“STUDY OF SLUMS IN BELAGAVI (BELGAUM)
CITY-A SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL
PERSPECTIVES”
MINOR RESEARCH PROJECT
(MRP (H)-1511/11-12/KAKA016/UGC-SWRO)
Final Report of the Project
SUBMITTED TO
UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION
NEW DELHI
BY
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
DR.MALLIKARJUN.S.KURANI
MA,BEd,PGDIE,PhD
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
DEPT.OF GEOGRAPHY
RANI PARVATI DEVI COLLEGE OF ARTS AND
COMMERCE TILAKWADI BELAGAVI-KARNATAKA
PIN 590006
2015
SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS (Annexure-VIII)
The present study has made an attempt to analyze, examine and evaluate the socio-
economic and environmental status of 52 (Both Notified and Non-notified ) slums of
Belagavi city by selecting different set of indicators. It is observed from the study that
There are total 52 slums in the city, of which 39 are notified slums and 13 are Non
notified slums. The total population of slums is about 42,202 persons(including Non-
notified slums) which accounts for about 10 per cent of the total population of the city.
In 1961, there were only 4 notified slums in the city, By the end of 2014, the total no
of slums in the city increased to 39. The slums and their population also increased
tremendously in the city.
Slums are not evenly distributed in the study area. But are spread over
different part of the city, and across variation in population size geographical area
,occupational pattern, land use and amenities and facilities differ from one slum to
another. It is observed from the present study that about 51.52 per cent of the total
slum dwellers are literate. It is interesting to note that the literacy level of urban poor
is very low compared to literacy level of surrounding villages. The average sex ratio
of slums is 961 females for 1000 males. The study indicates that about 35.00 per cent
of the population surveyed households are dependent people.
Religion plays an important role in formulating and preserving a culture
system of any region, which has been well recognized in the city. The Majority of
sample respondents are the followers of Hindu religion i.e. about70.27percent of
sample respondents are Hindus. A good number of slum dwellers belong to
Scheduled Caste category. A sizable number of slum dweller ie-72.09 percent belong
to other social category groups, which includes backward classes ,minorities and
others.
It is observed from the present investigation that The mother tongue of
55.38 percent of sample respondents is Kannada. The second place is occupied by
Marathi as 28.50 percent of sample respondents. Out of the total slums about 78.84
percent of the slums have a average family size of 5-7 members. The present
investigation reflects that most of the slum dwellers are living in very congested
unhealthy home environment. It is quite astonishing to note that large number of
sample households are nuclear family(57.29 percent) households.
It is also interesting to note that most of the slum dwellers are not the natives
of Belagavi city. Its means that large number of them migrated to Belagavi for
different purposes. The important reason for migration to Belagavi city is poverty.
Nearly 57.35 percent of respondents reported that the poor economic conditions or
prevailing poverty in their native place pushed them to migrate to city. Slum dwellers
low income level and high rent in non-slum areas is the main cause for settling in
slum areas. Duration of residence is an important factor in the process of migration.
longer the duration of stay, greater the urban adjustment and urban impact on
migrants. It is pertinent to note that as many as 70.0 percent of sample respondents are
living in slums for the last 20 years and above.
The present study also highlights the salient features of land use pattern of slums
of Belagavi city. To know the land utilization in the 39 (Notified) slums of Belagavi
city a field survey was conducted by visiting each slum pockets of the city. Out of this
total land area about 144.85 Acres of land area is under residential use. Which
account for about 92.0 percent of the total slum area of the city.
Slum dwellers are employed in the least secured ,lowest paid and lowest status
position in the organized ,unorganized and self employed occupations. About 51.23
percent of slum dwellers of the study area employed in unorganized sectors. It is
observed from the survey that a majority of the households are engaged in low-income
occupations such as daily wages, rickshaw pulling, household industry, construction,
wooden works furniture making and begging. The slums are generally treated as the
pockets of poverty. About 52.82 percent of the slum dwellers falls under the category
of low and vey low income(Rs20000-30000/annum) groups.
It is observed from the present study that about 95 percent of the slum
dwellers are satisfied by their migration and improved income level. The expenditure
of slum dweller of Belagavi city reveals that a major share of the income of the slum
dweller is spent on food(70% ) items, followed by liquor(10.48 %) and fuel (9.37%)
and negligible portion of income is spent on other items. As far as mode of savings of
slum dweller is concerned, more than half of the sample respondent have no savings.
It denotes that their family earnings are not sufficient to save money for future
purposes.
Present study also reveals that the problem of child labor in the slums of
Belagavi city. It is very positive development in the life of slum children that About
60 percent children are not employed in any sector. They are admitted in government
school as well as schools opened by industries and Non government agencies.
In the present study, an attempt has been made to analyze the urban
Environmental infrastructural facilities and basic services available for urban poor by
selecting different indicators. like housing conditions education, healthcare facilities,
sanitation services, water supply, electricity and recreational facilities etc and also to
find out deficiencies in them.
