Life in urban slums remains precarious even where social infrastructure has expanded. Field-level observations indicate that improvements in services and facilities do not automatically translate into reliable outcomes for residents, especially at the last mile.
A key issue is not only the presence of infrastructure, but how effectively it is delivered and managed. The central concern raised is that urban systems work poorly when citizens are treated as passive recipients rather than active participants in governance.
Recent teaching engagements on devolution, development and democracy helped frame these problems through discussions with students on governance and human development. Those conversations, alongside field visits, highlighted the gap between policy intent and everyday realities in low-income urban settlements.
The broader takeaway is that better urban development requires more than physical upgrades. Without meaningful citizen involvement in decision-making, accountability and local governance, improvements in social infrastructure may exist on paper yet still fall short for people living in slums.
