Voting Rights and Slum Development: Case Study on India

Abstract

Slum, one of the most severe byproducts of rapid urbanization, brings multi-dimensional problems in development. Being the aggregate of economic, political, social, human rights, environmental issues, the task of slum improvement have been dealt with decades of intricate studies by individuals, nations, and international society. Slum improvement is one of the vital missions in rapidly developing countries including India. This thesis mainly concentrates on the political aspects of slum improvement, by delivering the cross-city analysis of correlations between voting rights and slum improvement effect in Mumbai and Delhis slum areas. The conventional understanding that political empowerment, as promoted in the context of development, leads to the increase of peoples interest on politics usually brings the conclusion that the more political power brings more development. This thesis proves the political empowerment, shown by granting voting rights, in slum does not have much effect on development in contrast to the conventional understanding. Such conclusion is derived from the accountability deficit that occurs with false campaign promises and wrong policy delivery.