03-30-2007, 07:55 AM
<!--emo&:argue--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/argue.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='argue.gif' /><!--endemo--> 'India to have 200 m urban poor by 2020'
Himanshi Dhawan
[ 30 Mar, 2007 0215hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
RSS Feeds| SMS NEWS to 8888 for latest updates
NEW DELHI: India might be adding to its number of billionaires but slum population in urban cities is increasing rapidly with nearly one-third of the urban population being poor.
An independent study by NGO Urban Health Resource Centre (UHRC) has found that nearly 30% or 90 million people living in urban areas are poor and according to UNHABITAT, the number is likely to touch 200 million in 2020.
Experts believe that a major contributing factor is rapid urbanisation, and new states â like Jharkhand and Uttarakhand â or cities with SEZs are likely to be the worst affected in the coming years.
The study, that has analysed data collected by the National Family Health Survey-2, points out that development indices such as infant mortality and maternal health are also low in urban areas.
The study in association with Centre for Advocacy and Research cites a combination of causes for the gap in physical health and well-being in cities that have premium healthcare facilities.
One of the reasons for the lack of health, sanitation and awareness is the "hidden" settlement like workers living near construction sites.
"Services like drinking water and toilets do not reach this population," Siddharth Agarwal, UHRC executive director said.
himanshi.dhawan@timesgroup.com
Himanshi Dhawan
[ 30 Mar, 2007 0215hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
RSS Feeds| SMS NEWS to 8888 for latest updates
NEW DELHI: India might be adding to its number of billionaires but slum population in urban cities is increasing rapidly with nearly one-third of the urban population being poor.
An independent study by NGO Urban Health Resource Centre (UHRC) has found that nearly 30% or 90 million people living in urban areas are poor and according to UNHABITAT, the number is likely to touch 200 million in 2020.
Experts believe that a major contributing factor is rapid urbanisation, and new states â like Jharkhand and Uttarakhand â or cities with SEZs are likely to be the worst affected in the coming years.
The study, that has analysed data collected by the National Family Health Survey-2, points out that development indices such as infant mortality and maternal health are also low in urban areas.
The study in association with Centre for Advocacy and Research cites a combination of causes for the gap in physical health and well-being in cities that have premium healthcare facilities.
One of the reasons for the lack of health, sanitation and awareness is the "hidden" settlement like workers living near construction sites.
"Services like drinking water and toilets do not reach this population," Siddharth Agarwal, UHRC executive director said.
himanshi.dhawan@timesgroup.com