problems faced and socio-economic opportunities gained by
TRANSCRIPT
Problems Faced and Socio-economic
Opportunities Gained by
Slum Women in Hyderabad-Karnataka Region
Dr. Kaveri P. Sagar UGC Post-Doctoral Fellow
Dept of Women’s Studies
Gulbarga University
Kalaburagi: 585 106
Karnataka
Abstract:
There is increase in slum areas due to impact of globalization,
increase in employment opportunities in urban areas and decreased
employment opportunities in villages. The rural to urban migration has
resulted in increase in slum areas and large increase of slum population.
Due to increased population, it has become challenge for the Government
to promote education, healthcare, hygienic conditions and such other
facilities in slum areas. Due to scarcity of drinking water, lack of
sanitation, open defecation, poverty, illiteracy, etc, the women living in
slum areas are facing many of the problems such as lower status, poor
health, gender inequality, etc. Still, with the impact of welfare schemes of
the Government for slum dwellers, women are getting socio-economic
opportunities from these schemes. In this respect, the present study is
made to assess the socio-economic opportunities gained and problems
faced by women living in slum areas of Hyderabad-Karnataka region. The
region constitutes six districts and a sample survey of 50 women from
each district and altogether 300 women living in slum areas of these
districts was made using interview schedule. It is found that, compared to
socio-economic opportunities gained by women, the problems faced by
these women are higher. In this respect, it is suggested to promote self-
employment and income generating activities among slum women. The
activities of Self-Help Groups are also emphasized in slum areas.
Keywords: Women Studies, Slum Women, Women Welfare.
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Introduction:
Slum Area Improvement and Clearance Act, 1956 defines slums as
mainly those residential areas where dwellings are in any respect unfit
for human habitation due to reasons of dilapidation, overcrowding, faulty
designs of buildings, narrowness or faulty arrangement of streets, lack of
ventilation, light or sanitation facilities or any combination of these
factors which are detrimental to safety, health and morals. Thus,
conceptually slums are perceived as compact overcrowded residential
areas (and not isolated or scattered dwellings) unfit for habitation due to
lack of one or more of the basic infrastructures like drinking water,
sanitation, electricity, sewage, streets, etc.
The slum areas are often crowded and many people settle into
congested areas within the city. Therefore, slums are generally created in
city places where people either live outside the city or inside the city in
shanty settlements devoid of basic amenities of life like hygienic
conditions, clean drinking water, proper sanitation and drainage, etc.
People suffer from many problems in slum areas such as high incidences
of diseases, particularly, water-borne diseases like typhoid and cholera,
and the most affected people are women and children. Besides, informal
housing condition, lack of basic services, clean potable water, unsafe
building structures, overcrowding and lack of sanitation facilities are
other features of slum areas. In addition, the highly congested slums are
marked by poverty and socio-economic deprivation which leads to
broken families, unemployment, poor living standard, social exclusion etc
(Raghav and Joshi, 2019).
The problems faced by the slum dwellers are manifold. Housing in
slums becomes a major health concern because residents of slums live in
overcrowded situations. Two-thirds of households are simple one-room
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structures, a majority of them with dirt floors and poor ventilation. Such
overcrowding can lead to rapid spread of respiratory and skin disease.
Access to drinking water in slums is another major problem. More than
two thirds of slum residents lack access to safe drinking water on their
premises. The main sources of water are handpumps, though tap water is
available in some homes. The lack of safe drinking water facilitates the
spread of water borne diseases. The presence of stored water further
promotes the breeding of mosquitoes and diseases such as malaria.
Absence of available latrines is a major health problem as well. It is
estimated that over one third of slum households have no access to
bathroom facilities, promoting open defecation, which in turn leads to
spread of faecal-oral disease and parasitic infestation.
Primary schooling, through corporation schools, is a free
educational system provided by the Government of India. But it is
observed that due to poverty, the slum dwellers send their children to
work and earn for their livelihood. Hence, even though there are schools,
there is no education for the slum dwellers due to poverty.
