Getting cities to work: how growth could curb urban poverty in India

Urban poverty alleviation programmes tend to be narrowly focused, either on promoting small businesses, or improving the local environment. Studies of anti-poverty strategies in India's cities have rarely been linked to more general thinking about the development process. As a result, policymakers have failed to tackle the most commanding features of urban poverty in India: casual, irregular employment, the gender dimensions of poverty and the vulnerability of households to shocks and setbacks. All are outcomes of development processes. Poverty needs tackling in the medium term and at municipal level, primarily through stronger and more participatory city institutions which can boost economic development and basic social services.