MEDS 042: Block-4 (Unit 02) – Informal Settlement and Urban Poor

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 UNIT 2: INFORMAL SETTLEMENT AND URBAN POOR

2.1 Introduction

Informal settlements are a prominent feature of urban landscapes in many developing countries, arising primarily due to rapid urbanisation, rural-urban migration, and lack of affordable housing. These settlements are typically characterised by insecure land tenure, inadequate housing, and poor access to basic services. The residents of these areas, often referred to as the urban poor, live under vulnerable socio-economic conditions and face exclusion from formal urban planning and governance systems.

2.2 Informal Settlement: Meaning and Typology

Meaning

Informal settlements refer to residential areas where the dwellings are constructed without legal claims to the land or without adherence to building regulations. They are also known as slums, shanty towns, or squatter settlements.

Typology of Informal Settlements

1.      Squatter Settlements: Built on illegally occupied land, often public or private land.

2.      Unauthorized Colonies: Developed without official approval, typically on agricultural land.

3.      Slums: Overcrowded, dilapidated urban areas with inadequate infrastructure.

4.      Resettlement Colonies: Government-relocated settlements for slum dwellers or displaced populations.

5.      Pavement Dwellings: Makeshift shelters constructed along sidewalks or roadsides.

2.3 Causes and Formation of Informal Settlements

Key Causes

·         Rapid Urbanisation: Cities expand faster than formal housing supply can meet.

·         Rural-Urban Migration: Migrants arrive in search of work but cannot afford formal housing.

·         Poverty and Unemployment: Low incomes prevent access to legal housing markets.

·         High Cost of Urban Land: Excludes the poor from formal housing.

·         Inadequate Urban Planning: Lack of inclusive and affordable housing policies.

·         Ineffective Governance: Weak enforcement of regulations and poor service delivery.

·         Displacement and Evictions: Push low-income groups into unregulated zones.

2.4 Governmental Measures on Housing for Economically Weaker Section

Key Programmes and Policies

·         Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U): Subsidised housing for EWS, LIG, and MIG.

·         Basic Services to the Urban Poor (BSUP) under JNNURM: Focused on slum redevelopment and access to services.

·         Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY): Aimed at making Indian cities slum-free.

·         In-Situ Slum Redevelopment: Rebuilding slums on the same site using PPP models.

·         Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHC): Rental housing for migrant workers and urban poor.

Institutional Support

·         State Housing Boards, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), and Slum Clearance Boards work to implement housing policies at the city and state level.

2.5 Slum Upgradation: Meaning, Importance and Measures

Meaning

Slum upgradation refers to the improvement of existing informal settlements through infrastructure development, legal recognition, and access to basic services, without displacing the current inhabitants.

Importance

·         Enhances living conditions and public health.

·         Promotes social inclusion and dignity.

·         Reduces urban inequality and marginalisation.

·         Prevents forced evictions and homelessness.

·         Boosts economic participation of slum residents.

Measures

·         Provision of Basic Services: Water supply, sanitation, electricity, and waste management.

·         Tenure Security: Legalising land tenure and ownership rights.

·         Community Participation: Involving residents in planning and decision-making.

·         Upgrading Infrastructure: Roads, drainage, street lighting, and community facilities.

·         Capacity Building: Skill development, literacy, and health awareness.

2.6 Let Us Sum Up

Informal settlements are an inevitable part of urbanisation in developing countries. They reflect a gap between housing demand and formal supply, largely affecting the urban poor. Effective interventions like housing for the EWS, slum upgradation, and inclusive urban planning are critical to ensuring equitable urban development. A focus on participatory governance, security of tenure, and provision of basic services can transform these vulnerable communities into sustainable urban habitats.

2.7 Keywords

  • Informal Settlement: Unplanned and unregulated residential areas lacking legal land tenure and basic services.
  • Urban Poor: Economically disadvantaged groups residing in cities, often in informal settlements.
  • Squatter Settlement: A type of informal settlement built on illegally occupied land.
  • EWS (Economically Weaker Section): Households with low income eligible for subsidised housing.
  • Slum Upgradation: Improvement of infrastructure and living conditions in slums without displacement.
  • PMAY-U: A government scheme providing affordable housing for urban poor.
  • Tenure Security: Legal protection against eviction and recognition of property rights.
  • Basic Services: Essential urban services like water, sanitation, electricity, and waste disposal.
  • Affordable Housing: Housing units priced within the financial reach of low-income households.
  • In-Situ Redevelopment: Rebuilding slums in the same location while retaining the existing community.

 

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