65 Million Indians in Urban Slums: The Hidden Education & Food Crisis That CSR Can Solve

India: Urban Slums Crisis

Education & Food Security Challenges + CSR Investment Opportunities

🚨 URGENT: 65 Million People Living in Urban Slums Need Immediate Intervention

65 Million

Total Urban Slum Population (2019)

41%

Urban Population Living in Slums (2022)

59%

Non-Notified Slums (No Legal Recognition)

77 Million

Projected Urban Slum Population by 2030

📈 Rural-to-Urban Migration Driving Slum Growth

1971-1981: 9.3 Million Rural Migrants
18.6% of Urban Growth

1991-2001: 14.2 Million Rural Migrants
20.8% of Urban Growth

2025 Projection: 20+ Million New Migrants
Expected to Live in Slums

📊 Key Insight: By 2030, 40.76% of India’s population will be urban, with majority new migrants likely settling in slums due to lack of affordable housing.

🏙️ Major Cities with Highest Slum Populations (Census 2011)

City	Slum Population	% of City Population	CSR Priority
Mumbai	5.0 Million	41.8%	Critical
Delhi	1.8 Million	14.2%	High
Hyderabad	1.7 Million	28.4%	Critical
Chennai	1.2 Million	18.6%	High
Kolkata	1.1 Million	7.8%	Moderate

📚 Education Crisis in Urban Slums: The Opportunity Gap

Literacy Gap Analysis (2011 Census)

National Literacy Rate

74.0%

Urban Literacy Rate

85.0%

Slum Literacy Rate (Male)

83.7%

Slum Literacy Rate (Female)

68.5%

Major Education Barriers in Slums

Child Labor (Working Children 6-14 years)
35% in Slums vs 12% National

School Dropout Rate (Primary Level)
45% in Slums vs 25% National

No Access to Quality Schools
78% Rely on Govt Schools with Poor Infrastructure

⚠️ Education Impact: Children in slums are 3x more likely to never attend school and 2.5x more likely to drop out before completing primary education.

🍽️ Food Security Crisis: Hunger in the Heart of Cities

Alarming Food Security Statistics

43%

Food Insecure Households in Delhi Slums

57%

Food Insecure Households in Vellore Slums

30.6%

Experience Hunger Daily

50%

Non-Notified Slums Excluded from PDS

Food Security Challenge	Slum Households Affected	National Average	Gap
No Drinking Water Access	43%	18%	+25%
No Sanitation Facilities	34%	15%	+19%
Malnutrition in Children	58%	35.5%	+22.5%
Excluded from PDS	50%	8%	+42%

🎯 Critical Insight: 50% of non-notified slums cannot access subsidized food through Public Distribution System, forcing families to pay market rates while earning minimal income.