Day 37 – Q. 3. “Urbanisation in India has often overlooked the needs of the poor. Examine the key challenges faced by the urban poor and suggest practical solutions for inclusive urban development.” (150 words, 10 marks)

Q. 3. “Urbanisation in India has often overlooked the needs of the poor. Examine the key challenges faced by the urban poor and suggest practical solutions for inclusive urban development.” (150 words, 10 marks)

Introduction 

India is urbanising rapidly, with over 35% of the population now living in cities. However, this  growth has been uneven, often marginalising the urban poor in terms of housing, services,  and opportunities—threatening the goal of inclusive urbanisation. 

Body

Challenges Faced by the Urban Poor 

1. Inadequate Housing: Most urban poor live in slums or informal settlements with poor  infrastructure and insecurity of tenure. Example: Over 65 million people live in slums, as  per the 2011 Census. 
2. Lack of Basic Services: Access to clean water, sanitation, electricity, and waste disposal is  limited or absent in many poor urban areas. Example: National Family Health Survey-5 shows urban poor have lower access to piped water than the urban average. 
3. Informal Employment and Low Wages: A large portion of the urban poor work in informal  jobs with no social security or legal protection. Example: Periodic Labour Force Survey  (2022) shows over 70% of urban workers are informally employed. 
4. Health Vulnerabilities: Poor living conditions and lack of health facilities make them prone  to communicable and lifestyle diseases. Example: COVID-19 disproportionately affected  urban slums due to cramped spaces and poor hygiene. 
5. Educational Disparities: Children from poor urban families often drop out or study in  under-resourced schools. Example: ASER reports show large learning gaps between  children in slums and those in formal housing. 
6. Risk of Displacement: Slum demolitions and redevelopment often exclude or displace the  poor without proper rehabilitation. Example: Delhi’s Yamuna floodplain evictions in 2023  left hundreds without shelter or relocation. 

Inclusive Urban Development: Practical Solutions 

1. Affordable Housing Schemes: Expand rental housing and upgrade existing slums under  PMAY-U with participatory planning. 
2. Urban Employment Guarantee: Implement schemes like MGNREGA for urban areas to  provide work and income stability. 
3. Inclusive Public Services: Ensure last-mile access to water, sanitation, healthcare, and  education through urban local bodies. 
4. Legal Recognition and Tenure Security: Provide property rights or occupancy certificates  to slum dwellers to avoid forced evictions. 
5. Skill Development and Formalisation: Link urban poor to skill centres and facilitate  transition to formal sector jobs under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana. 
6. Strengthen Local Governance: Empower municipalities with funds and community  engagement tools for pro-poor city planning. 

Conclusion

Inclusive urbanisation is key to a just and sustainable India. As per NITI Aayog’s Urban  Planning Report (2021), empowering local bodies, expanding housing, and ensuring services  for all can make cities more equitable and future-ready.