Abstract
The objective of this paper is to examine the achievements of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and India Vision 2020 in the context of the slums of Varanasi city. India has been facing the problem of growing urban poverty due to rapid urbanisation. According to the Census of India 2011, about 65 million people live in urban slums, which are overcrowded, polluted, unhygienic, and deprived of basic services. This paper compares the goals and targets of UN MDGs and India Vision 2020 with the status of the slum dwellers of Varanasi city. The study is based on primary data, which includes survey of 150 households of five different slums of Varanasi city. The study reveals that more than 70% people are illiterate, less than 35% of population access government health facilities, only 36% household use tap water, etc. This comparison portrays a pathetic picture of slums and the inabilities to achieve both MDGs and national goals.Key words:MDGs, India Vision 2020, Slums, Poverty, Quality of life, Varanasi City, India
Highlights
Central to planning is about increasing the quality of life (QOL)
Central idea of Millennium Declaration was the right to dignity, freedom, equality and a basic standard of living (that incorporates free from hunger, violence but increased tolerance and solidarity (Kabeer, 2010)
The summit resulted in the ratification of the Millennium Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a set of 8 global goals and 21 targets to be measured through 60 indicators
Summary
Central to planning is about increasing the quality of life (QOL). The goals and targets for various QOL indicators are set at global and national level. Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have ignored the urbanisation process and rate of urban population growth He examines the other limitations of MDGs and suggests some new targets for post 2015 period. In this postmodern globalised era where economic growth and disparities co-exist, the study of human well-being and QOL are more significant. Against these backgrounds, this paper is an attempt to compare the QOL of slum dwellers with the targets of UN MDG and India Vision 2020 and suggest some measures for inclusive development and planning to improve the QOL in slums
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