How can living conditions in slums be improved sustainably? Image source: Shutterstock (#604160537)
Saudamini Das, a researcher with the Institute of Economic Growth in New Delhi, has released data that might help with India’s growing problem of relocating people to slums on the outskirts of cities together with two colleagues. The Indian government right now gives land to slum dwellers on the urban outskirts while those slum dwellers would much rather live close to the cities.
“Those who are relocated aren’t able to secure jobs outside the city. They end up selling the land or giving it to relatives, and returning to more centrally located slums,” Das reports. The researchers conducted surveys in the slums of Jaipur, Ludhiana, Mathura, and Ujjain.
Results showed that people are willing to pay the government for certain features of neighborhoods, such as sewage facilities and street lights, which drive up costs of housing considerably. “These two services have a strong effect on house prices,” says Das. “Some cost recovery for the government is possible.”
This might give officials a reason to work with the slums rather than abandoning them.
CityLab
Why not share this article?
