Urban Poverty in India: Causes, Impacts & Solutions Explained
🏙️ Urban Poverty in India – An Overview
Urban poverty = Lack of access to basic needs (food, shelter, health, education) in cities.
⬇
Results in:
→ Overcrowded slums
→ Poor sanitation
→ Unstable income
→ Limited job opportunities
🕰️ Historical Context
-
Rapid urbanisation → Rural people moved to cities
→ Created slums due to housing shortage -
Cost of living is higher in cities than villages
→ Fewer support systems in urban areas
📊 Urban Poverty in Numbers
| Year | Urban Poverty Rate (%) | Unemployment Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 13.7% | 8.5% |
| 2022 | 12.55% | 10.5% |
📌 Unemployment is higher among urban youth (15–29 yrs)
📌 Decline in poverty is slow and uneven
🔍 Causes of Urban Poverty
1. 🧳 Rural-Urban Migration
People move from villages ➡️ cities for jobs
But face:
→ No proper housing
→ Informal/unskilled jobs
→ Social alienation
2. 💼 Lack of Job Opportunities
→ Unskilled migrants can’t find stable work
→ Informal sector = low pay + no job security
3. 📈 Inflation & Economic Instability
→ High cost of essentials (food, rent, fuel)
→ Poor struggle to afford basics
📌 Summary of Causes:
➡️ Rural-Urban Migration
➡️ Unemployment
➡️ Inflation
⚠️ Impacts of Urban Poverty
| Area | Impact |
|---|---|
| Health | Diseases, malnutrition, poor sanitation |
| Education | Dropouts due to financial pressure |
| Housing | Slums, poor access to clean water & electricity |
🔁 Poverty creates a cycle → less education ➡️ fewer jobs ➡️ continued poverty
🏛️ Government Initiatives
1. Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM)
✔ Helps with self-employment, skill training
✔ Builds shelters for homeless
✔ Supports street vendors
2. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U)
🏠 Goal: Housing for All
✔ 1 crore urban homes planned
✔ ₹10,000 crore budget
3. Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)
✔ Better infrastructure
✔ Promotes livable cities
4. Other Key Schemes
→ Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban) – clean water
→ Light House Projects – low-cost housing tech
→ Self-Employment Programmes – boost entrepreneurship
🤝 Role of NGOs
1. Community Development
✔ Education for kids
✔ Health check-ups & awareness
✔ Vocational training
2. Skill Development
→ Computer literacy
→ Vocational jobs (plumbing, tailoring)
→ Entrepreneurship support
3. Health & Sanitation
✔ Awareness campaigns
✔ Clean water supply
✔ Public toilets and waste management
📌 NGOs = Ground-level impact + Govt support
🚧 Challenges in Tackling Urban Poverty
1. ❓ Lack of Accurate Data
→ Informal settlements not surveyed properly
→ Hard to create focused policies
2. 🏚️ Weak Infrastructure
→ Poor roads, water, housing
→ Causes slum growth
3. 🗳️ Political/Admin Issues
→ Red tape & corruption
→ Slow execution of schemes
📰 Why in News? – India Employment Report (IER) 2024 Highlights
📍 Released by: ILO + Institute for Human Development
📌 Key Points:
→ Urban youth unemployment is higher than rural
→ Gender gap: Young men LFPR = 61.2% vs. Women = 21.7%
→ Poverty has reduced but challenges remain
→ Questioning the “trickle-down” economic benefits to the poor
✅ Conclusion
Urban poverty in India is a multi-dimensional issue affecting health, education, and housing.
✔ It needs holistic policies,
✔ Strong govt-NGO partnerships,
✔ And better data & planning to ensure inclusive urban development.
