ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the work of an Indian non-governmental organization (NGO), the Society for the Promotion of Area Resource Centres (SPARC), women's co-operatives (Mahila Milan) formed by pavement and ‘slum’ dwellers and the National Slum Dwellers Federation (a federation of slum dwellers' organizations and local federations). It explores how their work has resulted in local innovation and mass mobilization, securing both policy change and a better use of existing community and municipal resources. In doing so, it has made a tangible difference for hundreds of thousands of the urban poor. Over the last 18 years, this partnership developed the capacity to work on large-scale interventions with city governments and to influence local, state and national policy; by 2002, around 750,000 households were members and it was working in 52 cities in 8 states and 1 union territory. The three organizations who form this partnership have also supported organizations and federations of the urban poor in many other nations, as well as the development of Slum/Shack Dwellers International, which represents these federations in international fora and negotiations. 1
