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THEME PAPER
forward and provide adequate in the number of slum dwellers this framework proposes a
and affordable housing. After a among developing regions twin-track approach: curative,
long period “in the wilderness,” between 1990 and 2014. involving improvements to
housing is emerging as an The slum challenge continues to current housing stock such as
important sector once again. be one of the faces of poverty, slum upgrading; and preventive,
In 2010, as many as 980 million inequality and deprivation involving building new housing
urban households globally in many cities in developing stock. The ‘New Urban Agenda –
lacked decent housing, as will countries. Improving the Quito Declaration on Sustainable
another 600 million between lives of slum dwellers has Cities and Human Settlements
th
2010 and 2030. One billion new been recognized as one of the for All’, adopted on 20 October,
homes are needed worldwide by essential means to end poverty 2016 during the Habitat-III
2025, costing an estimated$650 worldwide. Collective action in Conference, commits all member
billion per year, or US$9-11 different parts of the world has nations, among others, tofoster
trillion overall (UNhabitat.org). shown that living conditions the progressive realization of
Besides, shortages in qualitative in slums can be improved. The the right to adequate housing as
deficiency are much larger than fact that 320 million people were a component of the right to an
those in quantity. Numbers of lifted out of slum-like conditions adequate standard of living.For
urban residents living in slums between 2000 and 2014 India which is fast urbanising,
have also increased from689 demonstrates that it is possible. it is all the more important to
million in 1990 to 881 million Although the proportion of address issues like housing,
in 2014. This represents an the urban population residing transport, energy, social equity,
increase of 28 percent over the in slums today is lower than employment, rural-urban
past 14 years. Still, in 2014, 30 it was some two decades ago, migration - all of which are
percent of the urban population the absolute number of slum part of the agenda. The NUA
of developing countries resided dwellers continue to increase. calls for an urban paradigm
in slums, in comparison to 39 A broader, more participative shift to re-address the way
percent in the year 2000.With and integrated approach to planning are done. The shift, in
urban populations expanding slum upgrading is needed. India, must address issues like
at unprecedented rates since Participatory slum up-gradation planning, designing, finance,
1996; it is perhaps not surprising program is operational in 160 governance, housing and above
that many cities are falling short cities in 38 countries, providing all participatory democracy.
in housing supply. In South enabling frameworks for at least KEY NATIONAL
Asia, housing shortfalls are 2 million slum dwellers. INITIATIVES
particularly acute, amounting With the “Housing at the
to 38 million dwellings; the Centre” approach, UN-Habitat National Urban Housing &
informal sector provides 60- seeks to re-establish housing Habitat Policy, 2007
70 percent of urban housing in problems and opportunities in The inclusion of the poor in city
Zambia, 70 per cent in Lima, the international development planning and development of
80 per cent of new housing in agenda in an increasingly India was first emphasized by
Caracas, and up to 90 per cent strategic manner and in relation the National Urban Housing
in Ghana (WCR, 2016). Sub- to the future of urbanization. To & Habitat Policy (NUHHP),
Saharan Africa alone accounts reposition housing at the centre 2007 with the prime goal
for 5 percent of the total increase of sustainable development, of `Affordable Housing for
October 2020 Volume 21 No. 2-SHELTER 11
