In the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the nation, Pune has emerged as one of the cities hosting an unfortunately large number of cases. And, of these, a major chunk has been reported out of the slums of the city. But having deployed significant resources and funding to handle the situation in these areas, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is now looking at a more long-term solution — the total eradication of slums altogether, providing individual housing plus toilets to their residents, with a new take on the existing Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) scheme. This, officials say, can be helpful to combat not just the ongoing pandemic, but also similar outbreaks in the future. 

At the moment, PMC has noted over 8,062 COVID-19 positive cases since March, of which 80-85 per cent are from worst-hit slums of Bhavani Peth, Mangalwar Peth, Tadiwala Road, Parvati Paytha, Janata Vasahat, Yerawada, Wadarwadi, Gokhale Nagar, Patil Estate, Ramtekdi, Bopodi, Ambedkar Vasahat and more. There are a total of 564 slums under PMC, including 353 notified and 211 un-notified ones. 

Going forward, this is the root of issues that civic officials wish to focus on.

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Welcoming PMC’s ambitious decision, public health expert Dr Subhash Salunkhe, who is chairman of the Maharashtra Communicable Diseases Prevention and Control Technical Committee, said, “If the local body develops such housing, it will lead to healthy living for tens of thousands who are currently at the risk of airborne and waterborne epidemics due to filthy surroundings, poor sanitation and hygiene. This has become a national phenomenon now — a majority of cases of COVID-19 are being found in slums across India. Investment in health is a positive step and providing such housing will lead to several benefits for citizens. It will decrease morbidity and mortality due to diseases. Homes with proper ventilation, light and sanitation would be of great help to fight this outbreak and any future ones.”