The Development Syndrome: Differences, Discrimination and the Discourse of Slum

Abstract

Slums are known as culture of poverty. Thus there is lack of proper shelter, lack of basic requirements such as clean air, clean water, suitable toilets, and electricity. Lack of proper diet affects many, especially the growing children, lack of medical facilities result in spread of diseases, leading to ill health and loss of man-powers, lack of transport results in longer commuting times and longer hours to reach essential destinations. The concept of a slum varies widely from country to country and depends on a variety of defining parameters. Sometimes slums are used interchangeably with squatters. In general, it is considered as a residential area in urban vicinity inhabited by the very deprived who have no access to tenured land of their own, and hence 'squat' on vacant land, either private or public. For the thousands of poor in developing areas in India, especially urban areas have always been a means for improving their quality of life and environment, besides getting superior jobs and incomes. This, in contrast to deteriorating situation in the countryside areas has generated a substantial flow of migrants to cities, mainly in the last three decades. Priorities of urban migrants transform over time, depending on different conditions that they find themselves. The Raipur city is projecting immense development with sky scrapers, fancy flyovers, massive shopping malls and multiplexes. But what are co-existing are poverty, poverty of employment, poverty of shelter, poverty of basic necessities and poverty of access to basic infrastructure like electricity, water, drainage and sanitation. Housing for the poor is so scarce and consequently slums are mushrooming everywhere, with little action on the part of the authorities to ensure cheap housing for the poor. The so called slum rehabilitation authority does precious little by way of locating suitable land and constructing tenements with basic necessities. Poverty can be seen in the form of slum.