Slums And The Solution

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Recommended: Solutions to poverty in urban areas

Matthew Freihofner Professor Sellers POSC 363 May 13th, 2014 Slums and the Solution; Bangalore and Mumbai India is one of the most populated countries in the entire world, second only to China. Accounting for 17.4% of the world’s population, the socio-economic issues effect more than just the country itself. One of the country’s more notable issues is the large urban slums. Shown in movies such as, Slumdog Millionaire, the slums are becoming a well-known issue. The census defines slum, A Slum, for the purpose of Census, has been defined as residential areas where dwellings are unfit for human habitation by reasons of dilapidation, overcrowding, faulty arrangements and design of such buildings, narrowness or faulty arrangement of street, lack of ventilation, light, or sanitation facilities or any combination of these factors which are detrimental to the safety and health. (CENSUS 2011; Dr. Chandramouli) Specifically, Bangalore and Mumbai, two of India’s largest cities, are faced with a crisis. The slums that people are living in are both inhumane and often dangerous. There is a lack of support whether it is access to clean drinking water or medical help, the inhabitants of these slums face perilous conditions. The route of the problems associated with slums lies in the infrastructure and lack thereof. Without proper public transportation, proper medical care, sanitary conditions, clean drinking water, the slums will not be able to evolve. The solution lies not only in the hands of the government but as well as with NGO’s and the private sector. It is only thru the combined efforts of these parties that a true, permanent, solution can be achieved. Bangalore, also known as Bengaluru, is a major city in southern India. It is the ... ... middle of paper ... ... of owning the property, houses are built all over and unregulated. This leaves residents with lack of basic services such clean or accessible water, sewage, sanitation, medical care, crime protection, fire protection, and several other necessities to a functioning urban development. Without public transportation the inhabitants are very limited with jobs opportunities and a means to get by. Accounting for large percentages of both cities populations, if the slums aren’t taken care of, there only going to get worse. Migrations to both of these cities are rapidly and explosively expanding which is constantly pushing the limits of the infrastructure. The involvement of the private sector is also an important aspect. Without it, the government is left to tackle these problems alone and because of politics and under funding can often take very long to do so, if ever.

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