The densely populated slums of India stand as unique microcosms within the broader urban landscape, characterized by overcrowded living conditions, inadequate sanitation, and limited access to healthcare facilities. The concentration of high population in these impoverished settlements not only exacerbates pre-existing challenges but also renders them especially vulnerable during pandemics such as the COVID-19 crisis. The close quarters, often shared by numerous individuals within cramped living spaces, create an environment where the virus can spread rapidly. Moreover, the lack of proper infrastructure and sanitation facilities in these areas hampers effective containment measures, further exposing residents to heightened health risks. In this context, it becomes crucial to examine how the high population concentration in Indian slums amplifies their susceptibility to the detrimental impacts of pandemics, shedding light on the urgent need for targeted interventions and policies to address these vulnerabilities.
Answer
The view that high-population concentration areas are more vulnerable to environmental positive checks pertains to the Neo-Malthusian viewpoint, whereby they argue that due to a breach of environmental carrying capacity, these areas become more vulnerable to positive checks.
Role Of high population concentration in Indian slums in making them more vulnerable during pandemic conditions are as follows:
- High Rural to Urban Migration
- In slums, high population density results from high rural-to-urban migration, with people settling in these areas in search of employment and better livelihoods.
- This is because of-Fewer growth poles (Metropolitan areas), Unsustainable urbanisation, poverty and high unemployment
- This cause high population density-weak following of social distancing norms-spread of contagious diseases like COVID 19
- Spatial Diffusion of Disease
- High population concentration in slums, coupled with limited space and inadequate sanitation, facilitates the rapid spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19, as close human contact becomes difficult to avoid leading to spatial diffusion of diseases.
- Compromised Spatial Accessibility of Healthcare Services
- Spatial accessibility theory focuses on how easily people can access essential services, including healthcare.
- Slum populations often lack access to quality healthcare facilities, with overburdened and understaffed clinics, hampering timely diagnosis and treatment, and increasing vulnerability during pandemics.
- Spatial Inequality and Weaker Environmental Justice
- Slums typically lack proper infrastructure, safe water supply, and sanitation facilities leading to spatial disparities
- These disparities lead to substandard living conditions, making residents more vulnerable to diseases like COVID-19.
- Social Networks and Community Structures Making Slums More Vulnerable
- Close-knit communities are common in slum areas due to high population concentration, while these networks offer social support, they can also lead to close physical interactions that facilitate disease transmission.
- Neglected Reginal Development and Planning in Slums
- Slum housing is often overcrowded and lacks proper ventilation, making it challenging to maintain social distancing and reduce the risk of infection transmission.
- Vulnerabilities Due to Nature of Rural-Urban Continuum
- Slum residents may experience food insecurity due to limited income sources and inadequate access to affordable food (due to immediate transition of slum dwellers from rural to urban landscape) leading to weakened immune systems and increased susceptibility to diseases.
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U), Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme (IHSDP), Smart Cities Mission, Pradhan Mantri Shramik Setu Yojana (PMSSY) are steps in the right direction taken by the government to transform slums in India.
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