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‘Family’ Land Scam: WHAT ABOUT SLUMS, URBANISATION?, By Dhurjati Mukherjee, 29 Apr, 2014 Print E-mail

Election Spotlight

29 April 2014, New Delhi

‘Family’ Land Scam

WHAT ABOUT SLUMS, URBANISATION?

By Dhurjati Mukherjee

 

The BJP’s promise that it will put the ‘land deals’ of Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra under the scanner is hardly going to cut much ice with the nation’s slum dwellers. How will the probe, into yet another alleged scam of the Congress, solve their problem? In all probability, notwithstanding the tall promises being made, change in priorities for development may just elude this section of vote bank after elections. 

 

A re-look at the manifestoes of both the Congress and BJP, on this score distressingly reveals that that there has been no mention of slum upgradation or renovation. The 2001 census found 27.5 per cent of the country’s urban population in slums but in 2011, the figure had fallen by 17.4 per cent – 1.37 crores out of a total population of 7.89 crores.

 

The highest proportion of slum dwellers was in Andhra Pradesh of 35.7 per cent followed by Madhya Pradesh (28.3), Maharashtra (28.3) and Bengal (21.9). It may be worth mentioning that even the Census authorities define a slum as a residential area where the dwelling are “unfit for human habitation” for reasons of “dilapidation, overcrowding, faulty arrangement and design of buildings, narrowness or faulty arrangement of streets and lack of ventilation, light, sanitation facilities”.

    

Unfortunately, though the urban explosion in most Third World countries, including India, has become a major problem the issue is yet to sink in. A Mckinsey Global report placed India at the forefront of urban uncertainty. With rapid urbanization, the country’s towns are expected to populate to dangerously high levels. In barely another 10 years, 35 cities will grow into megacities – each with a population of 10 million. The current 30 per cent of slum dwellers will double, present traffic movement will dwindle by 35-40 per cent and an average family space will shrink from 2000 sq. ft. ordinary room size to a mere 80 sq. ft.  

 

In this background, while the BJP manifesto has given a clear thrust to urbanization keeping in view the fact that the country’s greatest challenge is its unpreparedness to cope with rapid urbanization, it is not enough. As is well known, by 2020, around 40 per cent of the population will be urban, contributing 70 to 75 per cent of the GDP. Thus, the intention of setting up 100 new cities, as mentioned in the manifesto, should augur well for the economy.

 

Along with the setting up of new cities, infrastructure of the existing ones has to be substantially improved. Adequate sewerage facilities and potable drinking water needs to be made available to the rising population of cities and towns. Even suburban areas close to metros lack sewerage facilities while in some the water is contaminated. Water contamination is a big problem, specially in eastern and central States and needs to be tackled through collaboration with research institutes and Central government funding.

 

Most municipalities do not have the wherewithal of providing basic necessities to the inhabitants and, apart from collection of taxes, ways and means have to be ensured to mobilize resources for the above purpose, apart from asking for Central assistance. Tax rates have, in most cases, not been revised and this should be a priority of municipalities where no intervention should be entertained.

 

In this connection, housing for the low income groups and the economically weaker sections has been a big problem. While the government is giving land – sometimes at subsidized rates -- to promoters and builders, not much low-cost housing is available for these sections. There has to be clear cut decisions and both the Centre and Sates should evolve a uniform policy in this regard (housing for low income groups). Also rates of housing finance for HIG, MIG, LIG and EWS have to be separate and fixed by the Finance Ministry and both the nationalized and private banks have to adhere to this.

 

While the UPA has already carried out work in this regard through the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Development Mission (JNNURM), which witnessed considerable rejuvenation in urban areas, fund requirement is much more to combat the dimension of the problem as the population density has been increasing rapidly.   

 

However, housing for the EWS and the poor has to be taken up in right earnest. Though the Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAW) focused on the poorer sections of society, requirement was much more than the paltry flats that were made available. Experts say the projects could achieve economies of scale by having 2000 to 3000 houses at one time in a single location, using alternative and local materials like machine-made bricks, particle boards and PVC material, environment-friendly building material from industrial and agricultural wastes (like fly ash, stone dust etc.) and adopting economical construction systems. 

 

Land is obviously the most critical problem for resettlement of residents of slums and squatters. Resettlement far off from the city has not been quite effective because these residents have to commute to the city daily for their livelihood. This factor has to be taken into consideration in preparing schemes of rehabilitation as shelter and employment are intrinsically connected. Experts have suggested that at least 25 per cent of new development area should be earmarked for affordable low-cost housing.

 

Though the Government decided to upgrade slums by giving a part of the land for slum re-housing and allotting the other part to the developer for commercial use, not much headway has been made. The new government has to formulate a judicious action plan with necessary budgetary allocation to upgrade slums and squatter settlements, specially in metros and big cities, make these liveable with basic amenities like water, sanitary toilets, sewerage etc.   

While the tasks ahead are quite daunting, political will and also mobilization of resources are necessary to rejuvenate the cities. Merely providing better facilities to the rich and the upper middle class does not solve the problem; focus on how lower income groups and the EWS live is required.

 

It is thus necessary that plans and projects have to be planned with a definite pro-poor approach and on a realistic basis. However, the following actions must be made a note of by the next government. Be it in a phased manner, it should   through a comprehensive strategy in consultation with the National Institute of Urban Affairs and the proposed Indian Institute of Urban Management plan: Regularization of unauthorized colonies; wherever it is not possible a phased and well-thought out relocation plan should be worked out; Slum upgradation/ renovation and progressive housing development should be simultaneous with bestowing occupancy rights.  

 

There must also be stoppage on forced evictions; however where absolutely necessary ‘proper’ rehabilitation should be arranged with the basic facilities like water and sanitation, educational facilities and communication network; Reinstating housing or shelter rights to the displaced, including all those evicted in recent years, in a ‘proper’ way with the JNNURM’s funds or any other scheme; Based on the principle that water is life and sanitation is dignity, coverage of water supply and sanitation services to be made available by governments or responsible agencies to slum dwellers irrespective of their tenure status.

 

The above recommendations may well already be in some files in the Urban Development Ministry. How soon the new incumbent ensures the dust being brushed off these, is the big question. ---INFA

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)

 

 

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