Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
Urban poverty in India is a complex issue characterized by inadequate housing, lack of basic services, and limited livelihood opportunities. The rapid urbanization witnessed in recent decades has exacerbated these challenges, leading to the proliferation of slums and informal settlements. Recognizing the need for targeted interventions, the Government of India launched the Basic Services to the Urban Poor (BSUP) and the Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme (IHSD) as components of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) in 2005. These schemes aimed to provide a holistic approach to urban poverty alleviation by addressing both housing and basic infrastructure deficits.
Basic Services to the Urban Poor (BSUP)
BSUP was launched with the primary objective of providing basic services to the urban poor living in slums. These services included:
- Safe drinking water
- Sanitation facilities
- Solid waste management
- Storm water drainage
- Community toilets
- Health services
- Education
The scheme focused on upgrading existing slums and providing basic amenities to improve the quality of life for slum dwellers. BSUP was implemented by State Governments as implementing agencies.
Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme (IHSD)
IHSD aimed at providing affordable housing to the urban poor, including slum dwellers and those living in dilapidated buildings. The key components of IHSD were:
- Construction of new houses for the urban poor
- Upgradation of existing slum dwellings
- Provision of financial assistance for house construction/repair
- Slum rehabilitation projects
IHSD also emphasized community participation and the involvement of NGOs in the implementation process.
Comparative Analysis: BSUP vs. IHSD
The following table provides a comparative analysis of BSUP and IHSD:
| Feature | Basic Services to Urban Poor (BSUP) | Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme (IHSD) |
|---|---|---|
| Objective | Provision of basic services to urban poor in slums | Providing affordable housing and slum upgrading |
| Focus | Infrastructure development | Housing construction and rehabilitation |
| Coverage | Slums identified by State/UT Governments | Slum dwellers, EWS/LIG categories |
| Funding Pattern (as of 2005) | Central share: 80% for North-Eastern States, 75% for other states. | Central share: 80% for North-Eastern States, 75% for other states. |
| Implementation | State Governments | State Governments, NGOs |
| Key Components | Water supply, sanitation, waste management, drainage, health, education | House construction, slum upgrading, financial assistance |
Challenges and Limitations
Despite their noble intentions, both BSUP and IHSD faced several challenges:
- Land Acquisition: Acquiring land for housing projects proved to be a major hurdle, especially in densely populated urban areas.
- Rehabilitation and Resettlement: Resettling slum dwellers often led to social and economic disruption, as people were displaced from their livelihoods and social networks.
- Community Participation: Genuine community participation was often lacking, leading to projects that did not adequately address the needs of the beneficiaries.
- Monitoring and Evaluation: Effective monitoring and evaluation mechanisms were weak, making it difficult to assess the impact of the schemes.
- Corruption and Leakage: Instances of corruption and leakage of funds hampered the effective implementation of the schemes.
The schemes were subsumed under the new umbrella scheme of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) in 2015, aiming to address the shortcomings of the previous initiatives.
Conclusion
BSUP and IHSD represented significant attempts to address the pressing issue of urban poverty in India. While they achieved some success in providing basic services and affordable housing, they were hampered by challenges related to land acquisition, rehabilitation, community participation, and effective monitoring. The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) builds upon the lessons learned from these earlier schemes, aiming for a more comprehensive and sustainable approach to urban poverty alleviation. A continued focus on inclusive planning, community ownership, and robust monitoring mechanisms is crucial for achieving the goal of providing adequate housing and a decent quality of life for all urban residents.
Answer Length
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