Answer

India’s urban population has grown rapidly over the last century. As per Niti Aayog’s Multidimensional poverty Index, poverty was found to decline from 29.17% in 2013-14 to 11.28% in 2022-23 with about 24.82 crore people escaping poverty during this period. However, urban poverty eradication poses a challenging task as the problem is gradually increasing due to migration of rural poor people to urban centres.

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Urban Poverty Alleviation Schemes

• Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U): Aims to provide affordable housing for the urban poor by offering subsidies for house construction or purchase.
  For example: As of 2024, 1.18 crore houses have been sanctioned, with over 85.5 lakh already constructed and delivered to the beneficiaries under the PMAY-U.
• National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM): Focuses on skill development, self-employment, and sustainable livelihood for the urban poor.
  For example: In Kerala, the Kudumbashree Mission supports NULM implementation, encouraging women-led entrepreneurial activities.
• Jal Jeevan Mission – Urban (JJM-U): Ensures safe and adequate drinking water for urban households, targeting underserved communities.
  For example: Target over 2.5 crore urban households to provide tap connection  (SDG 6)
• Smart Cities Mission: Promotes inclusive urban development by improving infrastructure and living standards in urban areas.
  For example: Cities like Pune have enhanced affordable housing projects and waste management systems under this initiative.
• Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban (SBM-U): Focuses on sanitation and waste management to improve living conditions in urban slums.
  For example: As per the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs data, as of 2024, 4576 cities achieved ODF status under the Swachh Bharat Mission .

Reasons Why Urban Poverty Persists

• Exclusion of Migrants: Many migrants lack proof of residence or identity, excluding them from welfare benefits.
  For example: During COVID-19, millions of migrants were unable to access food rations due to the absence of portability in ration cards.
• Slum Growth and Inadequate Housing: High rents and lack of affordable housing force the urban poor to live in informal settlements.
  For example: At present, 17.7 percent of urban population comprising 65 million people lives in slums (Census 2011)
• Informal Sector Dependence: The urban poor often work in the informal economy, characterised by low wages, job insecurity, and no social protections.
  For instance: Over 80% of urban workers are employed informally, lacking access to basic worker benefits.
• Inefficient Scheme Implementation: Leakages and delays in poverty alleviation schemes reduce their impact on beneficiaries.
• Overburdened Urban Infrastructure: Rapid urbanisation strains existing infrastructure, failing to meet the needs of the growing population.
  For instance: Cities like Delhi face severe shortages in water, housing, and sanitation due to high population density.
• High Cost of Living: Urban areas often have steep living costs, including housing, healthcare, and education, which erode savings and exacerbate poverty.

Multidimensional Nature of Urban Poverty

• Housing and Basic amenities: Overcrowded and unsanitary conditions in slums, limited access to clean water, sanitation, and reliable electricity in marginalised urban areas.
  For example: Over 13.75 million households in India live in slums with substandard housing conditions.
• Economic Deprivation: Urban areas provide limited formal job opportunities, leaving the poor dependent on insecure, low-paying informal jobs.
  For instance: The unemployment rate among urban youth is higher than rural areas, reflecting urban economic disparities.
• Educational Barriers: Poor-quality schooling leading to higher  dropout rates in urban slums. Further, migration disrupts children’s education due to lack of stability
  For example: Only 30% of urban youth from poor households are enrolled in skill development programs.
• Healthcare Challenges: High costs and limited public healthcare facilities leave the urban poor vulnerable to diseases and health crises.
  For example: Urban slums like Mankhurd in Mumbai report high rates of malnutrition and limited healthcare access.
• Social Exclusion: Urban poverty exacerbates feelings of deprivation and inequality due to visible wealth disparities in cities.
  For instance: The stark contrast between Dharavi slums and Mumbai’s luxury skyscrapers highlights social exclusion.

Comprehensive Measures to Address Urban Poverty

• Portable Social Security Systems: Introduce nationwide portability for welfare schemes to ensure access for migrants and the urban poor.
  For example: The One Nation, One Ration Card scheme (2019) aims to improve food security for over 81 crore beneficiaries by digitising ration cards.
• Promote Inclusive Urban Planning: Develop affordable housing, sanitation, encourage private-public partnerships to reduce housing shortages.
  For example: The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs introduced Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHCs) under PMAY-U in 2020 to provide subsidised housing for urban migrants and low-income groups near their workplaces.
• Skill Development and Employment Generation: Focus on industry-linked skill programs and labour-intensive industries to create jobs.
  For example: The NULM (2013) has trained over 12 lakh urban youth, enhancing their employability.
• Strengthen Governance Mechanisms: Address inefficiencies in implementing urban poverty schemes through better accountability and monitoring.
  For example: Real-time tracking of PMAY-U (2015) progress via the CLSS Awas Portal has improved transparency.
• Balanced Regional Development: Promote the development of smaller cities to reduce migration pressure on megacities.
  For example: The Smart Cities Mission (2015) has supported infrastructure growth in Tier-II cities like Indore and Surat.

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As per Niti Aayog,  urbanisation in India is expected to grow significantly, with 40% of the population projected to reside in cities by 2030. To ensure cities act as resilient growth engines, they must align with SDG 11, emphasising inclusivity, safety, and sustainability. Strengthening infrastructure, addressing inequalities, and developing social and economic resilience will be crucial to combating urban poverty effectively.

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