Abstract
This paper describes a new programme to assist tenants living in the bastis (low-income settlements) in Howrah. After this introductory section, Section II describes the development of low-income rental accommodation in the city including the establishment of the thika tenancy system in Calcutta. Despite legislation to improve the situation of tenants, living conditions remain very poor. Section III summarizes government responses, first through legislation and then through settlement upgrading programmes. These responses, however, did not secure improvements in living conditions. A new programme, the Calcutta Environmental Management Strategy and Action Plan (CEMSAP) has provided a new opportunity to look afresh at the needs of the city and its low-income residents. This programme has benefitted from being able to draw on several decades of innovative thinking and experience in urban development. The final section describes the local environment in one settlement where 80 per cent of the residents are tenants, and discusses the plans and activities to strengthen local representative groups and make interim improvements in living conditions. However, these improvements are recognized as being inadequate. The legislation has resulted in the tenants being virtual owners within the settlement and the authors end the paper by describing recent plans for more substantive improvements.