Self-development is often touted as a model for better urban housing. It is considered an antidote to builder-led redevelopment or resettlement. But financing and sustaining a large self-development project has proven unsuccessful.
Governments need to provide basic amenities, improve infrastructure, and offer the required technical and financial assistance. Houses can be built by people themselves.
Mumbai’s health officials are working on a war footing to ensure containment of the virus by creating containment zones and sanitising entire localities besides extensive screening. But they face a humongous task.