The majority of women slum dwellers belong to the lower socio-
economic class and have migrated to the city with the hope of better
means of livelihood. Having basically low education, skill, and work
experience, they have no choice in the competitive job market and pick up
low paid jobs such as construction labourer, domestic servants, casual
factory workers, and petty trading business. With their meagre income,
they are forced to live in slum areas in the most unsanitary and
unhygienic conditions, carrying out their existence with the barest
necessities of life. Even if people have some money, they do not invest it in
home improvement because of the temporary status of their residence or
because of illegal occupation of public lands and the constant threat of
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eviction. Therefore, the housing of the slum dwellers is of lower quality.
Poor housing conditions, overcrowded environment, poor sanitation,
occupational hazards, group rivalries and clashes, stressful conditions
together with lack of open space for women’s recreation, etc. are
detrimental to the health of people in the slums (Goswami, 2014).
Health is a major economic issue for slum residents, especially for
women. The unhealthy physical environment leads to sickness,
demanding medical treatment, which results in the reduction of
workdays, followed by economic loss.
Since 1972, the Government of India initiated a programme called
Environmental Improvement of Urban Slums under which priority to
drinking water and sanitation was given. In 1996, Government initiated
the National Slum Development Programme with substantial fund
allocation. It had a specified focus on providing drinking water and
community toilets. In 2005, Government started the Jawaharlal Nehru
Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), an initiative to encourage reforms and
fast-track planned development of certain cities. Realizing the problems
and challenges faced by slum dwellers in general and slum women in
particular, the Government has initiated many of the welfare schemes,
few of which are stated above, apart from general welfare schemes
initiated for poor. Hence, it is essentially needed to know whether the
women living in slum areas have accessed socio-economic opportunities
in slum areas and also to explore their problems and challenges. In this
respect, present field-based study has been taken in Hyderabad-
Karnataka region.
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Objectives of the Study:
The present study is made:
To analyse the problems faced by women in slum areas of
Hyderabad-Karnataka region.
To study the health conditions of women living in slum areas.
To assess the socio-economic opportunities gained by women in
slum areas.
Scope and Methodology:
As discussed in the title, the present study is made in Hyderabad-
Karnataka region, which constitutes six districts in Karnataka. There is
total 566589 people are living in slum areas located across six districts of
Hyderabad-Karnataka, of which 243360 are women. Due to limited time
frame, it is impossible to survey all the women living in all the slum areas
of the region and hence, sample survey of 50 slum women from each of
the six districts was made and total number of slum women surveyed is
300. Interview schedule was used to collect the primary data in addition
to observation method. The collected primary data on socio-economic
opportunities gained and problems faced by women living in slum areas
covered under the study is analysed, interpreted and discussed as under:
Analysis, Interpretation and Discussion:
1. Age of the Women:
Age is an important factor on which the awareness and availing of
socio-economic opportunities is mainly depends. If the women are of
younger age, then they may have more opportunities of education,
employment, self-employment, healthcare, etc and on the other hand, as
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the elderly women are suffering from health problems due to ageing,
there may not be more socio-economic opportunities for elderly women
in slum areas as these areas are with lack of healthcare facilities, income
security, hygiene, nutrition, etc. In this respect, the age of the selected
slum impact of the socio-economic opportunities in slum areas and the
collected primary data on the Age-group of women living in slum areas of
the region is analysed and discussed as under.
Table No. 1. Age of the Women
Particulars Frequency Percentage Less than 25 Years 54 18.00 26 to 35 Years 66 22.00 36 to 45 Years 70 23.33 46 to 55 Years 63 21.00 More than 55 Years 47 15.67 Total 300 100
The age of the women surveyed in slum areas revealed that, 54
(18.00%) are of younger age, that is of less than 25 years, 66 (22.00%) are
between 26 to 35 years, 70 (23.33%) are between 36 to 45 years, 63
(21.00%) are between 46 to 55 years and the remaining 47 (15.67%) of
the women are of more than 55 years. It is found that, majority of the
women living in slum areas are of middle age group, that is between 26 to
55 years.
2. Educational Level:
Education determines the knowledge of the women and it also
empowers women in various issues. When the education of women in
general is analysed, it is always low and even the women in slum areas
are always low-educated or even majority of these women are also
illiterates. Due to lower level of education, there is lesser knowledge of
women in slum areas in various issues and areas such as health, nutrition,
hygiene, rights, etc. Due to this reason, gender inequality is prevailed in
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slum areas. The primary data collected from the slum women surveyed
on their educational level is as under.
