Inhabitants of shanty areas are deprived of basic public amenities like drinking water, electricity, sewage system and waste disposal.

Almost one billion people live in shanty areas and informal settlements in cities and towns around the world. Many of the inhabitants work extremely hard, but still do not earn enough to afford decent housing. In Tehran alone some 3 million and in the whole country almost one-fifth of the total population lives in shanty areas and informal settlements.
Informal settlements is a phenomenon that comes as a direct result of structural developments as well as emergence of socio-economic problems such as rural migration into urban areas and displacement of the poor classes of the society due to urban expansion. This particular urban problem is not just physical; rather it is derived from a host of macro structural elements.
Those living in shanty areas face dire poverty, vulnerability and a lack of basic services, including education. The government and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) as well as community based organizations are doing all they can to help inhabitants of such settlements, but the needs outstrip the resources available.
Indeed, rapid population growth has outstripped the resources available in terms of public services and facilities offered by governments and NGOs. Absence of proper solutions to meet the growing needs of the low-income households in these areas has, as a consequence, expanded the development of unsanctioned settlements.
The phenomenon of informal settlements started in Iran some 20 years ago, creating a host of social, economic, cultural, security and environmental problems for urban locations.
According to ISNA, shanty areas surfaced some 60 years ago and are referred to as ’informal’ settlements in general terms. Before the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, many low-income households living in cities were forced to live in these areas as they couldn’t afford higher costs of living, and they continue to do so even now.
Morteza Chinichian, a board member of Allameh Tabatabaei University says a large number of people live in improper locations and harsh conditions across the nation.
He argues that inhabitants of such areas are deprived of basic public amenities like drinking water, electricity, sewage system, waste disposal and so on. “They are also deprived of basic services such as health and treatment, education, public transportation etc. It is important to note that informal settlements don’t just come up outside the city boundaries. Sometimes they are formed right in the middle of cosmopolitan areas.“
On the factors which create informal settlements he said, “Economists have come to the conclusion that two strong factors are behind their creation and development: The buoyancy power and the pulling power.
The buoyancy power comes from lack of coordination between population growth and slow agricultural growth.
“Absence of coordination in growth forces certain segments of human resources in the agricultural sector to migrate to urban areas. The presence of strong economic forces in cities acts as a magnet for rural migrants and encourages rural influx into urban areas. Many economists now support the theory of pull and are convinced that strong economic forces in cities are the main reason behind the rapid rise in rural migration, which, as a consequence, leads to the formation of informal settlements.“
Justice for All
On administration of justice to such sections of the society, he said, “Article 3 of the Iranian Constitution seeks creation of proper environment for development of ethical principles, elimination of prejudice, and creation of equal facilities for all. Article 31 also lays emphasis on the importance of setting priorities for the needy. Therefore, as per the legal framework as well as religious and ethical principles, we are bound to improve the situation in these particular areas. As long as we fail to do so, we will be far from administering justice for all.“
On whether illegal settlers could purchase justice shares, Chinichian said, “Some of the settlers don’t even have ID cards, particularly those living in the eastern parts of the capital Tehran. I believe their problem is not justice shares as the shares cannot help people who don’t even have drinking water or security.“
The country could use the successful experiences of other nations in order to solve the growing problem of shanty localities, he said.
“Many governments have adopted policies with a humanistic approach to tackle the problem of informal settlements. The national document of empowerment and organization of informal settlements that was ratified by the Iranian government some three years ago is proof of such an approach. However, the only way to resolve the issue would be through national resolve and it cannot be sorted out with the help of a few organizations overnight. Two measures should be taken to this end. Firstly, empowerment of inhabitants of such settlements, and secondly, improving efficiency of organizations in charge of such matters.“

Pressing Needs
Meanwhile, Mohammad Sheikhi, another board member of Allameh Tabatabaei University says that those living in non-regularized settlements and shanty areas are part of the society as well, and since they have failed to find sanctioned dwelling places due to several reasons, they have been forced to settle in shanty areas.
He pointed out that informal settlements arise due to the pressing issues facing urban areas such as land and housing. On the other hand, studies suggest that many of these settlers work in official and service areas. However, many criminals also live in these places with some destructive impacts on the urban economy.“
On the allocated budget to improve informal settlements he said, “It will cost a lot to improve such areas, in particular depending on where they are located. For instance, about three million people live in such settlements in Tehran. Also, around one-fifth of the total population resides and works in such areas across the nation. Naturally, it will be difficult to systematize these places. To this end, it will be wrong to just depend on government support or budget.“
It goes without saying that urban sustainability requires an all-encompassing strategy that excludes no living being, ensures basic human needs are met (shelter, clean water, sanitation and security), and strives for financial and social security and justice. But a vision and a plan are not enough to realize the dream cities. Without commitment, no urban environment can sustain itself.
As huge numbers of people worldwide move into cities every day, the lack of proper shelter, affordable housing and decent living conditions (safety, healthcare, food) are issues that local governments and municipalities need to address and provide solutions, with the cooperation of urban experts and the community, in particular the young and the educated people.
In order to support their growing populations, cities must tackle the challenges in an innovative and timely way. Together with the help of the government, citizens and efficient management schemes, civil society could play a critical role in halting the growth and expansion of informal settlements.