New Delhi, June 28 -- The expansion of slums has occurred in parallel with global urbanization. Sometimes, scholars have been dissuaded from using the term 'slum' for its negative associations to being labeled "beggarly", "useless" and sometimes that of squalor. Such perspectives have regarded 'informal settlement' to be a better alternative, though the word does not fully capture the nuances of being a slum-dweller and the historical marginalization, routine evictions and denial of life-enhancing opportunities they face.

South Asia has one of the highest rates (30%) of slum population in the world (World Bank, 2014). Most of this population happens to be in and around major Indian cities. More than 55% of Dhaka's and Colombo's populatio...