40% of India’s population is expected to reside in urban areas by 2030 (NITI Aayog). However, this growth has often been uneven and exclusionary rather than inclusive.
Urbanization Leading to Segregation and Marginalization
Arguments In Favor
Gated Communities – Eg- separate elevators and entryways for domestic staff.
Infrastructure-Induced Displacement (Gentrification)- Eg- Dharavi redevelopment project
“Ghettoization”– systematic exclusion of low-income groups from the social, economic, and physical benefits of the city. Eg- 17% urban population lives in slums
Limited access to basic amenities like health and education.
Low-productivity equilibrium – Cities continue to absorb labour, but governance systems fail to integrate workers into formal housing, transport and service networks. (Economic Survey 2025-26)
Persistence of Caste-Based Segregation- Eg- denial of rental housing to Dalits and Muslims
The “Poverty Tax”- Eg- Slum dwellers in Pune pay up to 20% more for water per liter than those with piped municipal connections in nearby societies.
Exclusionary Urban Planning – Master plans prioritise commercial and elite residential zones.
Social Stigma – Slums viewed as illegal or undesirable spaces.
Gendered Marginalization – Poor women face compounded exclusion in cities. Eg- Insecure work, unsafe transport, and lack of childcare.
Arguments Against
Urban Anonymity – Reduced rigidity of caste and kinship controls.
Social Mobility- meritocratic nature of cities allow youth from lower strata to bypass traditional social barriers and achieve rapid upward mobility.
Gig Economy- Platforms like Zepto, Swiggy, and Urban Company provide immediate employment for low-skilled migrants.
Entrepreneurial Opportunities – Eg- Street vending
Political Visibility – Urban concentration enables mobilisation. Eg- Slum dwellers’ associations
Targeted Urban Welfare Schemes to mitigate exclusion. Eg- PM Awas Yojana (Urban), PM SVANidhi
Way Forward
Scaling ‘SAHAYOG’ initiative of Odisha government at Pan India level
Inclusive urban planning with affordable housing near workplaces
In-situ slum upgrading instead of peripheral relocation
Universal access to basic services
Affordable mass transport systems
With rights-based, inclusive, and people-centric urban policies, cities can instead become spaces of opportunity, dignity, and upward mobility for the urban poor.