Is Development a Science? – The Case of the Mumbai Slum

what do we mean when

we say a certain model

for slum development

‘works’?

practice

outcome

expert’s theory

practice

outcome

1. titling + property rights

2. microfinance

3. architectural theory +

development

1985 Slum Upgrading Programme

(SUP) - Bombay Urban Development

Project (BUDP)

2005 Jawaharlal Nehru National

Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM)

2011 Proposed Draft Model of

Property Rights to Slum-Dwellers Act

2013 Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY)

Scheme

1. titling

title

confidence

investment

economic growth

trackable

tax

infrastructure

poverty alleviation

vision 1

no tenure = no order

chaos

vision 2

entrepreneurs

unleash the market!

property

owner

familyneighbors

policeencroachers

Slum Rehabilitation

Authority (SRA)

1. property rights

rehabilitation commercia

l

land

contestation

ruler ruler

owner owner owner owner

contestation

market

contestation

1. property rights

efficiency

empowerment

1. property rights

efficiency

buyer seller$

1. displacement/gentrification

2. new squatters

3. win-win scenario

efficient outcome 1

efficient outcome 2

efficient outcome 3

efficiency ≠

development

efficiency =

gentrification

budget media growth quality of life

10.2 9.9 9.5

9.4

outcome 1 outcome 2 outcome 3

outcome 4

budget media growth quality of life

10.2 9.9 9.5

9.4

outcome 1 outcome 2 outcome 3

outcome 4

debate

debate

debate

1. property rights

empowerment

1. limit on size of flat

2. cooperatives

3. 70% 100% consent

slum-dwellers

caste

religion

sect

gender

age

income

power

power

diversity of slum co-op

solidarity / collective

interest

project implementation

divergence divergence divergence

coercion

contestation

coercion

1. free-for-all vs. equal gains

2. preserve gains vs. fight gentrification

3. target the top vs. target the bottom

1. property rights

efficiency

empowerment

coercion

contestation

debate

distribution

2. microfinance

small microcredit loans

contract/collateral

rural/urban

group/individual

general/housing

microcredit

home ownership

financial inclusion

poverty alleviation

contract

collateralinformal norms

collateral

collateral

MFI

lending group

individual

borrower

borrower in

group

intimate knowledge

local hire

data

collateralintimate knowledge

data

microcredit

home ownership

financial inclusion

poverty alleviation

volatile/erratic income

no stable residence/on the move

weak social network

risky borrower

‘poorest of the poor’

microcredit

financial inclusion

microcredit

3. architecture & development

practical

shelter

order

geometry

form-function

liberation

commodity

slum as typology

functionality

fetish

conclusion