Rajeev George
Ashoka Fellow since 2004   |   India

Rajeev George

Ashoka commemorates and celebrates the life and work of this deceased Ashoka Fellow.
Rajeev George offers a viable solution to the acute housing problems faced by the urban poor. His unique approach to city planning is founded on high-integrity, verifiable data, the strategic use of…
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This description of Rajeev George's work was prepared when Rajeev George was elected to the Ashoka Fellowship in 2004.

Introduction

Rajeev George offers a viable solution to the acute housing problems faced by the urban poor. His unique approach to city planning is founded on high-integrity, verifiable data, the strategic use of future-sensitive technology, and the active participation of settlement dwellers.

The New Idea

Rajeev’s vision is that all urban inhabitants should have their share of urban space and services. But the reality is that millions of India’s poorest inhabitants today have no access to adequate legal housing and are forced to live in slums where they lack basic services and are constantlyRead more

The Problem

Adequate housing is a basic human right enshrined in the universal declaration under the International Convention on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. Yet the reality is that millions of people in India have neither adequate housing nor the most basic services. The housing shortage, which wasRead more

The Strategy

To make the urban poor more visible, Rajeev is creating a detailed digital map of all squatter settlements as well as fighting for pro-poor planning policies for the revised city master plans throughout the country. Through these tools and forums, he is getting slum dwellers involved in theRead more

The Person

Rajeev was born in 1970, the youngest child in a conservative Christian family. His father, a priest and homeopathy physician still serves in marginalized communities. Since his early youth, Rajeev had an urge to work among the poor, and through his parents’ inspiration he has made this work hisRead more

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