Lets Slum It

According to the latest census, 17% of India lives in slums.

A slum is defined as a 'residential area where dwellings are unfit for human habitation' because they are dilapidated, cramped, poorly ventilated, unclean or 'any combination of these factors which are detrimental to the safety and health'.

In fact, this figure of 17% is less than what was projected for India (27.5%). Hopefully this is because the government are improving housing and services to the most deprived areas of India. However, even that is not for certain. Many state governments are unwilling to admit to their being more slums in their cities as otherwise they're expected to offer basic services like water and drainage.

A recent article in The Times of India stated that children under the age of 6 were more likely to be victims of violence and sexual abuse if they were living in a slum.

Maharashtra has the highest number of slums of any state. 41.3% of Mumbai's population lives in a slum! But it doesn't have to remain like this. They key to improving the lives of these families, is education. By education children and young adults in slums, they are more likely to get a job, have a healthy life and improve their quality of life.

Plan-UK have been helping the families of slums in Bandra since 2010. By educating children, enrolling young adults in vocational courses, improving health education in a community setting and also raising awareness regarding child protection and domestic violence... These families have a greater chance of progressing and moving on from their slum location.

This is just one project by one charity. On World Earth day, a group of citizens with local political representatives helped to organise a cleanliness drive at Machhimar Nagar in Mumbai. In Delhi, Friends of Sant Parmanand Hospital offer distribution of free medicines, promote good health, hold diagnostic camps and offer other welfare programmes. Brett Lee is also going to educate the slum kids of Jaipur, with the Rotary Foundation to use music as an educational tool.

Together we can change lives.

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