Small Mercies without Charity

The larger cities and towns in India are presently faced with the problem of slum clearance and of providing alternative accommodation to slum dwellers. The civic authorities often come up with plans which generally remain on paper. Such plans need funds and advantage was taken of Robert McNamara’s visit to Calcutta to press the case for a World Bank loan for the purpose by officials of the Calcutta Metropolitan Planning Organisation and Water and Sanitation Authority. The Maharashtra Revenue Minister too has announced plans to shift Bombay’s hutment dwellers occupying sites which are immediately required for public works.