Table No. 2. Educational Level
Particulars Frequency Percentage Illiterate 74 24.67 Primary 83 27.67 Secondary/ Intermediate
65 21.67
Under-Graduate 41 13.66 Graduate & Above 37 12.33 Total 300 100
Above table made it clear that, of the women surveyed in slum areas,
74 (24.67%) are illiterates, 83 (27.67%) have completed their primary
education, 65 (21.67%) have completed their secondary or intermediate
level of education, 41 (13.66%) of the slum women have completed their
under-graduation and the remaining only 37 (12.33%) of all the slum
women surveyed have completed graduate and higher education. It is
summarized that, the educational level of women living in slum areas is
lower and as such, they are unaware about the accessibility of
opportunities in slum areas. Due to this reason, there is poverty among
the families living in slum areas.
3. Monthly Income of Slum Women:
It is found that, majority of the women living in slum areas are
working outside in different sectors. As such, they are generating income
for their families. It is noted that, the income generated by women helps
to increase their standard of living and also assure economic security. In
this respect, information was collected from the women on their monthly
income and tabulated as under.
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Table No. 3. Monthly Income of Slum Women
Particulars Frequency Percentage Less than Rs. 3000 13 4.33 Rs. 3001 to Rs. 6000 74 24.67 Rs. 6001 to Rs. 10000 92 30.67 Rs. 10001 to Rs. 15000 -- -- More than Rs. 15000 08 2.66 Not Applicable/ Unemployed
113 37.67
Total 300 100
As stated by women surveyed, only 13 (4.33%) are getting monthly
income of less than Rs. 3000, 74 (24.67%) are getting monthly income
between Rs. 3001 to Rs. 6000, 92 (30.67%) of the women are getting
monthly income between Rs. 6001 to Rs. 10000, only 08 (2.66%) are
getting monthly income of more than Rs. 15000 and it is not applicable to
113 (37.67%) of the slum women as they are unemployed housewives.
4. Problems in Slum Areas: When the nature of slum areas is analysed, it is found that, there is
large population living in small areas and there is also constant growth of
population due to increase in migration or increase in number of children
of the slum people. As such, people are living in small houses without
basic facilities such as separate kitchen room, latrines, bath rooms, etc at
their households. Even there are also problems of the slum areas such as
scarcity of water facilities, lack of transportation and educational
facilities, poor roads, poor healthcare facilities, malnutrition among
women and children, poor hygienic conditions, absence of sanitation
facilities, etc. The primary data collected from the women covered under
the study on the problems faced by them and their family members is
analysed, interpreted and discussed as under.
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Table No. 4. Problems in Slum Areas
Particulars Frequency Percentage Poor Roads 83 27.67 Polluted Water 52 17.33 Scarcity of Water 173 57.67 Poor Health 68 22.67 Lack of Schools 94 31.33 Absence of Sanitation 115 38.33 Any Other 25 8.33 Total 300 100
Note: It is found that, many of the women and their families are facing
many of the problems in their slum areas and hence, total frequency
should not be counted here.
It is observed that, many of the women and their family members are
facing many of the problems in their slum areas. Particularly, as
mentioned by slum women, 83 (27.67%) are facing problems of poor
roads, 52 (17.33%) are facing problems of polluted water supply in their
areas, 173 (57.67%) are facing problems of scarcity of water, 68 (22.67%)
are facing problem of poor health due to unhygienic conditions in their
areas, 94 (31.33%) of the women are facing educational problems as
there are no schools in their areas, 115 (38.33%) of the women are facing
problem of absence of sanitation in their areas and 25 (8.33%) of the
women are also facing other problems in their areas.
5. Personal Health Status:
The health is essentially important for women in general and women
living in slum areas in particular. Because, the poor facilities of health
care, poor hygienic conditions, absence of sanitation, polluted water, open
defecation, poor knowledge of women in reproductive health, etc have
become threat to life of women in slum areas. Hence, information was
collected on the personal health status of women and presented in the
following table.
