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THEME PAPER
MAKING INDIA SLUM FREE
- Issues And Options
MR. JIT KUMAR GUPTA Housing remains one of the most critical asked nations to accept and
and dynamic entities related to human grant the 'Right to Adequate
living. e outbreak of Corona virus Housing,' which has been
global pandemic and the subsequent
lockdowns have sharply brought into recognized by the UN as a basic
focus the adversities being faced by the human right. Housing not only
urban residents, particularly those gives an individual identity,
“Perpetually in deficit, with
without an assured and adequate shelter security but also promotes
demand invariably exceeding and the vulnerability of cities. is economic growth and generates
supply, housing as a sector, clearly established the context, role and employment. 'Housing for All,'
has always been found to be importance of shelter in not only planned has been accepted by
most challenging and and sustainable development of cities but Government of India as prime
also creating ownership among its
demanding. The Indian objective of National Housing
citizens. It has also clearly demonstrated
housing scenario remains
the necessity, role and importance of Policy and launch of Prime
beset with problems of
providing adequate housing to all the Minister Awas Yojna (PMAY-
housing shortage, especially urban residents, if the cities are to be Urban & Grameen) is a
for the urban poor; lack of made smart, safe, resilient, sustainable concerted effort to achieve this.
basic infrastructure; and livable. In this context, this paper
overcrowding, haphazard discusses some of the emerging issues and Despite ranking high on the
options for making India slum-free development and welfare
and unplanned growth;
which will help in realising the goal of agenda of nations globally,
mushrooming of slums; lack
affordable housing for all. adequate housing still remains
of financial resources;
encroachment on public INTRODUCTION elusive for millions of urban and
rural dwellers. The right to
spaces; high land cost; Housing has been globally
scarcity of serviced land; and accepted, recognized and adequate, affordable housing is
high degree of land valued for its critical role and promised in the constitutions
speculation." importance, as a determinant of and laws of more than 100
countries, but these rights often
growth, development and
remain inadequately implemented.
quality of life of human beings,
There exists currently a worldwide
communities and nations.
shortage of affordable housing.
Key Words: Housing Shortage, Affordable Good homes give families a UN Habitat Report on Right to
housing, slum, land. base to build the foundations of Adequate Housing finds, 'Well
an empowered society; provide
over a billion people are not
Mr. Jit Kumar Gupta (jit.kumar1944@gmail. people physical and financial adequately housed. Millions
com) is former Advisor, Town Planning, security and create healthy around the world live in life or
Punjab Urban Development Authority living. Considering housing a health threatening conditions, in
basic human necessity, UN has
overcrowded slums and informal
April 2021 Volume 22 No. 1- SHELTER 3
