CASE STUDY : INFORMAL HOUSING MAAN DARWAJA AND NEHRUNAGAR, SURAT

In Surat, Gujarat, there are two slum areas called Maan Darwaja and Nehrunagar. The city's EWS population, which has come from remote regions in pursuit of employment and better living circumstances, is largely concentrated in these communities. Rapid urbanization and a shortage of cheap alternatives to housing for those with minimal incomes are to blame for the emergence of the communities. The housing, health and hygiene, medical care, and educational needs of the people who live in these villages are severely limited. The standard of living in these settlements remains subpar notwithstanding the attempts of the government and other NGOs.

The absence of essential utilities including access to potable water, sanitary facilities, and electricity is one of the greatest problems these towns' inhabitants confront. Numerous homes use shared drinking water supplies, which are frequently contaminated and contribute to the propagation of waterborne illnesses. The residents' health is in danger because of the spread of diseases caused by improper sanitation facilities.

The absence of suitable housing options is another issue that the locals must deal with. The vast bulk of the dwelling units are improvised constructions constructed of weak materials like tarpaulin and tin sheets. Natural calamities like floods and strong winds can cause these buildings to collapse, risking the life of the occupants. The occupants' security and well-being are also at risk due to an absence of suitable housing options.

The inhabitants of these communities find it challenging to receive basic services like medical care and schooling due to the informal character of these communities. The distance between the closest hospitals and schools makes it challenging for the locals to get to them. The citizens' social and economic growth is also impacted by the absence of access to essential services.

These villages' inhabitants also struggle with societal shame and insecurity. Many locals work for meager daily pay and lack a reliable means of income. Because of this, they struggle to make sufficient money and frequently turn to take out loans with substantial interest rates from unofficial sources. They struggle to escape poverty as a result of the debt cycle that results from this.

Observations:

• Lack of basic amenities.

• Overcrowding and inadequate living situations.

• Housing structures and materials are of poor quality.

• Lack of access to amenities for medical care and schooling.

• Absence of employment opportunities.

• Absence of secure tenure and legal ownership.

• High levels of crime and insecurity.

• Social exclusion.

• Poor quality of public services.

• Poor ventilation and natural light.

• Low thermal comfort.

• Congestion and overcrowding.

Conclusive inference:

In conclusion, there are many different issues that the people who live in Surat's Maan Darwaja and Nehrunagar unofficial settlements must deal with. The citizens' standard of living is directly impacted by the absence of basic utilities, housing options, and access to fundamental services like medical care and schooling. These settlements' informality also breeds social shame and insecurity, which worsen the problems residents already confront. It is crucial that these problems are addressed in a holistic manner that considers all of the factors that are responsible for them. To develop inclusive, long-term approaches that can raise the living standards of those who live in these settlements, the government, groups from civil society, and the people themselves must collaborate.

Informal increments; as observed are unpredictable in nature and might cause non coherence with the rest of the surroundings, even though it generates a sense of identity it may lead to unsafe practices and disputes within community.

Mapped drawings show non coherence spaces leading to unforseen spaces that are hard to maintain.