Urban Poor Living in Slums: A Case Study of Raipur City in India

Abstract

The appearance of slums may be seen as a byproduct in the process of urbanization in a developing country like India. Cities are a part of the fundamental changes in the society leading to socio-economic development and modernization. The cities, irrespective of their size, provide possibilities of varied occupations and collective services, such as health, education, cultural, technological, commercial or industrial services and thus act as focal points of development opportunities. In spite of Raipur's prominent role in the economy of the region, urban population and especially the urban poor face serious problems due to population pressure, deterioration in the physical environment and quality of life. Eventually, the size and spread of slums in this area not only help us to identify that they are not anomalous and pathological phenomena on the urban setting but also a manifestation of urban poverty that is still predominant in the urban economy in India.