Poors Amongst Riches- Urban Poverty In India- Causes and Solutions
Urban Poverty In India Poverty is a major setback in the development of the country. According to the 2011 census, 30% of India’s population lives in extreme poverty. The poverty in India is not limited to only rural areas, it is becoming urbanized. People are moving from rural to urban areas in search of better opportunities that will improve their quality of life but they end up being worse off than before because of several reasons.
Causes of Urban Poverty Various factors have contributed to prevalent poverty in urban areas. These factors when combined together have resulted in the dire condition of millions of people in India. 1. Migration from rural to urban areas- Lack of infrastructure and opportunities in rural areas results in people migrating to urban areas. The crowded cities have become more crowded. There is very little space for their accommodation. This results in an increase in the number of slums in the country. 2. Lack of opportunities and skill training- People living in slum areas don’t have access to basic services such as education, health, sanitation, skill training, etc. This has resulted in a generation of unaware, uneducated, malnourished, and unskilled people who have a difficult time finding decent jobs and are forced to do the work that pays minimum wage.
3. No documentation- The government has launched various schemes to uplift people from poverty. But most of the people living in urban dwellings have no documents whatsoever. This creates a problem as these schemes can only be availed by people who have documentation. 4. Overcrowding- Overcrowding has resulted in informal settlements in urban areas. People live in close proximity to each other and lack of sanitation makes them more prone to various infections and diseases. Their financial condition makes medical care unaffordable for them and the lack of hygiene makes these settlements a breeding ground for various infections and diseases. 5. Investments in Rural Areas- The majority of international development investments are directed towards rural development in India. There are very few funds coming from outside for the upliftment of the urban poor.
Solutions To Urban Poverty For the development of the nation, it’s imperative that necessary steps are taken to solve the problem of urban poverty. The government has taken various initiatives to tackle the problem of poverty in India. But it is evident that a lot more has to be done to completely eliminate poverty from India. These steps can be taken to solve the problem of urban poverty1. Improvement in Rural Infrastructure- The major cause of urban poverty is the migration of people from rural to urban areas in search of better opportunities. More investment in rural infrastructure will stop these people from migrating to cities. The government has taken various measures to promote small and medium scale industries in rural areas but more investment is required in the agriculture and service sector to create more job opportunities that pay well and ease the pressure on urban infrastructure services. 2. Employment Opportunities- More income generation opportunities need to be provided to people living in urban dwellings. They can be given skill development training to make them more suitable for decent and better job opportunities. 3. Increase in Investment- To ensure a better future for the urban poor, the government needs to make more investments on the urban poor. Better access to education, healthcare facilities, and fvskill training will help in alleviating urban poverty. Providing urban poor with some kind of loans and resources can also help in uplifting them from poverty. 4. Rehabilitation of slums- People in slums live in horrible conditions. These slums need rehabilitation and up-gradation in order to improve their standards of living. Rehabilitation of slums will ensure better living conditions for these people. They will be given access to clean drinking water, electricity, and better jobs.
Urban poverty is a major problem in India that is hampering the growth of the nation. It’s high time that the essential steps are taken to solve this problem. With the collective efforts of the government and various other organizations, the problem of urban poverty can be eradicated from India. Apnalaya is an NGO that has been working since 1972 to empower the poor people in India. Over the last four decades, they have made significant changes in the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. They work with the urban poor and ensure that they have access to basic services and empower them to help themselves.