Data to monitor slums comes from sources like census, surveys, living standards and service benchmarks

Slum growth caused by housing policy weaknesses, poor planning and management, disasters, conflicts and poverty

Life in slums characterized by lack of tenure security, overcrowding, limited sanitation, open defecation, health issues

UN framework calls for recognizing slum challenges, people-centric solutions, government leadership and systemic approaches

Interventions include Participatory Slum Upgrading Program across 35 ACP countries and Street Led City Wide Slum Upgradation

India has programs like National Slum Improvement, Slum Rehabilitation, Basic Services for Urban Poor

Examples of slum upgrades: Dharavi in Mumbai, Norchi Kuppam in Chennai, Basanta Slum in Kolkata

Slum Networking Approach conceived in Ahmedabad adopted holistic citywide approach with community participation

Kampung informal settlements in Indonesia upgraded through participatory approach bringing environmental and quality of life improvements

Transcripts

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