This paper discusses the effects of Chandigarh Small Flat Scheme (2006), a large urban resettlement project, whose goal is to resettle slum residents in Rehabilitated Housing Colonies (RHCs). With the use of original survey data, field observations, and secondary data in the form of policy documents and scholarly literature, the study provides a comparative evaluation of living conditions in informal slums and rehabilitated colonies. Some of the major dimensions examined are the quality of housing, access to sanitation, water and electricity sources, education, health, access to transport and social relations. The paper is based on a sociological concept and it grounds slum rehabilitation on the wider issues of urban inequality, spatial displacement, and reorganization of social networks. Their results indicate that although rehabilitation has brought significant physical infrastructure development and provision of basic development, the structural shortfalls of housing design, maintenance, affordability, and social integration have a negative impact on the objective of realizing dignified and integrative urban living. The article makes a contribution to the current debates regarding rights-based urban housing and the concept of the city as an inclusive place in modern India.
Ms. Rehiana (Mon,) studied this question.