The Issues

Environmental disadvantages

The average slum dwelling is a temporary shelter measuring 6 x 5 feet. It houses around 6 - 8 people and is built using whatever is to hand - mud, reeds, plastic sheeting, stitched cloth, cardboard and other discarded materials. The slum dwellers are constantly exposed to stagnant water, open drains, floods, rubbish, and noise and air pollution. Access to clean, safe water is extremely limited. The narrow lanes separating slum dwellings allow fire to spread with terrifying speed, as well as disease.

Water and sanitation difficulties

It's estimated that one hand pump serves an average of 125 households (which would contain a minimum of 750 people). Water pumps are often in disrepair due to lack of motivation and resources of the authorities and the slum dwellers and so women have to travel long distances to fetch water. There is an average of one latrine for 25 households (around 125 people), with the result that 40% of people defecate outside in the fields or the drains.

Health problems

Poor living conditions, lack of income and scarce education form the basis for serious health problems that would otherwise be preventable. Maternal health is poor, and death associated with pregnancy and childbirth is common as women have no access to suitable facilities or trained midwives. Children suffer from vitamin A deficiencies that can lead to blindness. Tuberculosis, diarrhoea and respiratory tract infections are very common amongst children. Around 80% of children are malnourished and only 1 in 3 children are immunised against childhood diseases. The mortality rates are among the highest in the world (the under-5 death rate is 142 per 1,000 live births). The birth rate in the slums is also one of the highest in the world, at 40 per 1,000 of the population.

Social, cultural and economic disadvantages

Educational standards are extremely low in the slums with only 25% men and 10% women able to read and write with understanding. Only 20% of children attend even primary school, even though the government provides school places for all children; those living in slums are often more concerned with trying to add to the family income and feel that there is no time to go to school. Slums have high percentages of unemployment and most households have an income of less than 1,000 - 1,500 rupees a month (approximately 20 British pounds or 30 US dollars), with most men working as unskilled, temporary labourers.

There is little sense of community due to ethnic, language and caste differences. The effects of displacement, disappointment and stress result in high levels of violence and alcohol or drug abuse. Politics are influential as slum populations form a sizeable number of potential votes, meaning that politicians and the slum mafia regularly exploit the slum dwellers. All these factors encourage dependency and suppress people's motivation for change.

Women and children in particular face severe difficulties in gaining access to basic facilities including health services, clean water and education. They have no power to assert themselves or to demand their rights. They don't know how to lobby for facilities, who to approach or how to gain access to government departments. There are no support networks for them to rely on within the slums and nobody to turn to for advice and help.

Thank You Asha

I used to drink too much and beat my wife, and then she died. Asha helped me to overcome my drink problem and motivated me to find work so that I can support myself.

Devender

Ekta Vihar