QUES . Does urbanization lead to more segregation and/or marginalization of the poor in Indian metropolises? UPSC 2023 GS MAINS PAPER I, 250 words, 15 Marks
क्या भारतीय महानगरों में शहरीकरण गरीबों को और भी अधिक पृथकरण और / या हाशिए पर ले जाता है?
HINTS:
Factors contributing to segregation and/or marginalization of the poor in Indian metropolises
Most poor live in informal shanties with poor living conditions, lacking in provision of basic amenities like provision of clean drinking water, sanitation and lighting.
Most urban poor are employed in the informal sector with no or limited social security leading to their harassment and exploitation.
Increasing proliferation of gated communities restrict the access to general public and poor. These gated communities exclude poor and highlight the tendency among the elite for social segregation.
Poor from minority communities especially Muslims concentrate in ghetto-like localities. Sometimes, some communities do not rent out houses to minorities even if they are willing to pay market rates.
Poorers parts of the city are denser habitations with lower per capita access to common areas like public parks and roads etc.
Children of urban poor are mostly educated in government schools which mostly lack in adequate infrastructure.
Urban poor are often migrants who are culturally alienated from the mainstream culture of the metropolises.
There is no dedicated legal framework to offer protection to the domestic help workers.
Struggle of policy makers to provide basic necessities to all urban population due to resource and fund constraints, unintentionally discriminates the poor.
Increasing urban pollution levels hit the poor most as they do not have adequate resources to employ RO plants, air purifiers etc.
Migrant populations do not have say in the governance of cities. Also, urban local bodies lack effective powers and resources to tackle issues of urban poor.
Urbanization not always lead to more segregation and/or marginalization of the poor
Providing flexible work opportunities for semi-skilled.
Urbanization offers better access to healthcare, education, sanitation, and clean water.
Anonymity offered by urban centres help many poor to integrate and access opportunities as equals leaving behind their caste and other discriminatory identities.
Urban areas offer access to microfinance and financial services, aiding economic mobility.
Government initiatives, like affordable housing and employment programs, support the urban poor. Urban poor are at the centre of recent schemes such as AMRUT 2.0, Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban, PM SVANidhi for street vendors etc.,
Urban centers offer better access to education and skill development opportunities.
Urbanization is an unstoppable trend in India. To address the issue of segregation and marginalization in urban areas, there is a pressing need to provide inclusive and equitable urban space, planned urban space, social safety net, skill development program and regulatory measures, participatory urban governance and better socio-economic opportunities to the urban poor.
