1) Cross-subsidization – Considering the ability and capability of the rich and middle class sections of Delhi’s population, would it not be fair to collect matching taxes from these. Invariably, all slums do not have indoor in-house piped water supplies but all affluent and middle income section households do. It says a lot about the difference in terms of time & opportunity costs. Moreover, we always must remember that the better off sections not only consume more but they also pay less and pollute the main sources most.

2) Limits on supplies beyond a certain amount – If, suppose, on an average every human being needs around 100 liters per day of supplies to maintain a decent life, then why not work towards providing this much to all first through feasible mechanisms and who so ever needs beyond these should be made to buy/arrange it at full cost of the water, considering it takes a lot to procure, treat and distribute to people. In my opinion, the better off sections either should be made to pay for the weaker and poorer people or should not be provided at all beyond certain maximum limit so that they are forced to maintain a frugal lifestyle with respect to such a necessary and difficult thing to provide like water.

3) If slums are anyways and always deemed to be ‘illegal’ then also what stops providing basic facilities to people there in? Are not these basic facilities so very vital for sustenance of every human being? It is anyways a wrong argument to say that only ‘legal’ residents should be comprehensively provided with basic amenities. One needs to ponder for a while over the fact that none of the affluent people perpetually suffer due to lack of electricity or water if these are not temporally municipally provided for (Generators, Invertors, Storage tanks, Large quantity water jars,…I wonder if these are ever seen in the settlements of poor people)

4) Who is not ‘Illegal’? Let us ask amongst ourselves (all those who are educated, reading this on internet, coincidentally also are in or related to Delhi) – How many of us or families of ours did not come to this city or remained in this city after being brought up, for the sake of education, vocation, and other such important foundational needs? Those who wanted more have or are moving to even better settlements within India or abroad. Similarly, the poor masses have also joined the city based lives for their foundational needs; livelihoods, sustenance, and may be for even betterment. Let us not forget, all of the top brass, including political, industrial, business, military, or for that matter of any vocation have come to this city for their sustenance and betterment., may be of first generation or belonging to following generations. Similar is the case of poor, especially rural poor. Devastating rural economies and other crises are forcing people to migrate to cities, many a times to lead even worse lives.

5) Finally, if ever any of us is faced with societal and collective dilemmas, let me suggest to try and answer & understand some basics regarding such conundrums – Who gets or does NOT get – What, How, Why & When?

The above said exercise rarely failed me…hope it works for all who try for it.

They certainly cannot afford to rent out or even buy land owing to the inflated rates. They certainly could not have afforded to live in cities, if people did not pay them. And despite understanding where they live, people would not have paid them if they didn’t need them.

So doesn’t the bottomline then become the fact that we need these people….yet we are not able to make arrangements for them and provide them anything including basic services?