Introduction
Urban informal settlements are a common feature of rapidly growing cities, especially in developing countries like India. These are areas where people live without formal land rights, legal recognition, or access to basic services. Informal settlements are often called slums, squatter colonies, or unauthorized colonies. This article will explain the typology (types) of urban informal settlements and discuss their causes and formation in simple and easy-to-understand language.
What is an Urban Informal Settlement?
An urban informal settlement is a housing area where residents do not have legal ownership of the land or buildings. These areas usually lack proper housing, sanitation, water supply, electricity, roads, and other public services. Despite their poor conditions, they are often home to millions of people who migrate from rural areas in search of work and a better life.
Typology of Urban Informal Settlements
Urban informal settlements can be classified based on their nature, location, and legal status. The main types include:
1. Squatter Settlements
These are settlements where people occupy land illegally, often without any permission from the government or landowners. Houses are usually made of temporary or recycled materials like tin sheets, plastic, or mud.
- Example: Many slums along railway lines or roadside lands in Indian cities.
2. Slums
Slums may be legal or illegal settlements, but they are overcrowded and lack basic facilities. Some slums have existed for many years and may receive limited services from local governments.
- Example: Dharavi in Mumbai, one of the largest slums in Asia.
3. Unauthorized Colonies
These are areas where land was divided and sold illegally, often without approval from urban planning authorities. Houses may be built with permanent materials but do not follow city regulations.
- Example: Some colonies in Delhi like Sangam Vihar or Uttam Nagar.
4. Resettlement Colonies
These are settlements where slum dwellers are relocated by the government, often at the city’s edge. While the land may be legal, facilities and infrastructure may still be poor.
- Example: Narela or Bawana resettlement colonies in Delhi.
5. Pavement Dwellings
These are makeshift homes built on sidewalks or public spaces using plastic sheets, wood, or cloth. The residents are mostly homeless or extremely poor.
Causes of Informal Settlements
Informal settlements are the result of a combination of social, economic, and political factors:
1. Rural to Urban Migration
People move from villages to cities in search of jobs, education, and better living conditions. When they cannot afford formal housing, they settle in slums or unauthorized areas.
2. Lack of Affordable Housing
Urban housing is expensive and beyond the reach of low-income families. The formal housing market does not cater to poor people, forcing them into informal options.
3. Unemployment and Poverty
Without a stable income, many people cannot rent or buy proper houses. Informal settlements provide low-cost shelter near places of work.
4. Inadequate Urban Planning
Cities often fail to plan for the increasing population. Lack of land, delays in approval, and weak enforcement of laws result in the growth of informal settlements.
5. Political and Social Neglect
Sometimes politicians ignore slums to get votes or avoid conflict. Over time, these settlements grow without regulation.
Formation of Informal Settlements
The process of formation usually follows these steps:
- People identify empty or unused land, often owned by the government.
- They start building makeshift houses without permission.
- More families join and form a community.
- Basic services like water or electricity may be added illegally or unofficially.
- Over time, the area becomes densely populated, and local leaders or organizations may emerge.
Conclusion
Urban informal settlements are a major part of many Indian cities. They reflect the gap between the demand and supply of affordable housing and the failure of inclusive urban planning. While these settlements provide shelter to the urban poor, they also face challenges like poor living conditions, insecurity, and lack of services. To solve this issue, governments must focus on inclusive housing policies, slum upgrading, affordable housing schemes, and better city planning to ensure that all citizens live with dignity and access to basic facilities.