Slums are illegal accommodations that start as encroachments and are further exploited by politicians for vote bank politics by providing protection, electricity, and water. But how is waste and sewage managed in these areas? What about background checks for settlers? Tenant verification seems unlikely. The politicians provide electricity and water connections, mostly unregistered, leading to losses for the departments, which are then recovered through higher fees from legal users. This is unfair to the hardworking middle class who struggle to pay hefty EMIs for their homes and taxes. If the government's intention is to address homelessness by showing empathy towards slum dwellers, then why not build more regulated shelter homes with programmes to uplift this population? This approach would ensure a dignified living and opportunities for rehabilitation. Instead, the current system fosters lawlessness and disregard for civic sense. The redevelopment programmes for slums seem like a reward for illegal activities, penalizing law-abiding citizens.
