Urban poverty refers to the set of economic and social difficulties that are found in industrialized cities and that are the result of a combination of processes such as the establishment of comfortable living standards, the increase of individualism, processes of social fragmentation, and the dualization of the labour market.

In recent times rapid growth in urban population in developing nations has been accompanied by a parallel growth in the incidence of urban poverty. In India ‘urban poverty’ is a complex multidimensional problem as it exists within the context of several concurrent issues which are closely related to urban development. The living condition and environment of the urban poor are mainly characterized by a high density of population, unhygienic shelter, poor quality of drinking water, inadequate sanitation facilities, poor drainage and a solid waste disposal system. In many cases, an important factor in increasing this urban poverty has been rural-to-urban migration and the phenomenon of urbanization to a large extent is ruled by the process of migration. In our country, there is no consensus on the definition of poverty in terms of minimum per capita per month income and reliable income data at the household level is also not available. On approaching power decentralization from rural to the urban context under the 73^rd/ & 74^th Amendments of the constitution, the representation of the urban poor in the Municipal ward committee is not up to the mark or non-functional.

Since income measures the potential consumption of the household or the individual, consumption expenditure is taken as the proxy measure of poverty for income in India. Although urban areas present real opportunities for poor people, they also create and feed the conditions within which poverty spreads. On the positive side, economic growth, which is partially driven by urban development, increases the incomes of poor people. In addition, cities have the resources to improve the conditions within which people live and work, and they create the context within which poor people can demand and obtain redress from political and bureaucratic systems. Urban population increases are in part fuelled by rural-urban migration as people seek new employment and livelihood opportunities in urban areas. Right Track works with them to uplift their living status through a holistic approach so that they can enjoy their lives with dignity. 

Right Track is engaged in addressing the issues of underprivileged and marginalized populations living in agglomerations in urban and peri-urban areas. People hailing from several parts of the state have gathered in and around the city of Kolkata, the majority of them shifting from their origin in search of livelihood opportunities. They are living in extremely poor conditions and being denied all sorts of civic amenities. The organization has multiple issue-specific interventions addressing this urban poverty through capacity building of both men and women where they can have the ability to raise their voices. Being engaged with different occupational groups who are engaged in several unorganized labour sector organizations is working on basic human rights, and livelihood delving into the deep-rooted issues in a strategy of bridging the gap between the service delivery mechanism and the respective beneficiaries.

Working with Homeless Population;

Extreme poverty and the dearth need of livelihood compelled lakhs of people to move on to the city of Kolkata. People from rural areas of Bengal and also from adjacent cities started living in different corners without having basic civic amenities. They are living on Govt. land, beside railway tracks, under the bridge, on the pavements and sometimes in Hume pipes. These families are living here for years and sometimes for decades. The organization is rigorously working to ensure their basic rights of life; food, shelter, safe drinking water and necessary entitlements for accessing benefits from different state welfare schemes. Besides organizing regular awareness programs among this cross-section of the population it has arranged several capacity-building sessions so that they can raise their voice in Infront of the appropriate authority vis a vis concerned departments can be informed about their living status and become proactive in formulating policies for this homeless population. The organization has facilitated the formation of two people’s alliances namely Maheshtala Nabajagaran Mancha and Kolkata Nabajagaran Mancha. Several consultations and interfaces were arranged with govt. officials where members of these alliances highlighted their status and put the demand for their basic rights.

Working with domestic workers;

Among the urban population of the unskilled labour force engaged in several unorganized sectors, there is a huge number of women who are working as domestic labour in and around the city. They belong to extremely poor families where they are deprived and become victims of domestic violence and other atrocities. They are not safe in their workplace too. They are poorly paid, tortured physically, and mentally and sometimes become victims of sexual abuse. To uphold their issues and untold stories organization is working to ensure a dignified life for these women both within and outside the family and also at their workplace through arranging dialogues with stakeholders, employers, and duty-bearers where they shared their situation and approaches for having benefits which are due for them. Capacity-building sessions detailing rights and different schemes were conducted to train them to move forward with their issues and form a consortium which will be engaged in upholding their issues on a larger forum.

Partnerships;

The organization works with the core belief that partnership should be the basic essence of every intervention from the micro level to the macro level with the philosophy of ‘Leave No One Behind’. It helps in building a strong bonding and transparent understanding with the beneficiaries and donors. This partnership helped the organization in achieving its objectives at an optimum level.

 Global Recycling Day is observed every year on the 18th of March to recognise the importance of recycling as a resource, not waste. The day strives to urge world leaders that recycling must be a global issue and encourage people to think resourcefully and not waste when it comes to the goods around us. Right Track has observed the day with 37 youths of different slums of the Khidderpore Dock area at the local level to sensitize them for the protection of the environment through a Workshop, held on 18th March 2022 & 2023 at SANJOG.  

Observing Worth Earth Day; It is observed with 60 Children from our Residential School of destitute at Vikramgrarh High School, Golfgreen, south Kolkata, on 22nd April 2022 & 2023, to address the issue of saving the earth through sharing the discussion with a presentation and group discussion detailing about the effect of Ozon Layer, the need of reforestation/plantation & decomposition of garbage etc.