Sahajog will focus on identifying eligible beneficiaries in urban poor communities and connecting them to appropriate schemes through mass awareness, doorstep delivery of services etc.
Urban Poverty in India
- Similar to rural poverty, urban poverty is also closely linked to inadequate access to employment, food, healthcare, and education, as well as a lack of voice in the communities in which they live.
- The extreme poverty in urban India is 17.2% against 2.8% in rural India (Poverty & Equity Brief by the World Bank).
Why Urban Poverty Is More Challenging?
- Poorer Living Conditions: Many urban poor live in slums, which often lack access to toilets, clean water, and ventilation.
- Healthcare, education, transport, and housing are expensive and hard to access.
- Barriers to Welfare: A lack of ID or proof of residency can exclude migrants from welfare schemes.
- Additionally, there is no urban equivalent of MGNREGA, leaving a significant gap in income support.
- Visibility of Inequality: Urban poverty is more visible, making the poor feel more deprived.
- Example: Mumbai’s Dharavi slum sits beside luxury skyscrapers, highlighting sharp inequality.
- Weak Social Support: Unlike rural areas, cities lack strong community ties and traditional networks, which exacerbate feelings of loneliness and lead to mental health issues.
- Exclusionary urbanization: The urban planning processes largely disregard people living in informal settlements like slums.
