GS1 – Society
Context:
According to a recent study , India has the world’s largest number of slum dwellers living in floodplain settlements—over 158 million people.
Key Findings
- India-Specific Insights:
- Highest Exposure Globally: India leads the world with 158 million slum dwellers living in flood-prone zones.
- Ganga Delta Concentration: Most vulnerable slum settlements are concentrated in the Ganga delta region.
- Urban Vulnerability: Around 40% of Indian slum residents live in flood-risk urban areas.
- Northern India Hotspot: The densest global cluster of floodplain slum populations lies in Northern India.
- Global Trends:
- Global South Exposure: About 33% of slums in the Global South are exposed to floods.
- Flooded Clusters: Globally, over 67,000 slum clusters have experienced flooding, affecting 445 million people.
- Regional Hotspots: South Asia, coastal Brazil, Rwanda, and Morocco show high slum concentration in flood-prone areas.
- Urban-Rural Divide: Latin America’s flood-prone slums are mostly urban; Africa’s are both urban and rural.
- Risk Likelihood: Slum households are 32% more likely to settle in floodplains than non-slum populations.
- Africa’s Burden: Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest share (80%) of slum populations in flood zones.
Underlying Causes of Slum Growth in Floodplains
- Affordable Land: Low land prices in flood zones attract informal housing.
- Livelihood Access: Proximity to urban jobs outweighs disaster risk for migrants.
- Forced Displacement: Urban gentrification displaces the poor into flood-risk zones.
- Housing Shortage: Inadequate formal housing leads to encroachment on marginal lands.
- Regulatory Gaps: Poor enforcement enables slums to grow on drainage and canal lands.
- Survival Trade-offs: Residents often knowingly accept flood risks for immediate shelter.
Challenges Faced by Slums in Flood-Prone Areas
- Asset Erosion: Repeated floods worsen poverty cycles.
- Poor Sanitation: Waterlogging worsens with clogged drains and lack of toilets.
- Health Hazards: Mosquito-borne diseases and waterborne infections rise post-flood.
- Service Disruption: Floods cut access to water, power, education, and health services.
- No Insurance: Most slum households lack flood insurance or compensation options.
- Low Preparedness: Poor literacy and weak early warning systems hinder response.
- Rescue Difficulties: Dense settlements complicate evacuation and relief operations.
Way Forward
- Prioritised Planning: Focus flood resilience on informal urban settlements.
- Infrastructure Upgrade: Install flood-resilient sanitation, soak pits, and drainage systems.
- Community Engagement: Involve slum residents in preparedness and relief planning.
- Social Protection: Enable access to micro-insurance and disaster relief funds.
- Tech-Driven Mapping: Use AI, ML, and satellite tools to track flood-risk slum zones.
- SDG Alignment: Integrate efforts with:
- SDG 1: No Poverty
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 13: Climate Action