“Many stories matter. Stories have been used to dispossess and to malign. But stories can also be used to empower, and to humanize. Stories can break the dignity of a people. But stories can also repair that broken dignity.”
― Chimamanda Adichie
Tears in her eyes, her voice choked, but Bano Begum (50 years old) kept talking. Flapping like a bird from her nest in search of food for her family without any support, she owns a little ‘space’ on rent. Far from the ideal picture of a perfect home, she lives in a small one-room with her son, a daughter-in-law who’s expecting a child, and her grandchild.
Overshadowing disappointments, struggles, and structural negligence make people silent. Now, she feels content even when she is exposed to the rain; water seeped inside, dampening half of her mattress. Sleeping in the corner, near an imaginary door with open stairs that discomfort her physically and emotionally, Begum Bano gives an exorbitant 4,000 rupees rent for this tiny, rain-soaked room.
In the fiscal year 2011-12, 21.92% of India’s population lived below the poverty line, whereas in Delhi, it was 9.91%. Delhi attracts a substantial number of migrants from different parts of India in search of better economic opportunities. Migration contributes to the city’s dense urban population. In the Census of India, 2011, it was reported that over 1.8 million people (1,785,390) in Delhi lived in slums.
Bano had spent 22 years of her life in the Khajoori slum, then in New Seemapuri in D block, where she lived 15 years in a single room and moved on with her life. Three more years in Jawahar Park in Seemapuri and still confined to a single room. Now, she found herself in New Seemapuri once more, but her circumstances were seemingly unchanged.
Bano Begum confessed, “Even if I were in jail, I wouldn’t feel as helpless as I do now. Resting and sitting idle provide no comfort.”
Delhi’s rapid population growth and urbanisation have led to dense urban development. This density often results in overcrowding, strained infrastructure, housing problems, and increased pollution. According to the Delhi Statistical Handbook 2020, Delhi’s population exceeded 2 crore (20 million) in 2020, making it one of the most densely populated cities in the world.
The problem of infrastructure and housing is not a new phenomenon. Dr. K.C. Sivaramakrishnan, an urban planner and former member of the Planning Commission of India, highlights that Delhi’s rapid urbanisation has outpaced its ability to provide essential services, leading to congestion and inadequate housing facilities.
Begum Bano isn’t a lone story
Seemapuri gained prominence through Anees Jung’s story, “The Lost Spring, a story of the impoverished lives of rag pickers who have migrated from Dhaka and settled in Seemapuri.
New Seemapuri is a residential locality located in the Shahdara district of Delhi, India. Characterised by dense urban development, it is primarily a lower-middle-class neighbourhood known for its crowded streets, narrow lanes, clustered single rooms, and a mix of residential and commercial establishments near slums. It faces various infrastructural challenges, including inadequate sanitation facilities and limited access to clean water.
A substantial portion of Delhi’s population lives in informal settlements or slums, lacking basic amenities. For many, slums represent the only affordable housing available.
“It is a harsh truth that rent prices are nearly identical between the slum areas and the rooms situated nearby. The key difference lies in documentation and identification proofs. Those with proper identification are able to secure a low-cost rented room near the slums, while those without any identification are forced to live in the slums,” Palak, one of the founders of Avartanam NGO, explains.
This division is deeply problematic, as it perpetuates a cycle of poverty and marginalisation for those who are already the most vulnerable in society. The rise of rental prices, affecting both slums and neighbouring houses, catalyses gentrification, which entails the neighbourhood’s transformation due to an influx of wealthier residents and businesses. This typically results in increased property values and the risk of displacing lower-income residents.
The unregulated, unauthorised nature of the slums made them even more perilous for those residing nearby. Delhi has approximately 1797 unauthorised colonies slated for regularisation according to government policy (Economic Survey of Delhi 2022-23). Balancing urban development with the preservation of existing communities is a complex challenge that requires careful planning and consideration of the needs of all residents.
The disproportionate gendered impact in low-rental housing areas
The impacts of housing conditions, particularly in low-cost rental houses near slums, can have far-reaching effects on the residents’ well-being and overall quality of life.
Mohammad Sajid, a rickshaw puller in the area, describes how his wife struggles to cook in a room without proper ventilation, particularly during the scorching summers.
Overcrowded and substandard housing conditions can also exacerbate stress and interpersonal tensions within families and communities. Radha, a 30-year-old woman, experiences daily conflicts in her cramped living quarters that she shares with her husband, three daughters and extended family members. However, it’s not just the size of the space that troubles Radha; the constant presence of guests in their single room adds to the daily challenges.
Women’s safety can be compromised in such housing conditions, especially in areas with higher crime rates. The lack of security and privacy can make women more vulnerable to harassment and violence. Tragically, incidents of rape are not uncommon, yet women often find themselves unable to report such heinous crimes. As Palak rightly sums it up, “Everything is dependent on the house, and it’s the only physical space of living.”
The emotional trauma of depression was a heavy burden carried by numerous girls and women. Alisha, an 18-year-old young teacher in Panam NGO, witnesses the dire consequences of housing conditions in Seemapuri. Shedding light on it, she says, “Abuse, violence, and poverty affect even the youngest of the community. As a teacher in the neighbourhood, I witness the heart-breaking testimonies of children who have been exposed to violence from an early age. They often watch their fathers harm their mothers. The tiny houses are filled with the echoes of these traumas; their walls engulfing the pain of countless families.”
