Slum Upgradation, Redevelopment and Relocation through Slum Vulnerability Assessment in Delhi

Abstract

In India, one-third of urban inhabitants live in impoverished slums and squatter settlements. Because of urbanization, people from rural areas have been migrating to urban centres primarily to improve their economic and social opportunities. Nevertheless, the opportunity has been accompanied with degraded quality of life, fear of eviction and deplorable health, making slums and slum dwellers vulnerable. The purpose of the paper is to summarize varied perceptions on the slum vulnerability. It also attempts to identify attributes of Slum Vulnerability Assessment (SVA), thereby, establishing SVA as a tool for slum upgradation and improvement. The study is based on primary data and analysis of 23 slum pockets of Delhi. The study also includes review of secondary data consisting of the existing research studies, slum-related policies and guidelines of related authorities. The authors have attempted to establish SVA as an assessment tool for effective slum improvement policies in urban areas. The findings are suggestive that slums are dynamic and transforming with urbanization. The study reveals that there is an absence of suitable assessment criteria for making policies related to slum in situ upgradation, redevelopment and relocation. Slum vulnerability has been neglected as an attribute for making decisions related to slum upgradation. It is, therefore, imperative to assess vulnerability of slums and to identify criteria for slum improvement and upgradation to make effective slum policies. The study engenders a tool for slum vulnerability assessment for its upgradation and improvement. It establishes the need for a technique for effective slum policies in the era of ever-increasing urbanization. In the process of reviewing existing slum situation and slum-related policies, the authors have identified the gaps and suggested SVA, as an effective tool for slum upgradation and improvement.