Empowering the Marginalized: Technology and Quality of Life in Amritsar's Smart City Slums

Abstract

Amritsar is the largest city in Punjab, north India, quantified based on its slum population. The present paper attempts to study the accessibility of essential facilities like safe drinking water, bathing provision, drainage connectivity, fuel used for cooking and electricity availability, and evaluate the quality of life in Amritsar slums. Primary data were collected using a multi-module interview schedule between August and September 2022 to achieve these research goals. Thus, 614 households were selected for a preliminary survey based on the location of slums in the city. The analysis identified that the availability of basic amenities and quality of life of slum dwellers varies among various slums; at the same time, the provision of these amenities also depends on the type, location and magnitude of multiple slums. Further, it was concluded that public planning agencies have failed to supply the required facilities to the economically weaker sections of society. In addition to Government efforts, there is a need to strengthen the private sector's role in slum up-gradation, participatory planning for slum areas and other inclusive planning measures to ensure basic amenities and better quality of life for the slum dwellers.