China and India, the most populous nations, lifted more from slum conditions than any other countries, says a United Nations report which appeared in the Christian Science Monitor.
In the last 10 years, at least 227 million people have been raised from slum conditions across the world, says the report that studied the state of the world's cities.
On the contrary, the report says, the number of people living in slums has still grown, adding 55 million over the last decade itself to reach 827.6 million this year.
China's urban population living in slums fell from 37.3 percent in 2000 to 28.2 percent; in India, nearly 60 million were lifted from slum conditions over the same time, the report says.
The authors credit China's economic reforms and pro-growth and urbanization policies, and India's efforts to provide micro-credit, tenure, and basic services in slums.
"For the first time we are moving toward ... accommodating of the poor and of the slums," The Christian Science Monitor quoted Amita Bhide, an associate professor at the Centre for Urban Planning and Governance at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai, as saying.
Estimates of the percentage of people who live in slums in Mumbai range from 49 to 60 percent, she said.
"There is, I feel, some sort of acceptance that slums are a very big constituency, so most slums have at least a basic level of services. Most Mumbai slums have access to safe water and some forms of access road. But when it comes to sanitation, the level of services is very poor," she added.
The largest slum population worldwide is in sub-Saharan Africa, at nearly 200 million (61.7 percent of its urban population).
The United Nations in another report says urbanization can also be a positive force for human development.
Highly urbanized countries tend to have higher incomes, more stable economies, stronger institutions and are better able to withstand the volatility of the global economy.
In both developed and developing countries, cities generate a disproportionate share of gross domestic product and provide extensive opportunities for employment and investment. Evidence suggests that despite their enormous potential to bring about prosperity, the wealth they generate does not automatically lead to poverty reduction.
That''s followed by southern Asia, at 190 million (35 percent).
The UN defines a slum as lacking at least one of the following:
1. Durable housing that protects against extreme climate conditions
2. No more than three people sharing a room
3. Easy access to safe water
4. Access to a sanitary toilet
5. Secure tenure
Image: People play carrom at a Mumbai slum.
Photograph: Reuters
