Urban Poverty and Social Exclusion

As per Census of India 2011, there are 7,935 towns in the country. The number of towns has increased by 2,774 since last Census. The total number of Urban Agglomerations/Towns, which constitutes the urban frame, is 6166 in the country. Already the number of metropolitan cities with population of 1 million and above has increased from 35 in 2001 to 50 in 2011 and is expected to increase further to 87 by 2031. The cities in India are projecting immense development with sky scrapers, fancy flyovers, massive shopping malls and multiplexes. However, what are co-existing are problem of poverty, inequality of income, exclusion, lack of basic infrastructural facilities etc., in urban areas. In India, most studies on poverty, exclusion, inequality have been centered on the rural areas and urban areas have received little attention of the policy makers and academicians. Though, both rural and urban areas struggle with the developmental problems the picture of urban poverty and exclusion is unique