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Table No. 5. Personal Health Status
Particulars Frequency Percentage Always Fine 153 51.00 Fine, But Suffer Illness Occasionally
86 28.67
Regularly Suffering from Ill Health
61 20.33
Total 300 100 The personal health status of women surveyed revealed that, 153
(51.00%) of these women are always fine, the personal health status of 86
(28.67%) of the women is fine, but they are suffering from ill health
occasionally and 61 (20.33%) of all the slum women are regularly
suffering from ill health.
6. Health Problems at Various Stages:
The women are biologically weak due to reproductive function.
Many of the health problems are faced by women during menstruation,
menopause, pregnancy, child birth, old age. As per their life stages,
women are suffering from various health problems. It was asked to the
slum women that whether they have any problems during such stages
and collected primary data is as under.
Table No. 6. Health Problems at Various Stages
Particulars Frequency Percentage Menstrual Health 123 41.00 Menopause 48 16.00 Pregnancy/ Delivery 164 54.67 Ageing/ Geriatrics 35 11.67 Total 300 100
Note: It is observed that, some of the slum women have given more than
one or many of the health problems at various stages and hence, total
frequency should not be considered here.
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Some of the women in slum areas have given many of the health
problems at various stages of their life. Particularly, 123 (41.00%) of the
slum women have faced and are facing health problems during menstrual
health, 48 (16.00%) are facing health problems during menopause, 164
(54.67%) of the women have faced and are facing health problems during
pregnancy and child birth and 35 (11.67%) of the women are facing
health problems due to ageing.
7. Opportunities and Facilities Gained from Public Hospitals and
Government Hospitals:
As discussed above, majority (193) of the slum women are visiting to
public hospitals or government hospitals to get rid of their illness.
Though, there are good facilities and services are available in the private
hospitals and clinics, still the slum women prefer to visit public hospitals
and government hospitals. The opportunities, benefits and facilities
gained by slum women from public hospitals and Government hospitals
are shown as under.
Table No. 7. Opportunities and Facilities Gained from
Public Hospitals and Government Hospitals
Particulars Frequency Percentage Free/ Concessional Consultation & Tests
06 2.00
Free Medicines 11 3.67 Good Doctors 13 4.33 All Facilities Available 07 2.33 All of the Above 156 52.00 Not Applicable 107 35.67 Total 300 100
On the opportunities, benefits, advantages and facilities gained by
the slum women from public hospitals, it is found that, 06 (2/00%) of the
women gained free or concessional consultation and tests, 11 (3.67%) are
getting free medicines, 13 (4.33%) of the women are getting suggestions
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and advice by expert doctors, 07 (2.33%) of the women are getting all
types of facilities from these hospitals, majority that is, 156 (52.00%) of
all the slum women are getting all the types of facilities (free consultation,
test, free medicines, expert doctors’ advice and various facilities) from
public hospitals or Government hospitals and it is not applicable to 107
(35.67%) of all the slum women as they are visiting to private hospitals or
clinics.
8. Formed or Gained Membership to Self-Help Groups in Slum Areas:
Self-Help Groups are formed by women belonging to weaker
sections or poor women so as to mobilise small savings and led loans to
members, so that such women members can start their own income
generating activities or small business. The Self-Help Groups may also
give loans to domestic purposes. Self-Help Groups are playing significant
role in socio-economic empowerment of women. It was asked to the slum
women that whether they have formed their own Self-Help Group or
gained membership to Self-Help Groups in their slum areas and the
collected information is disclosed as under.
Table No. 8. Formed or Gained Membership to
Self-Help Groups in Slum Areas
Particulars Frequency Percentage Yes 184 61.33 No 116 38.67 Total 300 100
Only 184 (61.33%) of all the women surveyed were formed their
own Self-Help Groups or gained membership to Self-Help Groups in their
slum areas whereas, 116 (38.67%) have not gained any membership to
Self-Help Groups or not formed their own groups.
