03 Jan 2024 Issue of Online hate and solutions to tackle it
UPSC MAINS SYLLABUSGS1 PAPER: URBANIZATION THEIR PROBLEM AND THEIR REMEDIES
Why in news?
Recent article by Nipesh narayan in the hindu newspaper on slums and changing narrative about their definition issues challenges and their empowerment.
What is Slum?
A slum is a neighborhood that has subpar housing that is unmaintained, crowded, and/or inadequately served, making it unsafe, unhealthy, and socially unattractive. While a single residence may meet this criteria, the phrase “rural” or “urban” is typically used to refer to larger areas. Like the impoverished who live in them, slums have always existed, but their numbers increased as industrial cities grew.
Timeline of changing perception about slums
First era (1950-60)-The slums were viewed as a legacy of the country’s creation, the product of partition and the influx of a massive population into small, decaying residential zones. Example-old delhi’s katras. Introduction of the Slum Areas Act of 1956which marked a pivotal moment that made government intervention plausible after an area was officially notified as a slum. After this act slums became legal entity and their citizenship rights were also ignored , there sites were very prone to demolition by government.
Second era (1970-80)-The narrative around slums changed from one of a place that needed to be eradicated to one ofas a necessary evil that required advancement. Town planning became crucial in the governance.
Third era (mid 1980-late 90)– in 1985 National Commision on Urbanisation published its first report , where cities were consider as an asset than liabilties. Interventions in cities were justified based on economic considerations rather than social ones. Town planning suffered a setback while housing policy saw a major shift toward a more comprehensive strategy that addressed land, finance, and infrastructure concerns. During this time, the first two National Housing Policies were implemented. In addition, the National Slum Launching the Development programme brought back targeted funding for slum reconstruction from the union government. It was all based on data because the period depended on economic growth and the emphasis was on a variety of social and physical infrastructure.
Fourth era( 2000-2014)-The definition of slums expanded with the aid of the census of 2001, giving rise to numerous specialized programs. Slums were formerly social issues but are now technical, economic items, emphasizing the effectiveness of implementation and economic growth.
Challenges faced by slums
Overcrowding: Tight quarters with little room for occupants are a common feature of slums.
Housing of poor quality: Many slum dwellings are made of improvised materials and lack facilities and adequate foundations.
Water Scarcity: Access to dependable, clean water sources is frequently limited in slum regions.
Poor Sanitation: Unsanitary conditions raise the risk of disease because of inadequate sewage and waste disposal systems.
Absence of Essential Services: Healthcare: Restricted availability of medical services and facilities.
Education: Lower literacy rates are a result of inadequate educational facilities and resources. Poverty and Joblessness:
Limited Economic Opportunities: Slum inhabitants frequently struggle to obtain steady jobs, which feeds the cycle of poverty.
Low Income: Most people living in slum areas usually live below or on minimum income.
Discrimination: People who live in slums may experience prejudice and social stigma, which can cause them to become marginalized and shut out of normal society. The susceptibility to calamities
Lack of Resilience: Slums are more likely to be affected by natural disasters since they are frequently situated in high-risk regions like floodplains or steep slopes. Low levels of security and high rates of crime:
Limited Law Enforcement: There may not be enough police presence in slum areas, which raises crime rates and makes people feel uneasy. Informal Settlements: Because they frequently do not have a valid land title, people living in slums are at risk of being uprooted and evicted.
Health Issues: Disease Outbreaks: Respiratory infections, waterborne illnesses, and vector-borne illnesses are among the diseases that are made more likely to spread when living circumstances are poor.
Measures taken by government to ameliorate slums
Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission(JNNURM)- The Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programmes (IHSDP) and Basic Services to the Urban Poor (BSUP) are being implemented with an emphasis on integrated slum development and basic services to the urban poor.
Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY)- to give the urban poor who are unemployed or underemployed gainful employment. It does this by promoting self employment among those who fall below the poverty line, offering skill development opportunities, and paying wage workers for their labor when public assets are being built that will benefit society and the economy. This program is applicable to all of the nation’s cities and towns.
Rajiv awas yojana- Under the Scheme, States that agree to grant slum inhabitants property rights in exchange for providing them with a respectable place to live, basic civic and social services, slum redevelopment, and the construction of an inventory of inexpensive homes are given financial support.
The Interest Subsidy Scheme for Housing the Urban Poor (ISHUP), which offers a 5% interest subsidy on loans up to Rs. one lakh, is being implemented to help the urban poor get credit for housing loans at reasonable rates. RAY and this plan go hand in hand.
Conclusion– Since a very long time time urban poorwere seen in bad light , but in recent times due to social as well as political changes their empowerment as well as amelioration has become the subject of debate.
Prelims question
Q1 What is the main reason why urban slums are spreading so quickly in developing nations?
- A) Absence of governmental directives
- B) Rapid migration from rural to urban areas
- C) Recession in the economy
- D) Insufficient progress made in technology
Answer B. Main reason for rising urban slums is rapid migration from rural to urban areas
MAINS QUESTION
Q- Explain the reason that leads to the accumulation of slums and mention measures taken by government for their amelioration?
SOURCES- the hindu and PIB
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