Q.

From all the readings, please list what you think are the most important

characteristics of these kinds of places (whatever they are called). Why do you choose

those characteristics?

According to the readings, slums/ squatter settlements/ informal settlements are the

most complex places on the face of the earth and their characteristics change from place

to place. Some characteristics which could be identifiable with all the definitions of

these settlements are as follows:

 Lack of basic services, especially water and sanitation

 Lack of permanent and adequate shelter

 Highly dense, low-rise urban neighborhoods situated on undesirable lands

The above three characteristics remain the same across all definitions of such kind of

settlements. But a few other characteristics which are synonymous to such settlements

in the developing world are that they are informal, self-built, sub-standard, residential

neighborhoods, where the residents do not have any legal rights on the land or on the

built structures. Residents in such neighborhoods live in crowded, unhygienic and

unsafe environments. All these definitions are important as they, to a certain extent,

justify the living conditions of the urban poor residing in these neighborhoods across

the world. But these definitions only consider the residential characteristics of these

settlements; they do not justify the economic viability of these settlements. Economic

and social geography plays an important role in building up the characteristics of such
neighborhoods. Economic sustainability and social integration, according to me are also

one of the most important characteristics of these settlements. Most of the residents of

these settlements are engaged in some form of economic activity. Women and children

of these neighborhoods are also part of the economic system of these communities. A

strong sense of territoriality, in terms of sense of belonging, identity, safety, community,

status and political organization exists among the residents of the community which

also binds them together against suppressive external forces; time and again there have

been many governmental and private developers' interventions to uproot (or

"redevelop/renew") these neighborhoods but have failed constantly. So, slums / squatter

settlements / informal settlement are under-maintained residential cum income-

generating urban neighborhoods, mostly for low-income group populations, commonly

known as urban poor.

No definitions encompass the economic status of a slum. Why do you think

the world organizations have never looked at this aspect of the slums??