Housing for urban poor
Munima Sultana | Wednesday, 4 June 2008
The leaders of the readymade garment workers recently demanded allocation of fund in the next budget for a housing project for the RMG workers. The demand deserves serious consideration. It's a genuine suggestion and needs to be treated accordingly.
Hundreds of thousands of garment workers live in sub-standard condition in the slums. With their income they can afford nothing better.
But garment workers have become an integral part of the city. They deserve a minimum of housing.
The housing problem for the garment workers is a matter of concern, especially because they contribute greatly to the export economy of the country. The growth of the economy with the expansion of other sectors of the industry including the garments has been drawing a larger number of rural migrants to the city in search of jobs. But whether some of them may finally get some job or not, they find their shelter in the city slums.
A significant and growing numbers of urban dwellers live in slums under conditions of extreme poverty. Time has come to pay attention to the living condition of these people.
According to a UN report, the number of slum dwellers could double in 30 years and there may be 3.5 billion slum dwellers, out of a total urban population of about six billion. The persistence of slums should shame the world.
The number of slum dwellers increased substantially during the 1990s. The UN in a report called for on policies for more vigorously addressing the issue of the livelihoods of slum dwellers and urban poverty in general.
Despite these indications, the slum dwellers continue to increase. Dhaka is among the cities of the world with very high number of slum dwellers. These people are different occupational groups including rickshaw pullers
The workers including RMG workers desire better housing than the congested slums, in which a family lives in a single room which on average ranges of no more than 100 to 200 sft in size with the kitchen in it. Many of the slums are at awkward, damp and wet places. In storms or rains living in make shift dwellings made of weak materials is hazardous. Threat of eviction is perennial.
The demand of housing for urban poor including RMG workers should not be ignored. The government needs to make allocation in the coming budgets to develop programmes to save the workers as well as improve their living standard.
Hundreds of thousands of garment workers live in sub-standard condition in the slums. With their income they can afford nothing better.
But garment workers have become an integral part of the city. They deserve a minimum of housing.
The housing problem for the garment workers is a matter of concern, especially because they contribute greatly to the export economy of the country. The growth of the economy with the expansion of other sectors of the industry including the garments has been drawing a larger number of rural migrants to the city in search of jobs. But whether some of them may finally get some job or not, they find their shelter in the city slums.
A significant and growing numbers of urban dwellers live in slums under conditions of extreme poverty. Time has come to pay attention to the living condition of these people.
According to a UN report, the number of slum dwellers could double in 30 years and there may be 3.5 billion slum dwellers, out of a total urban population of about six billion. The persistence of slums should shame the world.
The number of slum dwellers increased substantially during the 1990s. The UN in a report called for on policies for more vigorously addressing the issue of the livelihoods of slum dwellers and urban poverty in general.
Despite these indications, the slum dwellers continue to increase. Dhaka is among the cities of the world with very high number of slum dwellers. These people are different occupational groups including rickshaw pullers
The workers including RMG workers desire better housing than the congested slums, in which a family lives in a single room which on average ranges of no more than 100 to 200 sft in size with the kitchen in it. Many of the slums are at awkward, damp and wet places. In storms or rains living in make shift dwellings made of weak materials is hazardous. Threat of eviction is perennial.
The demand of housing for urban poor including RMG workers should not be ignored. The government needs to make allocation in the coming budgets to develop programmes to save the workers as well as improve their living standard.