Abstract:
The growth of slums inhabitants in recent past has contributed Indian
economy and development adversely. Slum up gradation is a severe cause of concern
for the governments. Upgrading the slums is not merely shifting the slum dwellers into
multi-strayed houses; it needs much more concerted efforts to be worked upon both
with body and the soul. Therefore, it is high time to think out of the box and need to
introduce multi-dimensional, multi-focused and holistic approach. We have to work not
only with the physical aspects i.e. houses, roads, clinics, schools, etc. of the slums but
also address the functional aspects i.e. psychological, social, economical, domestic and
community etc. Innovative approach i.e. inviting private players, addressing both,
physical and functional aspects carefully and efficiently, need to be introduced. This
approach will have three main players - Municipality, Private Players, and NGOs and
will have three major components - (i) NGO intervention for addressing functional
aspects; (ii) low cost houses for slum dwellers and (iii) modern high rise residential and
commercial apartments for higher classes on sale. To reduce the risks, we need to take
the slum dwellers on board, while honest efforts are required from the bureaucracy and
political leaders.
