Delhi Fact file

Population: 13.78 million

• Urban Population: 93.01%


• Literacy Rate: 81.82%


• Male Literacy: 87.37%


• Female Literacy: 75.00%

. Sex Ratio: 821 (females per 1000 males)

Migration in search of work

Life in rural villages in India can be hard, with limited opportunities for employment. Over the last 60 years, millions of people have travelled into Delhi from outlying areas in search of work and a better life. The cost of living in the city is far higher than in rural areas, resulting in difficulties even for those who do find employment. The set up makeshift shelters with whatever materials are to hand, and form settlements on waste ground or on pavements.

Rapid population growth

In 1947, there were 2 million people living in Delhi. There are now over six times as many inhabitants, with rapid and chaotic urbanization placing an enormous strain on the infrastructure of the city. The government of India is struggling to cope with the needs of a population of this size and the social problems that can accompany it. Meanwhile, population growth all over India means that people in rural areas find it even harder to earn a living from the land and so travelling to large cities in search of work remains an option.

Insecure settlements on unwanted land.

The slum settlements take root in a variety of places. They can form next to railway lines, under bridges, on swampy ground or next to 5-star hotels, but they all have one thing in common; the people who settle there never own the land. The slum dwellers live in constant fear of eviction from their site as the authorities can decide to reclaim the land at any time, giving little notice.Courtesy- Asha India- A Delhi Based NGO


A Demolition site near, Sarojni Nagar in New Delhi

To encounter this problem of increasing slums Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission was launched in 2007 with the aim of building 15,000 flats in a span of 6 months as a short term goal, and 4 lakh flats as a long term goal.

Union Science Minister Kapil Sibal in February 2009 said for the 1st time that slum dwellers would be allocated flats with all necessary facilities at the same place where they are living.
The vision is to have a slum free Delhi by 2012.
Currently, there are over three million people estimated to be living in 1,500 slums in the city.