Lack of housing also forces boys and girls to coexist in close quarters. These conditions exacerbate the biological and psychological disparities between them, often resulting in gender discrimination at a very young age and fostering feelings of insecurity, low self-esteem, and resentment. Children try to convince their parents to leave Seemapuri for a better environment, but this shift is a rarity.
Shabnam explains, “Drinking and domestic violence are prevalent issues among men, who often settle in one place rather than taking a more dimensional approach to providing a better future for their children.”
Improving housing conditions in low-cost rental houses near slums is not only a matter of providing physical shelter but also addressing the broader social and economic issues that often accompany such living arrangements.
And not a drop to drink
The trauma on account of emotional health isn’t the only part, though. There’s a dire struggle to access the most basic of sanitation facilities.
Mohammad Sajid highlights the serious problem of getting clean water. In their area, it is hard to tell the difference between water for cooking, drinking, and bathing because it all seems tainted by the smell of sewage water, especially during heavy rains. The water they use for their daily needs often has a terrible odour. Spending extra money to buy clean drinking water then becomes inescapable, making their already tight budget even tighter. Sajid sadly remarks, “Money is crucial for everything.”
Remember Bano Begum? Desperate for a way out of her grim circumstances, she had applied for assistance through the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, seeking help from the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to secure a proper home. She paid Rs. 1700 for document processing and an additional Rs. 300 for the necessary paperwork. However, to her profound disappointment, she received no support from the authorities. She felt that the office, which had taken her money for document processing, had deceitfully swindled her under the guise of providing allocated flats.
Affordability is a paramount concern. Security of tenure is another critical dimension as people seek the reassurance of legally verified documents when living in rental properties, ensuring their rights and preventing potential displacement. Simultaneously, there is an underlying desire for social integration, which sometimes leads residents of low-cost rental houses to differentiate themselves from slum communities, emphasising their distinct living conditions. Ultimately, the issue of housing is a complex tapestry interwoven with financial considerations, legal protections, social dynamics, and the pursuit of a secure and stable life.
In Seemapuri, the living conditions and infrastructure are in a dire state, with high levels of crime, widespread illiteracy, child labour, rampant drug addiction, and a pervasive sense of insecurity. Incidents of theft, robbery, and even murder are alarmingly common.
On a community level, it is important to find a connection between people and the police. Who will ensure safety? Shabnam admires the efforts of the police in Seemapuri, who have become an essential part of the community. Reporting issues has become more accessible, with various stakeholders present in every block. In Seemapuri, community-driven initiatives led by NGOs and young people focus on education, livelihood, leadership, and life skills, aiming to instil awareness, gender sensitivity, and consciousness among the residents.
What’s being done for Seemapuri isn’t enough
While these NGOs try to make these communities conscious of their rights, it’s not enough. In urban development, infrastructure, and housing, the government’s role is crucial for policy implementation. Persistent challenges in Delhi’s housing and urban infrastructure projects, despite policy implementation, stem from rapid urbanisation, bureaucratic delays, land acquisition issues, funding constraints, corruption, lack of coordination, socio-economic disparities, environmental concerns, political factors, and the inability to balance housing development with sustainability effectively.
The government has implemented several initiatives to enhance urban infrastructure, including the Smart City Mission, Housing for All by 2022, AMRUT, HRIDAY, and Swachh Bharat Mission, addressing amenities, housing, infrastructure accessibility, heritage preservation, and cleanliness. However, these initiatives and policies often fail to yield desired results. Rethinking the facilitation of PPP (Public-private partnerships) in housing is essential because solely relying on them may not always result in a win-win situation. Increase public investment in affordable housing construction and maintenance to complement private sector efforts. This can include government-funded housing projects or subsidies to low-income individuals and families.
Delhi needs approximately 2.4 million additional housing units to meet the demand as outlined in the Master Plan for Delhi 2021 (MPD 2021). Among these, 54% are earmarked for the Economically Weaker Sections and Low-Income Groups. It is essential to ensure that new housing units include proper infrastructure (water supply, sanitation, electricity) and access to healthcare and education services to prevent the formation of new slums. Meanwhile, establishing community support systems and social services that can provide assistance to residents facing various challenges, including domestic violence, mental health issues, and substance abuse.
Over this, Madiha Khanam, an urban regeneration specialist and researcher with previous work experience in informal settlements and urban issues, says, “The housing condition in Seemapuri is the story of many who live in Delhi. The Prime Minister Awas Yojana might seem like a respite for people living in areas similar to Seemapuri, but there is a need to take a more humanistic approach to resolve the issue of less affordable housing in Delhi. People living in these areas should be included in the planning process.”
To date, many residents have left Seemapuri, disheartened by the daunting challenges that required effort and financial resources to navigate. Yet, some still cling to hope and continue contributing to the cause, driven by a collective desire for change in New Seemapuri.
All photos are owned by the author of the story.
This story has been written as part of the My City Writers’ Training Program.