Urban Health Resource Centre discussed the organization’s programme approaches with researchers and academics of the Urbanization and Health group at the University of York and ARISE group at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (July 5, 2023).
Practical Strategies that can Improve Lives of Informal Workers and Settlement Dwellers
I. Risks and challenges of informal settlement dwellers and informal workers
-Climate change risks (heat/heavy downpour)
-Living Environment risks
-Difficulties in access to social protection schemes
-Gendered Burdens
II. Approaches to address
-Role of UHRC mentored slum women’s collectives in addressing different challenges
-Efforts to improve living environment through collective requests to local politicians, civic authorities
-Outreach efforts to enhance access to Government ID and social protection through helping with applications
-Vegetable gardening in slum homes
III. Outcomes of strategies
-Slum upgrading – paved lanes, cleaned garbage, laying of sewerage system, cleaning back-lane, piped water supply
-Access to picture ID (Voter Card, Aadhaar/UID)
-Brick-by-brick self improved climate resilient housing
-Greening of slum areas through vegetable gardening and tree plantation
-Collective savings to aid self-built slum housing upgradation,
IV. Implications for research, policy and practice
How long-term, sustained efforts with women’s groups can strengthen demand side for policy implementation in India and LMICs.
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