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9. Means of Empowerment through Self-Help Groups:
Self-Help Groups are formed and functioning for the women
empowerment. To empower women from weaker sections, poor and
neglected people, Self-Help Groups helps these women in many ways. By
mobilizing small savings from poor women, Self-Help Groups helps them
to secure their future. These groups are also lending small loans to needy
women members so that, they can start their own income generating
activities or develop their existing income generating activities or self-
employment. The bank linkage helps the women members to gain bank
loans easily. In this way, Self-Help Groups are of highly advantageous for
women and the collected primary data on the means of empowerment as
known to the respondents is shown as under.
Table No. 9. Means of Empowerment through Self-Help Groups
Particulars Frequency Percentage Income Generating Activities & Women Entrepreneurship
135 45.00
Mobilizing Small Savings 156 52.00 Lending Loans to Women 74 24.67 Helps to Gain Bank Loans & Deposits
65 21.67
Social Contacts 114 38.00 Any Other 23 7.67 Not Applicable 116 38.67 Total 300 100
Note: It is found that, many of the women were stated more than one or
many of the means of women empowerment through Self-Help Groups
and hence, total frequency should not be considered here.
Many of the women surveyed were given more than one or many of
the means through which women empowerment is achieved through Self-
Help Groups. Particularly, of all the women surveyed, 135 (45.00%) have
opined that Self-Help Groups helps income generating activities and
women entrepreneurship activities, 156 (52.00%) have remarked that,
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Self-Help Groups helps to mobilize small savings, 74 (24.67%) have
expressed that Self-Help Groups lending loans to women, 65 (21.67%)
have felt that, Self-Help Groups helps to gain bank loans and deposits, 114
(38.00%) have responded that Self-Help Groups helps to extend social
contacts, 23 (7.67%) have given other means of empowerment made
through Self-Help Groups and it is not applicable to 116 (38.67%) of the
women as they are not members of Self-Help Groups.
10. Slum Areas have Advantageous and Slum Dwellers have
Opportunities to Gain Benefits from Welfare Schemes:
When the social welfare schemes of the Government are analysed, it
is found that, they are targeted towards development and empowerment
of weaker sections, women and poor. Slum areas consists of all these
sections of people. Hence, it is generalized that, most of the people living
in slum areas are getting benefits from these schemes. It was asked to the
slum women that, whether living in slum areas is advantageous and slum
dwellers have opportunities to gain benefits from welfare schemes and
collected information is tabulated as under.
Table No. 10. Slum Areas have Advantageous and Slum Dwellers have
Opportunities to Gain Benefits from Welfare Schemes
Particulars Frequency Percentage Yes 143 47.67 No 157 52.33 Total 300 100
Above table made it clear that, only 143 (47.67%) of all the women
covered under the study have agreed that, slum areas have advantageous
and slum dwellers have opportunities to gain benefits from welfare
schemes whereas, 157 (52.33%) have disagreed to the same.
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11. Socio-cultural Opportunities Gained:
As the prime focus of the study is socio-economic opportunities
gained by the slum dwellers and mainly opportunities accessed by
women living in slum areas. In this regard, socio-cultural opportunities
helps to increase culture, social status and respect of women in particular
and slum dwellers in general. The collected information on socio-cultural
opportunities gained by women and their family members is as under.
Table No. 11. Socio-cultural Opportunities Gained
Particulars Frequency Percentage Mutual Cooperation of All People in the Area
187 62.33
More Social Contacts & Cooperation
154 51.33
Good Social Culture 93 31.00 Unity Irrespective of Religion or Caste
72 24.00
Any Other 23 7.67 None 18 6.00 Total 300 100
Note: It is observed that, few of the women have given many of the socio-
cultural opportunities gained by them or their family members and hence,
total frequency should not be counted here.
Few of the women surveyed have given many of the socio-cultural
opportunities which are gained by them or their family members.
Particularly, among all the respondents, 187 (62.33%) of the women have
stated that there is availability of mutual cooperation of all the people
living in the slum area, 154 (51.33%) of the women have expressed that
there are more social contacts and more cooperation among all people in
slum areas, 93 (31.00%) have felt that there is good social culture among
all the people in slum areas, 72 (24.00%) of the women have mentioned
that there is unity among all people in slum areas irrespective of religion,
caste or gender or any other classes, 23 (7.67%) have also given other
socio-cultural opportunities gained by slum women and only 18 (6.00%)
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have expressed that there are no socio-cultural opportunities in slum
areas.
