Inclusive urbanisation? A study of indian slums

Abstract

The proliferation of slums always questions the process of inclusive urbanisation in developing countries. Given this perspective, the study aims to see the changing pattern of urbanisation in India comparing the level, concentration and growth of slum and urban populations over time. Furthermore, it intends to see the relationships of different economic indicators with the level and concentration of urban and slum population in order to determine the inclusiveness of Indian cities. The study incorporated descriptive and inferential statistical analysis using Indian state-level data on urban and slum population and different economic indicators for 2001 and 2011. The study finds an increasing level of slum population compared to the urban population in most Indian states, while shifting the concentration of slum population from high-income to newly growing states. We also evidence the positive impact of economic inequality on the expansion of slum population. The study concludes that the process of economic growth with exclusionary urbanisation generates urban inequality, which helps to persist the slums.