Experiences with surveying and mapping Pune and Sangli slums on a geographical information system (GIS)

SUMMARY: This paper describes how the NGO Shelter Associates and an organization of women and men slum dwellers worked together to collect information on each household in slum settlements in Pune and Sangli and to map this, along with infrastructure and service provision and each slum’s position within the city. This permitted data on slums to be superimposed on these cities’ development plans using a geographical information system. This provides an important information base for improving infrastructure and services within slums and for integrating slums into city-wide planning. The paper also discusses the contrasting experiences in the use made by the two different city governments of this information (little interest in Pune, great interest in Sangli) and how communities, governments and NGOs can work most effectively together to ensure the inclusion of slums within city plans.