12. Economic Opportunities Gained:
Like socio-cultural opportunities and advantages in slum areas, there
are many types of economic opportunities. They include financial
assistance to start self-employment, no taxes or lower taxes, more social
welfare schemes, etc. The information collected on the economic
opportunities that are accessible and gained as stated by the women are
disclosed as under.
Table No. 12. Economic Opportunities Gained
Particulars Frequency Percentage Nil/ Lower Taxes 134 44.67 Free from Problems of Busy Areas
163 54.33
All Facilities at Lower Prices 86 28.67 Opportunities for Self-employment
94 31.33
Advantages of More Welfare Schemes
126 42.00
Any Other -- -- None 27 9.00 Total 300 100
Note: It is found that, many of the women have given many of the
economic opportunities gained by them or their family members and
hence, total frequency should not be considered here.
As discussed above, many of the women have given many of the
economic advantages or opportunities gained by slum dwellers including
women and their family members. Specifically, of all the women covered
under the study, 134 (44.67%) have stated that they have gained from
lower or no taxes in slum areas, 163 (54.33%) have expressed that they
have free from problems of busy areas, 86 (28.67%) of the women have
mentioned that all facilities are available for lower prices in slum areas,
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94 (31.33%) have remarked that there are more opportunities of self-
employment for slum dwellers, 126 (42.00%) of the women have
responded that there are more advantages and benefits of social welfare
schemes in slum areas and only 27 (9.00%) have remarked that there are
no economic advantages or no economic opportunities in slum areas.
Suggestions from the Study:
Following suggestions are made from the present research work.
1. Encouraging women entrepreneurship or income generating
activities in rural areas is suggested, which restricts migration from
villages to towns and cities and there will be considerable decrease
in slum population. Then, it is possible for the Government to
provide various facilities for people living in slum areas.
2. It is suggested to people to realize the gender equality and know
the equal rights for women. As such, it is suggested to give equal
rights such as marital equality and equal participation to women in
all the matters pertaining to family.
3. It is suggested to slum dwellers to get benefits from various
housing schemes and in this regard, NGOs should help the slum
dwellers to get benefits of Government Housing Schemes.
4. It is suggested to the Government to organize self-employment
training to slum dwellers in general and women in particular.
Further, it is necessary to provide financial assistance to start self-
employment, which increase self-dependence of women and their
family members rather than working in unorganized sector.
5. Assuring healthcare of women in particular and all the people is
human right. Hence, to ensure health and well-being of slum
dwellers, it is suggested to set up healthcare centres in slum areas.
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It is also suggested to employ more ASHA workers to look after
healthcare of slum dwellers.
6. The people are living in civilized society and almost all are
educated. Surprisingly, few of the women are facing caste and
gender-based inequality and discrimination, which is against
humanity and equality. Hence, it is essential for the civil society to
neglect the caste and gender and treat all the people equally.
7. It is suggested to the women in slum areas to form Self-Help Groups
and take the membership to these groups, so as to avail benefits
from the Government, get financial assistance from banks and other
financial institutions and start entrepreneurship.
8. It is suggested to the slum dwellers and women living in slum areas
to form associations of particular areas, so as to urge for the
facilities and services essentially needed for the slum dwellers.
9. Clean streets, underground drainages, systematic sanitation, etc in
the slum areas are needed to be maintained.
Conclusion:
It is observed that many of the slum areas are not fit for the people
to spend their life. Still, the Government has initiated many of the welfare
schemes for the poor and women so as to assure healthcare, hygiene,
nutrition and housing facilities. Still, it is essentially suggested to the
Government to initiate self-employment schemes for women in slum
areas. It provides economic security to slum women, thereby increase
socio-economic and gender equality to these women. There is also need to
provide reservation to women in employment in organized sector and in
sanction of houses under various housing schemes to women living in
slum areas. It is the duty of the NGOs to spread the significance of Self-
Help Groups and poverty alleviation programmes, so that the women in
slum areas can gain benefits from these schemes.
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Mukt Shabd Journal
Volume IX, Issue VII, JULY/2020
ISSN NO : 2347-3150
Page No : 504