The truth behind the Slum-free status
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: October 12, 2013 -

Our attention has been drawn to the census report, 2011 of the Registrar General of India with regard to slum population in the country.

The 2011 Census was the first one ever of its kind in the country that collected extensive data on people living in slums that have become commonplace in a rapidly urbanizing India.

According to this report, around one out of every six households in urban India (17.4%) is in a slum, and that well over one-third of all slum households in the country (38%) are in cities with a population in excess of a million.

Among the States in the northeast region, Assam's slum population is said to be 1,97,266, which is the highest in the region.

After Assam, Tripura has the next highest slum population in the north east region at 1,39,780.

This is followed by by 82,324 in Nagaland, 78,561 in Mizoram, 57,418 in Meghalaya and 15,562 in Arunachal Pradesh.

Interestingly, Manipur has been recorded as a total slum-free State not only in the region but also in the entire country.

Manipur, along with Daman & Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Lakshadweep have not reported any slums in 2011 Census, in which the total national slum population is recorded as 6,54,94,604.

Close behind losing the tag of special category State, the slum-free status that Manipur has gained is very interesting, indeed.

As far as we know, slums are heavily populated urban settlement areas characterized by substandard housing, with lack of reliable sanitation services, supply of clean water, reliable electricity and other basic services including health care.

If we look around, all these characteristics features that differentiate slums from other human settlements, could be seen not just in urban areas of Manipur, but everywhere.

Apart from absence of proper town planning, reliable sanitation services, water supply, electricity, health care, etc are something of luxury in Manipur even in the colonies and localities where VVIPs settled.

Long queue in front places where essential services are provided is a common sight.

The daily routines of the people are planned according to the timing for supplying water of the PHE Department or the load shedding schedules of Electricity Department.

If one talks about road and communication facilities, then it is even worst.

Whether it be National Highway, State Highway, Inter-district and Intra-district or Inter and Intra-Village, there is not a stretch of the roads criss-crossing the length and breadth of the State without potholes and puddles.

In fact, the entire State of Manipur is like a big slum.

Perhaps, that it is reason why enumerators and and supervisions detailed for Census report on slums for 2011, could not find any slum in any part of the State. Slum-free State status!! It is just so annoying.