Slum dwellers are a neglected lot
On the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) on human settlements
Human settlement is not getting as much as attention as water and sanitation. But we cannot provide water and sanitation to people who lack shelter. Today, about one billion people live in slums and if present trends continue, 1.5 billion people would be living in slums by 2020. The MDG targets only 100 million slum population, which is only tip of the iceberg. About 700 million more people will become slum dwellers by 2020.
On slums and slum upgradation
There is a perception that slum dwellers do not like paying for the services. But we have documented that slums pay 20 times more for water than rich households because they are not connected to subsidised water supply lines. Physical urban planning is low priority for cities, but it needs to be strengthened. The cost of improving lives of 100 million slum dwellers (as per the mdg) is US $184 billion. An additional us $ 1,300 billion is required for proactive investments in land-development for the poor, so that new slums do not emerge.
Is water commodity or a basic right?
Water is both a commodity and a right. But the notion that water is for free is dangerous and counter-productive. Some countries are now pricing water in an equitable manner. Take the case of South Africa. The city of Johannesburg follows a lifeline tariff structure, as per which monthly a minimum of 6,000 litres per household is provided free of cost. Water usage above this limit is charged.