Urban Poverty

This book is about repercussion of rural-urban migration on the urban areas with special reference to women and children. With increasing absorption of rural poor in informal activities in urban areas has resulted into proliferation of slum areas. This situation has widened the gap between demand and supply of basic amenities. The additional burden of basic services arises due to migration process lead to degradation of human life for slum dwellers. To some extent, exclusion of slum dwellers from the mainstream of development has resulted into poor performance of India on Human Development Index. Slums are true picture of urban poverty and life in it is miserable especially for women and children. Illiteracy, malnourishment, inadequate sanitation services and disease-prone surroundings are basic characteristics of slums. Various indicators of human resource development are missing in these areas. Accessibility to good health, adequate nutrition and education will have positive impact upon women and children’s health, and will produce healthy and productive manpower, which would contribute to the growth of other productive sectors and activities of the country. Therefore, all these together will undoubtedly assist to achieve poverty eradication goal.