Subject: Indian Society

India's rapid urbanization presents a complex picture of both opportunities and challenges, where 65 million people (27% of urban population) live in slums across 2,613 cities/towns, highlighting the persistent spatial and social segregation in metropolitan areas.

Urbanization and Segregation Patterns

• Spatial Segregation: The emergence of gated communities and informal settlements creates physical barriers, leading to distinct social enclaves based on socio-economic status.

• Economic Disparities: The rising Gini coefficient from 0.371 in 1955 to 0.410 in 2023 indicates growing income inequality, particularly affecting urban areas.

• Access to Basic Amenities: Marginalized communities, especially in slums and small towns, face limited access to essential services like water, sanitation, and electricity.

Factors Contributing to Marginalization

• Housing Affordability: Soaring real estate prices in metropolitan areas push poor populations to peripheral locations, creating urban sprawl and informal settlements.

• Social Exclusion: The intersection of caste, class, and economic status leads to discrimination in housing markets, affecting Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes disproportionately.

• Infrastructure Gap: Despite schemes like AMRUT and Smart Cities Mission, basic infrastructure development often bypasses informal settlements.

Impact on Urban Poor

• Economic Vulnerability: Limited access to formal employment and credit facilities perpetuates the cycle of poverty among urban poor.

• Health Risks: Poor living conditions in slums expose residents to various health hazards, exacerbated during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Educational Disparities: Physical segregation often translates to unequal access to quality education, affecting social mobility.

The urban transformation in India, while creating economic opportunities, has intensified social segregation. However, initiatives like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) and National Urban Livelihoods Mission demonstrate the government's commitment to inclusive urban development, though much remains to be done to bridge the growing urban divide and ensure equitable access to opportunities and resources for all city dwellers.