Addressing the needs of slum-dwellers

Bangladesh is undergoing a transformation toward urbanisation at a remarkable pace. Its urban population has grown at an average rate of 6.0 per cent per annum since independence. About 40 million people now live in urban areas, 21 per cent of whom are below the poverty line (UNDP, 2014). Urbanisation has been more concentrated in a few major cities. More than half of the urban population lives in four large cities, Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi and Khulna causing  big problems in terms of providing basic utilities, standard living conditions and proper education for the children.
As per 2005 survey, a total of 52,33,217 people are living in slums in major six divisional towns of the country. Dhaka occupies the top slot in terms of slum households, which was 64.6 per cent followed by Chittagong and other divisional towns. Among the cities, Chittagong is the most densely populated and rapidly expanding city in the country. Currently, about 1814 slums exist (Centre for Urban Studies or CUS, 2005) in Chittagong recording a 20per cent increase from 1997 while 1032 people live in per acre area of slums compared to 94 living in other parts of the city.
The increase in slum numbers and dwellers shows an upward trend with an increased rate of migration from rural to urban areas. This is exerting additional pressure on the infrastructure of the city. This excess population is creating pressure on sanitation, power, transportation, education, health, nutrition and environment of the city. The migrants are also getting involved in anti-social activities which usually start from slums and spreads over other parts of the city.
How many of them have migrated from other parts of the country and what are the reasons behind such migration? This writer visited Haji Nurunnabi colony at the tail of Chittagong city in connection with a survey. Talking to the dwellers of the slum unfolded a few interesting facts. Majority of slum-dwellers and floating people belong to the group that has migrated from elsewhere. A research by Centre for Urban Studies (CUS, 2005) confirms the statement. The research found eight reasons for migration to slum areas. 39.53 per cent of slum-dwellers migrated for employment, 17.2 per cent due to river bank erosion and around 20 per cent due to low income. Lesser opportunities in strong job sectors in rural areas drove them to the cities.
The most serious problems in slum areas include inadequate and insecure houses, serious lack of hygienic sanitation and water facilities, difficulties in accessing employment and little or no social protection particularly for the children. The slum people have very limited access to adequate health services and education due to lack of proper attention by the authorities, scarcity of resources, unavailable education facilities adjacent to the slums. Exorbitant cost of education denies them access to private schools. Our field survey reveals that only two tube wells and three bathrooms serve 152 households with more than 800 people at Hazi Nurun Nabi Colony in Chittagong. No wonder, healthcare is a burning issue in slum areas as there is limited scope to defecate and most of them are accustomed to open defecation. Most of the toilets are linked to adjacent canal or rivers so that the defecation can disappear with flowing waters and people use the same water for cooking, washing and bathing.
Education presents the most dismal picture. It is found that hundreds of children are moving around when they should have been at schools and there is no one to ask them to do so. According to an UNESCO report (Global Education Monitoring Report, 2010), education figures for slums in capital Dhaka are among the worst in South-Asia, and the situation in other cities of the country is almost identical.  Child immunisation in slum households of Dhaka has been reported to be 51-76 per cent. The report reveals that some non-formal schools run by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are playing the lead role in providing basic education to the slum children.
Among others, lack of awareness among the guardians is actually preventing their children from sending their children to schools. Circumstantial concern is also a major contributor, as incidents of child kidnapping are on the increase in surrounding areas.  The overall living conditions in slums remind us of the scenario in a global blockbuster movie Slumdog Millionaire. Slumdogs can become millionaires in movies, but the scenario is totally different in real life.
With one of the highest urban population, the development of slums did not receive proper attention from the concerned authorities. Therefore, the situation continues to deteriorate for the increasing number of urban poor.  Another key factor is land ownership. The number of government owned slums is decreasing while that of privately owned slums is increasing. Living conditions vary across different slums, even when average incomes are similar.
Considering the phenomenon, a comprehensive and integrated effort is required both from the government and NGOs in order to empower the slum-dwellers, make them aware of their rights, extend them support to have access to basic needs of water, sanitation, health and education, and protect the children from violence and exploitation.
Slum-dwellers have hopes and aspirations and dreams similar to those of people living under good conditions. It is high time we gave them proper recognition and help them have their basic needs. For this, a well-designed urban sector policy is the next logical step.

The writer is National Urban Coordinator at World Vision Bangladesh. [email protected]