This book analyses the characteristics and extent of urban poverty in Asia, using the three dimension of poverty: lack of income, lack of access and lack of power. Urban poverty is a multi-dimensional phenomenon. The urban poor live with many deprivations. Their daily challenges may include: limited access to employment opportunities and income, inadequate and insecure housing and services, violent and unhealthy environments, little or no social protection mechanisms, and limited access to adequate health and education opportunities. But urban poverty is not just a collection of characteristics; it is also a dynamic condition of vulnerability or susceptibility to risks. Many of the problems of urban poverty are rooted in a complexity of resource and capacity constraints, inadequate Government policies at both the central and local level, and a lack of planning for urban growth and management. The book will be of value to sociologists and other social scientists interested in urban development, politics and planning. The book will also be of interest to urban planners, city administrators, urban policy makers, and for university students.

N. Chandrasiri Niriella is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. He has completed PhD in Social Sciences (JNU), M.Phil in Urban Studies (TISS), M.A. & B.A. in Sociology (Colombo). He has over 20 years experience working in the University. He specializes in Urban Studies, Industrial Sociology and Research Methodology.