As far as housing pattern and type is concern, large number of slum dwellers
are living in unsafe dwellings. About 40.0 percent of slum dwellers are living in
Kuccha houses. About 63.0 percent of the total houses are made up of floor with
mud materials, About 41.45 percent of the houses are made up of wall with mud
brick. The tile is the predominant roof material which account for 53.0 percent of the
houses. About 68.47 percent of sample householders have only single room for
living. The study also reveals that about 91.0 percent of the slum dwellers do no have
separate kitchen, About 88.05 percent of the slum dwellers do not have separate
bathroom and about 91.0 percent of the slum dwellers do no have separate bed room
for their family members. They sleep together in one single room. If we compare the
housing conditions of slums of Belgaum city with either areas it can be considered as
worst standard because these slums comprises area of extensive overcrowding of
buildings and residents.
As far as water supply is concern, As many as 85.0 percent of sample
households are depending on public tap for drinking water. Disparity can be observed
in the supply of drinking water to the slum areas of the city. Nearly 50 percent of
sample households get drinking water every days. About 10 percent of the households
collects the drinking water twice in one week and few slum areas in the city collects
water once in a week.
During the field survey it was traced that the total electric points enumerated is
very less. The proportion of families that enjoy the benefit of electricity is only 60
percent. Among the electrified houses 82.51 percent have taken government help and
the remaining electrified by the owners of the house. It is observed form the present
investigation that as many as 64.0 percent of sample households are depending on
kerosene for cooking.
As far as sanitary latrine of slum dweller is concerned, about 55 percent of
sample households have sanitary latrine and 41 percent of slum dwellers do not have
individual toilets. The study also makes it clear that 42.5 percent of non- sanitary
latrine households utilizing public latrine and 23.0 percent utilizing Pit latrine. The
remaining 34.5 percent going to open places for lavatory.
The sewerage system of the slum area is not sufficient everywhere. Most of the
slum areas have open drainage system. Stagnating water from various sources gives
rise to problems of mosquito breeding; fly nuisance and insanitary conditions around
about human habitations affecting the health of the people.
As far as health care facility is concerned, the health facilities available in the
slum areas are generally unsatisfactory. There is no provision for a separate
government hospital for slum dwellers in the city.
It is observed during field survey that many slum dwellers suffering from
diseases like Respiratory problems, Malaria, Cholera, Asthama, Allergy,
Chikanagunnya, Cardiac diseases, Jaundice Eye irritation and others.
Present study also reveals that educational facilities and educational
standard of slum dwellers of Belagavi city. Pre-primary schools (Anganwadi) are
located in few slum areas of the city. No single senior primary, secondary and colleges
are found in any slum areas of the city. Among the literates ,majority of the
respondents are confined to school education. Nearly 28.60 percent of sample
respondents studied up to primary level and 14.22 percent studied up to secondary
level of school education.
The present study also made an attempt to evaluate the problems of solid
waste management in the slum area of the city. Absence of adequate and earmarked
space for the disposal of household garbage and other solid wastes in most of the
slums is causing a major problem to the residents. A small number of 15.11 percent
households have mentioned that garbage in their areas was collected daily. A large
majority of households 71.40 percent were not satisfied with the collection of solid
waste by the workers of the Municipal Corporation. A majority of 98.0 percent slum
dwellers mentioned that they did not segregate the degradable and non-degradable
waste of their respective homes.
Present study has also made an attempt to highlight that the liquor
consuming habits of slum people, feeling regarding their social status and use fullness
of Government programmes, crimes and social evils in the slum areas. Around 85
percent reported that they are not feeling low status due to their present economic
conditions. According to the opinion of 90.0 percent respondents the slum
development programmes of Government are useful to them.
Lastly as far as programmes and policies of slum development is concern
Both Central and state Government have undertaken many welfare programmes with
a vision of slum free country by 2022.It is also observed from the present study that
Under the Rajiv Awas Yojana(RAY) scheme ,the Karnataka Slum Development
Board has selected 07 Slums of Belagavi city in first phase to provide housing
facility for the slum dwellers. Total 1044 families have been selected under this
scheme.
Based on this analysis, the study makes the following recommendations.
The existing system of tap water supply is to be augmented to meet the
minimum requirement. The water supply system in the slums is to be treated
with integration of city supply system. Ensure sufficient quantity of water
supply for domestic purposes by increasing availability time and number of
taps.
Free electric connection is to be extended to each and every slum dweller under
different Government Scheme.
In order to increase the standard of living of the slum dwellers pre-primary,
primary and secondary education for children in the age group of 3-17 should
be encouraged. Informal education facilities need to be extended to the adult
members.
Dispensaries and health center are required to be established at various
centrally located areas. Health education programme is required to be
conducted in slum so as to make the inhabitants understand the implications.
The slums should be provided with drainage facilities i.e. integration with the
master plan drainage system of the city.
Public toilets should be provided at suitable sites. The community organizers
should take special care to convince the people the implication of unhealthy
environment and insist on them to follow the practice of using toilets and non-
functional toilets have to be restored.
The authorities should provide suitable site and other facilities for disposal of
household garbage and other SW within or nearby the slum. And arrangements
for timely and regular clearance of garbage collected in the bins for disposal.
Adequate and sufficient fund for slum development
Proper implementation of Government schemes and Programmes.
Formation of slum development committee.
Strengthening of women organizations. like SEWA,WSHG,WSEO.
Environmental awareness programmes
