Slum redevelopment ensures inclusive growth

Babulal Varma, Managing Director, Omkar Realtors & Developers

The business of redevelopment has a long gestation period but the end result is better living for the poor, improved civic amenities and infrastructure of the city and additional housing for the influx. The realization is very clear—with the growth of economy the standard of living also has to go up, and it has to go up for all and not only a few. It has to be an inclusive growth.

When a westerner visits Mumbai, he is amazed to see how magnificent high-end buildings co-exist with the slums. It does not leave him impressed rather leaves him amazed. It does not strengthen his confidence level to invest in the country but confuses him.

It is this confusion of theirs which we need to remove so that they can gain more confidence to invest in our country. We cannot dream about being a Shanghai if we do not bring in synergies and look at an overall plan taking due care of all strata of society. We need to provide for decent, hygienic living conditions for all.

We thus ensure that while we undertake any slum redevelopment project, we work on it in the literal sense of development. The people are provided with not only a decent building with apartments to live in but we also ensure that we impart them with basic knowledge on hygiene and the way to live in and take care of an apartment. We also help them in many a case with vocational programs and training.