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By Kavita Dehalwar
Introduction
Urbanization, while stimulating economic growth, has also led to significant challenges, in particular the proliferation of slums. The slums are characterized by mediocre housing, the lack of basic services, overcrowding and insecurity mandate. Governments, town planners and development agencies have designed several strategies to solve these problems, with Share of slums And Rehabilitation of slums in situ (ISSR) being two of the most adopted approaches. Each method seeks to improve the living conditions of the inhabitants of slums while minimizing movement and disturbances.
Understand the slums: the context
Before diving into specific approaches, it is crucial to understand why slums exist:
- Quick urbanization: Cities develop faster than they can build adequate accommodation.
- Rural-urban migration: Migrants are looking for better livelihoods but often cannot afford formal housing.
- Ineffective urban planning: The lack of inclusive planning excludes low -income populations.
- Distortions of the land market: The high prices of land and the regulations push the poor in informal colonies.
Given these factors, slum management strategies must balance Conservation of livelihoods,, community networksAnd Housing improvements.
Share of slums
Definition
Share of slums refers to the process of improving the existing physical, social and economic conditions without moving residents. Instead of demolishing the slums, the emphasis is placed on the provision of basic services, improving infrastructure, security and promotion of the participation of the community.
Key characteristics
- On -site improvements: Roads, drainage, sanitation, water supply, electricity and waste management are improved.
- Occupation security: Residents often receive legal recognition or property rights to reduce the risk of expulsion.
- Community participation: Residents are involved in planning and execution to ensure that the solutions correspond to their needs.
- Effective: The upgrade is often cheaper than demolition and reconstruction.
- Incremential accommodation: Households are encouraged to gradually improve their accommodation over time with support services.
Benefits
- Minimum disturbance: Residents maintain social ties and access to livelihoods.
- Profitable: Lower than the construction of new housing projects.
- Enterprise: Strengthens the initiatives of community self-assistance.
- Preservation of urban fabric: Retains organic regulation schemes, often vital for the informal economy of the city.
Challenge
- Land ownership problems: The upgrades of land without clear property titles can be legally complex.
- Resistance of landowners: Especially when the slums occupy precious urban land.
- Technical constraints: In highly congestioned areas, infrastructure upgrades are physically difficult.
- Risk of gentrification: After upgrading, areas can attract investments leading to the movement of original residents.
Rehabilitation of slums in situ (ISSR)
Definition
Rehabilitation of slums in situ implies the redevelopment of slums on the same country where they are located, generally by demolishing existing structures and building formal housing, often several floors, for the inhabitants of origin.
In India, the ISSR was a key element of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) assignment.
Key characteristics
- Private-public partnerships (PPP): The developers are incited (for example, through land rights or additional subsidies) to build housing for the inhabitants of slums.
- Free accommodation for slum residents: Eligible families receive formal and legally recognized housing.
- Vertical life: The tall apartments of high -rise apartments replace the horizontal colonies of the slums.
- Infrastructure development: Complete equipment such as wastewater, roads and green spaces are incorporated.
- Crossed subsidy: The developers sell part of the land developed at the market rate to finance rehabilitation.
Benefits
- Housing formalization: Residents obtain legal securities, improving the security of the mandate.
- Effective land use: Vertical construction releases land for urban infrastructure or commercial use.
- Improvement of living conditions: Appropriate sanitation, clean water and sustainable accommodation are provided.
- Urban awakening: Contributes to aesthetic and environmental improvements in cities.
Challenge
- Community disturbance: Skills can weaken the community obligations formed in slightly height and knitting slums.
- Impact of livelihoods: Reinstallation often disrupts informal economic activities carried out in or near houses.
- Quality concerns: Bad construction standards or maintenance can create “vertical slums”.
- Eligibility and exclusion: Only those who meet the eligibility criteria (for example, proof of residence before a deadline), leaving a lot of time.
- Developer -based models: Reasons for profit can sometimes prioritize commercial interests in the needs of the community.
Comparison overview
| Appearance | Share of slums | Rehabilitation of slums in situ |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | Improve existing structures and services | Demolish and rebuild official housing on site |
| Displacement of residents | Minimal | Temporary movement during construction |
| Cost | Relatively low | Higher (due to complete reconstruction) |
| Social networks | Kept | Often disturbed |
| Main beneficiaries | Whole community, same informal residents | Eligible families with appropriate documentation |
| Risk factors | Permanence problems, overcrowding | Exclusion, community alienation, vertical creation of slums |
Conclusion
Both Share of slums And Rehabilitation of slums in situ are crucial approaches to meet the challenges of urban housing, but they operate under different philosophies.
- Upgrade seeks to empower communities by improving what already exists, respecting social structures and minimizing movement.
- In situ rehabilitation aims to formalize and modernize slums but risks alienating residents of their traditional lifestyles.
A nuanced, specific to the context The strategy is essential – in some cases, the upgrade may be preferable; In others, rehabilitation may be necessary. Above all, the success of one or the other approach depends Community participation,, transparent governance,, share capitalAnd long -term sustainability.
In the end, the objective should not simply be to remove the slums but to Create inclusive cities Where everyone, whatever their socio-economic experience, can live with dignity and opportunity.
References
Iweka, AC and Adebayo, AK (2015). Global practices for upgrading slums: identify contemporary challenges. Journal of Construction Project Management and Innovation,, 5(1), 1034-1044.
Ohls Aigbavboa, C., and Thwala, WD (2010). Lessons learned from in situ upgrade and the eradication of informal regulations in the province of Gauteng in South Africa. International Journal of Housing Markets and Analysis,, 3(3), 233-244.
Sharma, SN (2020). Evaluation of the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban). Think of India Journal23,, 11-13.
Shreevidya, G., Moogi, VV and Kelkar, AA (2018). An overview of the rehabilitation of the slums by the technique in situ.
Sharma, SN (2013). Participatory planning in practice. Lulu. com.
Sharma, SN (2005). Evaluation of the JNNURM program of the Government of India for urban renovation. Think India Journal,, 8(2), 1-7.
Sharma, SN (2014). Participatory planning for the preparation of the plan. Bookcountry.
VAID, U. (2025). Impacts on the physical and mental health of improving housing: an almost experimental assessment of the redevelopment of in situ slums in India. Journal of Environmental Psychology,, 86101968.
