The condition of the poor has improved in rural areas, but not in urban areas. Do you know why? Because the basic requirement with the same scheme can fulfill the needs of rural poor, but not urban poor. But Govt has a one size fit all approach, that is why there is a dire need to engineer specific policy for the urban poor. As such, India needs more slum inclusive development when contemplating on urban development and inclusive growth.

In urban and metropolitan cities, the occupancy rate is 4.4 persons per room. According to GMPI, 415 million poor people in India have come out of poverty between 2005 and 2019-20, while that is welcoming but the intensity of poverty is still high.

Last but not the least, at some point India needs to decongest urban and metropolitan cities and should offload its population to tier-2, tier-3 cities and create those pull factors in those tier-,2 tier-3 cities.

Overpopulation in itself is dangerous. India needs sustainable smart villages and notified areas more than smart cities. Growth should not come at the cost of natural capital (environment). What's the point of a growth where it is crippled with pollution, lack of access to clan water and sanitation. Our growth story should be qualified by both quantitative and qualitative aspects of life.