Slums have become ubiquitous parts of the urban landscape today. The lack of formal planning and public infrastructure in these settlements makes them unhealthy and unsafe for the residents. There is an urgent need to provide safe and healthy housing to these communities. It is also important to note that the value or the capacities of those living on the margins of society is not limited to their earning capability financially, but also their social capital built over decades of co-existing together and facing challenges and celebrating during good times together. Social capital and social infrastructure are robust sources of comfort in informal settlements, critical to the residents' survival.
Yet, most housing programmes across the world tend to focus on the individual family unit. The current thinking on slum redevelopment places particular emphasis on the number of people to be housed and the result is impersonal multi-storied buildings in which the slum residents have no agency on where and how they want to live. Seldom is it looked at as the number of communities that are in need of a better quality of life.
Housing is marketed as a product to individuals based purely on their individual financial capacity to buy homes. Additionally, a top-down approach towards redevelopment and rehabilitation does not foster a sense of ownership among the community towards the built environment. What we need instead is to change the target of housing programmes and other schemes from building millions of homes to building thousands of communities.
Design and architecture services are affordable and accessible to only a certain small section of society. Making them available to marginalised communities can help improve their built environment and socio-economic issues that stem from poorly designed neighbourhoods.
We need to build processes that deepen the social fabric and ensure that these communities stay together while being given the opportunity to transform their neighbourhoods into robust and healthy places of living and thriving. Slum redevelopment should be approached through the lens of community building, with a focus on co-creating alongside the residents as equal stakeholders and the ultimate end-users, not just as beneficiaries.
This way the design and construction can be implemented through a participatory and community-led process. Further, in addition to tapping into the inherent social cohesion, it is equally critical to address the financial framework to redevelop slums and other marginalised communities into healthy, safe and even more vibrant communities.
A blended finance model which brings together the community’s contribution, government subsidy, philanthropic capital, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and social impact investments can play a major role in scaling this process across thousands of communities.
It is important to incorporate sustainability and climate resiliency in the design of the buildings itself. By including passive cooling mechanisms such as natural lighting and ventilation, electricity consumption can significantly be reduced. Carbon footprint and environmental impact of such projects can be lowered by using local construction resources and materials. Additional factors that contribute to sustainability include rainwater harvesting and solar lighting. For slum redevelopment to be both environmentally friendly and to have healthy and easily maintained spaces, an integrated approach to architecture, landscape and sustainability are important.
People living in slums are the backbone of most cities and a healthy society can only be achieved if all its citizens are thriving. As the urban population continues to increase, it is imperative to change the perception of slums from blight to one of great potential for humanity. Therefore, we must use the vibrant social capital and social infrastructure within slums to support residents in reimagining their physical spaces as safe and healthy places to live, work and play.
Empowering the society: Sanjaynagar slum's remarkable transformation leads to phase 2 redevelopment initiative
The Community Design Agency (CDA), in collaboration with local organisations, is making significant strides in transforming the lives of residents in Sanjaynagar, a slum in Ahmednagar, through its innovative slum redevelopment project. With Phase 1 already providing safe and dignified housing for several families who have been residing in their new homes for over a year, CDA is now calling for support to ensure the successful construction of Phase 2.
Sanjaynagar, a community of 298 families who were living in challenging slum conditions, has witnessed a significant change, with 33 families already moving into comfortable and utilitarian homes. This accomplishment was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the residents themselves, Ahmednagar Municipal Corporation, Snehalaya (a local non-profit organization), and CDA, an initiative of Curry Stone Design Collaborative. Construction on the remaining 265 homes under Phase 2 is set to be completed over a 2-year period.
The redevelopment plan for Sanjaynagar extends beyond housing and encompasses the development of essential amenities such as water and drainage systems, roads, street lighting, childcare and community centers, courtyards for healthy recreation, edible gardens, and retail shops. The wide corridors in the design facilitate the utilisation of common spaces for social interactions, fostering a strong sense of community. The involvement of the residents in decision-making processes and social issue resolution has been a key element of this transformative project.
With India firmly dedicated to achieving a 45% reduction in the emissions intensity of its GDP by 2030, the construction and real estate sectors need to prioritise the decarbonisation of the industry and undergo a transformation of their practices. Given the disproportionate impact of climate change on marginalised communities, the Sanjaynagar Redevelopment Project has focused on issues of sustainability and resilience right from the start, with an emphasis on passive cooling mechanisms, building rainwater harvesting and solar lighting systems, as well as using locally sourced fly-ash bricks for construction. CDA-designed houses are engineered to remain several degrees cooler, a feature that is often lacking in slum projects.
The redevelopment of Sanjaynagar showcases the transformative power of collaborative design and emphasises the impact of the built environment on the flourishing of marginalised communities. CDA embraces an inclusive approach and aims to share its expertise with other underserved communities, extending its innovative design principles beyond Sanjaynagar to benefit other slums and informal settlements.
The successful Phase I of the Sanjaynagar slum redevelopment project has been made possible through financial support from both central and state governments under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. For Phase 2, donors, including corporate entities with a strong commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility, as well as philanthropists, have a unique opportunity to support the construction and furnishing of such spaces, which will significantly enhance the quality of life for the residents, building upon the government's assistance.
In order to help the homeowners make their contribution towards the redevelopment, CDA has collaborated with the peer-to-peer lending platform Rang De to provide loans to the families. Contributions from like-minded and visionary individuals, organisations, and businesses will play a pivotal role in the construction of Phase 2 and in empowering the residents of Sanjaynagar.
Sandhya Naidu Janardhan, Managing Director, Community Design Agency, expressed gratitude to the supporters of Phase 1 construction and emphasised the significance of continued collaboration for Phase 2's success. "Community Design Agency has always made efforts to address climate change and support vulnerable communities. The positive impact of Phase 1 has been immense, and we are determined to continue this journey by creating even more sustainable housing solutions. We invite everyone who believes in our cause to join us in this endeavour by contributing towards the building of Phase 2. Whether through financial or in-kind support, including building materials, you can become a part of setting a new benchmark in affordable housing. Together, we can make a lasting difference in the lives of these communities, she said."
Sandhya Naidu Janardhan is the Founder and MD of Community Design Agency. Started in 2016, this 15-member organisation of architects, engineers, artists, designers, community advocates, and business professionals work together in communities at the economic bottom, addressing cultural and societal inequalities through the built environment.
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