A People-Centered Perspective on Slum Formalization Policy

In India, close to 70 million people live in urban slums, which has forced policymakers to pursue aggressive slum upgrading programs. However, without a thorough understanding of individual households’ slum formalization preferences, in situ slum upgrading and relocation projects often encounter challenges and resistance from the slum dwellers. This article explores the interconnections among slum dwellers’ willingness to participate in situ slum upgrading and slum relocation projects, informality in the built environment, and neighborhood insecurity in the slums of Bihar, India. We examine these questions using the primary household survey conducted in 2016–2017 as part of a project on urban slums of the four largest cities in Bihar. The regression analysis shows that slum dwellers are more likely to accept in situ slum upgrading when they perceive a pressing need for housing and basic amenities. In situ slum upgrading often leads to temporary relocation and smaller dwellings. Slum dwellers are more likely to participate in relocation programs when they feel their neighborhoods are insecure, and when they have experienced violent resolutions to conflicts. These findings imply that the provision of basic infrastructure, including safety and security, could affect slum dwellers’ slum upgrading decision-making.