The main reasons for inhuman living conditions prevailing in India's metros, including Mumbai, are lack of proper urban planning and lop sided economic development. In spite of concessions for establishing industry etc. in backward areas, the industrialisation contitues to concentrate in big urban areas. A planned effort at highest level is required to be made to promote all urban facilities in rural areas and to provide special funds for growth in villages. More and more employment opportunities akin to those prevalent in big cities, must be made available in villages and small towns to prevent migration to metropolies.
During emergency period, a slogan came up - Back to Villages. However, the slogan was not supplemented with providing sufficent employment opportunities and civic amenities to encourage people to go to their native place. If the job situation improves in rural areas and the villages are equipped with modern facilties, people would never leave their roots to come for living in inhuman conditions in big cities.
As for the slums in Mumbai and other metropolies, lop sided economic development is mainly responsible for this. Due to acute level of disparities in income, while the top executies earn in crores, the workforce at lowest level cannot even make both ends meet. Unless the purchasing power of the millions of workers witnesses considerable increase, there can be no real economic development. Jhuggies would continue to prosper near palaces.
