After food, settlement is the most important need of man. Men constructs houses and develop settlements to protect themselves against the vagaries of weather and to enjoy social life. In fact settlement is man's most essential base for adaptation with his physical as well as cultural environment. Housing occupies a most significant place in the problem of welfare of the people. Access to adequate housing is a problem for many urban dwellers. Prices are often higher in cities than rural areas due to higher land prices and labour cost.

The Slum Is A Pervasive Phenomenon Throughout The Developing Countries Of The World. Slum Cannot Be Separated From The Social System In The Urban Life. The Slum Have Created Many Social, Moral And Demographic Problems And The Situation Have Been Further Aggravated Due To Uncontrolled Migration, Unbalanced Distribution Of Income, Inadequate Community Facilities, Lack Of Urban Planning, Absence Of Community Participation And Ineffective Legal Measure.Like A Disease, Slum Seems To Grow And Multiply. Several Factors Contribute Towards The Growth Of Slum In Urban Areas. Number Of Studies Have Indicated That They Have Created Many Social Problems And There Are Many Reasons For Providing A Maximum Desirable Standard Of Living To Each And Every Section Of The Society. The Slum Dwellers Are Deprived Of The Satisfaction Of Even Basic Need Such As Living In Appaling Conditions, It Becomes Duty Of The Social Worker To Scientifically Study And To Suggest Some Measures For Betterment.

One billion people worldwide live in slums and that figure is predicted to reach 2 billion by 2030. This new volume from UN-HABITAT unpacks the complex social and economic issues using the novel conceptual framework of the urban divide.

This book is an earnest effort in understanding the slums and their needs by taking a case study of Kalaburagi, India. This study aims to contribute sustainable methodologies to advance the living conditions of slum dwellers and for better execution of slum policies. The core objectives are: 1) mapping the existing slums of Kalaburagi (formerly Gulbarga) city using slum ontology from very high-resolution data and validating the slum map through ground survey and using reliable data; 2) developing a model to understand the factors which are responsible for the present growth as well as to predict the future growth of slums; 3) estimating the housing demand of urban poor and suggesting a suitable site for the rehabilitation program; and 4) suggestions for the better intervention of government policies with special reference to in-situ program. Urban is the future, and slums are its reality. Sustainable development goals are directly and indirectly concerned about the increasing urbanization and the slums. Housing the urban poor and affordable housing to all are the national missions. Practically making these plans successful depends on a deep understanding of urban issues and proper methodology and technology to handle it. The participatory slum mapping, cellular automata slum model, housing demand analysis, and the spatial decision support system demonstrated in the book help in monitoring and managing the slums and thus lead towards a slum-free India.