Why do the urban poor often live in slums?
The urban poor often live in slums because when migrants come to the city in search of work, they cannot afford scarce legal housing. As a result, they are forced to settle on public lands.
As cities grow, the conflict over urban space becomes more acute. The land where the poor settle is now in great demand to build infrastructure for affluent residents and visitors, such as malls, multiplexes, hotels, and tourist sites. This leads to poor workers and their families being evicted to the outskirts of the city and their homes demolished.
Explanation
The textbook explains that the urban poor live in slums primarily due to economic constraints and the scarcity of affordable legal housing. Migrants coming to cities for work cannot afford formal housing and are compelled to settle on public lands. The growing demand for urban space for malls, hotels, and infrastructure for affluent residents further marginalises the poor, leading to evictions and demolitions.