Poverty, Policy and Politics in Madras Slums
Dynamics of Survival, Gender and Leadership
Description:... Poverty, Policy, and Politics in Madras Slums provides a critical but balanced account of the process and impact of urban policy and planning in a developing country like India. Basing his analysis on a detailed case study of a slum in the city of Madras, author Joop W. de Wit paints a vivid portrait of the diurnal realities of the urban poor. Going beyond mere description, he explores the links between poverty, caste, gender relations, housing, politics, and policy. The study highlights the differential impact of slum policies on men and women by examining the culture, praxis, and survival problems of slum dwellers. Further, this book questions the optimistic data on targets and inflated expectations pertaining to urban policy and clearly distinguishes between policy as planned versus policy as actually practiced. With its innovative exploration of various levels of social reality, Poverty, Policy, and Politics in Madras Slums will greatly enrich any understanding of the complex realities of urban planning. The book will also be of particular interest to students and faculty in anthropology, micro-politics, urban studies, and development studies and other professionals concerned with poverty alleviation.
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