{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1708176,
        "msgid": "slum-settlements-as-a-symptom-of-development-1777452688",
        "date": "2026-04-29 14:53:49",
        "title": "Slum Settlements as a Symptom of Development",
        "author": "",
        "source": "ANTARA_ID",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Social Policy",
        "summary": "Slum settlements in Indonesia persist not out of desire but necessity, serving as economic gateways for rural migrants to urban areas amid rapid urbanisation. Despite government efforts like evictions and relocations, these areas span over 30,000 hectares and house 8-10% of urban dwellers in substandard conditions, driven by unaffordable formal housing prices that exceed 10-15 times average annual household income in cities like Jakarta. The article highlights the need to address structural imbalances in economic and urban development rather than merely displacing problems, as slums provide proximity to jobs and education essential for low-income groups.",
        "content": "<p>Slum settlements endure not because they are desired, but because\nthey are needed. Jakarta (ANTARA) - Slum settlements are often viewed as\nsymbols of development failure: densely populated environments, unfit\nfor habitation, with minimal sanitation, and vulnerable to various\nsocial problems. However, such perspectives are frequently misleading.\nSlum settlements are not merely problems to be eradicated, but symptoms\nof structural imbalances in economic and urban development. In other\nwords, slum settlements persist not because they are wanted, but because\nthey are necessary. The policy approaches commonly employed thus far,\nsuch as evictions, relocations, and the construction of high-rise flats\non the outskirts of cities, have proven ineffective in resolving the\nissue at its root. In many cases, these policies merely shift the\nproblem from one location to another. Indonesia is no stranger to this\npattern. Various slum area improvement programmes in major cities like\nJakarta, Surabaya, and Medan often face dilemmas between enforcement and\nthe sustainability of residents\u2019 economic lives. Data indicates that\nthis is no minor issue. According to data from the Ministry of Public\nWorks and Public Housing (Kementerian PUPR), the extent of slum areas in\nIndonesia in recent years still reaches more than 30,000 hectares,\nspread across hundreds of cities and regencies. Meanwhile, the Central\nStatistics Agency (BPS) records that around 8-10% of the urban\npopulation still lives in areas with substandard housing conditions.\nThese figures reflect millions of people who depend on living spaces\nthat are formally considered \u201cbelow standard\u201d. Why does this condition\npersist? The answer lies in three main factors: housing affordability,\nproximity to employment, and access to education. In Indonesia\u2019s major\ncities, formal housing prices have risen far faster than people\u2019s\nincomes. In Jakarta, for example, house prices in urban areas can reach\nmore than 10-15 times the average annual household income. This is far\nabove the ideal affordability threshold, which is generally in the range\nof 3-5 times annual income. As a result, low-income groups have few\noptions. They must choose between living far on the outskirts with high\ntransportation costs or residing in informal areas close to economic\nactivity centres. Many opt for the latter, as it is more economically\nrational. Living in slum settlements allows them to save on\ntransportation costs and maintain access to employment, even if it means\nsacrificing living environment quality. This phenomenon shows that slum\nsettlements actually serve an economic function. They act as an \u201centry\npoint\u201d for migrants from rural to urban areas. Each year, urbanisation\nin Indonesia continues to increase. The percentage of the urban\npopulation has exceeded 57% and is projected to reach more than 65% by\n2035. This migration is driven by hopes of better job opportunities and\nbroader access to education for the next generation.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/slum-settlements-as-a-symptom-of-development-1777452688",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}