Page 37 - Shelter - April 2025

POLICY REVIEW

Resource Mismanagement: planning frameworks further integrated approach to
The efficient allocation and complicates the identification social infrastructure. Such an
management of resources, of optimal locations for these approach must redefine social
both financial and physical, essential facilities. infrastructure to cater to the
is a major challenge. Many Funding Constraints: Social diverse needs of informal
urban development or social infrastructure projects workers while optimising
welfare programs face issues are capital-intensive and land and resource use. This
with misallocation or poor require substantial long-term requires effective urban
management of resources. investment, not only for their planning, robust operations
Without adequate data or initial development but also and maintenance frameworks,
proper estimates supporting for ongoing operations and financial sustainability
the demand for specific maintenance. Government models, and equitable
infrastructure, these projects programs often face distribution of infrastructure
often get deprioritised, budgetary constraints that across communities. In this
leading to inefficient use of limit the ability to adequately context, a “4-Cs” strategy is
available resources. proposed, which includes the
fund and maintain critical
Operational Inefficiencies: infrastructure such as shelters, following elements:
Bureaucratic delays, lack care centres, and livelihood 1. Contextual Infrastructure
of coordination between support facilities. Planning
government departments, Social and Cultural Barriers:
and inefficient policy Informal workers, often A set of clear standards and
implementation slow marginalised or stigmatised, guidelines for city officials
progress and hinder the face difficulties in accessing and urban planners would
success of social infrastructure services specifically designed go a long way in realising
projects. Furthermore, when to meet their needs. Gender robust and adequate social
infrastructure is poorly disparities, especially in infrastructure in Indian
maintained or lacks sufficient care giving and domestic cities. Currently, the Urban
operational support, services work, further exacerbate the and Regional Development
deteriorate over time, challenges, with women in the Plan Formulation and
reducing their effectiveness. Implementation (URDPFI)
informal sector facing even
Low importance in policy and greater barriers to accessing Guidelines only acknowledge
planning frameworks: Policies support services and social night shelters (or shelters
aimed at supporting informal infrastructure. Social and for the urban homeless)
workers is usually focused cultural factors like caste, and suggests providing a
on welfare and not planning class and ethnicity present maximum of 1,000 sqm,
as well as often lack clarity, significant challenges in subject to availability of
consistency, and coherence. integrating informal workers land for every 10-lakh
Additionally, frequent into urban development population. As per the Assam
changes in policies can initiatives. State Livelihood Mission,
disrupt long-term planning the establishment of 8 City
and cause delays in project Opportunities and Livelihood Centres will be
implementation. The absence Recommendations permissible for population
of integrated development Given the myriad challenges, more than 10 lakhs .
3
plans that incorporate social there is a pressing need Guidelines for other desirable
infrastructure into larger urban for a comprehensive and social infrastructure facilities

3 https://dohua.assam.gov.in/portlet-innerpage/city-livelihoods-centreclc

April, 2025, Volume 26. No.1 - SHELTER 35