A Research on

CURRENT CONDITION OF THE SLUM DWELLERS OF

MOHAKHALI AND THEIR BASIC NEEDS

Submitted to :-Faculty of social science

Department of art

Prepared By

Name ID

1

Acknowledgement

We are thankful to Dr Mohammad Taufiqul Islam , our

course teacher for her help. We acknowledge her assistance

for making this research report. For gathering data from

practical field, we observed the slum dwellers of Mohakhali.

It was much pleasure to do the research on them. We are

grateful to those people who gave us their opinions and

information that helped us to make a better research report.

We thank Mr. Hridoy Roy, a school teacher and Mrs. Mahfuza

Haque, a Program Manager in the NGO named “Save the

Children” for giving us their precious time and providing

information. We also acknowledge the assistance of Md.

Shamsul Haque and Md. Raju for showing us the significant

places in the slum, for introducing with other families and

also for helping us to find out the data we needed. Though

we have tried our best to prepare this research report, we

take the responsibility of all kind of mistakes occurred and

we apologize to such kind of unexpected errors.

2

Sincerely yours,

Table of Contents

Topics Page No.

Abstract

05

Introduction 06-10

Objective 08

3

Assumptions

09

Limitations

09-10

Design of the study 10-15

Description of recherché Design

10-12

Sources of data

12

Sampling procedure

13-14

Method and instrument of data gathering

14-15

Statistical treatment

15

Current Condition of the Slum Dwellers of Mohakhali and

Their Basic Needs 16-28

Economic condition 16

Emplacement 16

Food 17-18

Shelter 19-21

Education 22-23

Medical Service and health care

23-26

Clothing 26-27

Conclusion 28

4

Recommendation 28-29

Bibliography 30

Appendix 31-34

Checklist 31-32

Photo Bank 33-34

List of Tables

Page No.

Shelter Condition of the slum dwellers

20

Medical Facilities

25

Clothing 27

5

List of Figures

Figure 1.1...............................................17Figure 2.1...............................................21Figure 3.1...............................................21Figure 4.1- Literacy Status of the Slum Dwellers.........23Figure 5.1...............................................26Figure 6 - BangBaby Pre-Primary School...................33Figure 7-Condition of the Houses.........................33Figure 8-Mosque in the Slum..............................34Figure 9-Shop............................................34

Abstract

The continuing existence of slums, which represent a

severe threat to achieving development objectives, is

officially deplored by almost everyone. Bangladesh today has

to contend with spatial fragmentation and growing economic

inequalities. In spite of significant international funding,

public policies that have been implemented in this area,

such as clearance, upgrading or resettlement, education,

6

proper health care have not met with the expected success.

But this paper suggests that these norms and projects do not

correspond to the present balance of power within the city.

In many cities in the developing world, Dhaka in

particular as there are many slum here, the provision of

proper caring for sanitation, road access, drainage,

nutrition, housing, health care, water supply lags behind

the growth of the built-up area at Mohakhali. Much of the

growth takes place in an unplanned manner and creates slum-

like areas. This increasingly frustrates a sound economic

and social development of the slum dwellers. An effective

way must be found to address these problems of basic needs

of the slum dwellers at Mohakhali. The overall objective of

our research is the provision of the daily essential needs

package in slum or current status of their lifestyle at the

slum. The out come of the research can be used to prepare a

detailed slum improvement plan for this, or a similar area.

The slum dwellers are facing many social problems. Because

they are not getting the proper nursing of fulfilling their

basic needs. Our research is for the betterment of the slum

dwellers and only concerned with step one.

7

Introduction

A slum is a cluster of compact settlements of 5 or more

households which generally grow very unsystematically and

haphazardly in an unhealthy condition and atmosphere on

government and private vacant land. Slums also exist in the

owner based household premises. The living conditions of the

urban slum dwellers are very hazardous. Like most cities of

the world, Dhaka also has a large number of slum population

and squatters. Slum population is also growing in other

large cities of Bangladesh. There were 5.4 lakh slum

households with 2.4 million population in the country in

1997. 1

For our research, we visited to the T&T Go down Slum

placed at Mohakhali Wireless Gate, Dhaka. We observed and

gathered primary data about the current circumstances and

the basic needs of the slum dwellers. It also has a huge

number of households and population. In the slum, there are

above 300 households and approximately one thousand

population. Our research involves the investigation that how

these one thousand people lead their life, earn livelihood

1 . BBS, Slum Survey, 1997

8

and fulfill their basic needs. Many researches took place

before our ones in which the researchers found out the

various aspects of a slum. The researchers tried to find out

the condition of the slum dwellers and the reasons

responsible for their poor condition in order to improve and

develop their status and reduce the poverty and sufferings

of the people.

Every problem has its significant issue. Albeit we are

working with a common issue of Bangladesh but it is not at

all a common issue. We are trying to create a congenial

ambience for the slum dwellers. So that they can survive as

per as they can. We tried to represent their problem through

our report. So that steps can be undertaken in this respect.

We tried to highlight their problems. For an example, we

asked them questions regarding their basic needs, housing

problems, unhealthy issues, sanitation problems,

unemployment issues, nutrition, water supply system,

electricity, family planning, etc. These are the burning

problems that we tried our best to focus by means of this

report.

By asking those questions we came to know about their

problems. We already analyzed their problems and tried to

encourage them to solve those problematic issues. Through

our discussion with them, we found that some of them tend to

9

have nuclear family. But they could not do that lack of the

proper family planning and simply go for extended family. As

a result, they suffer in the long run. Some of them do not

bother at all about the family planning, which is very

important for them. And some are intended to keep their

family nuclear.

We also found that some of them already started to be

health conscious, but they could not be so at the end. These

sorts of things are happening on a daily basis. Sanitation

problem is a burning issue for them. Most of the people of

the slum are not conscious about the sanitation specially

the children. In resulting of that most of them are

unhealthy and suffering from various kinds of health

diseases. Most of them are taking unhygienic foods and their

foods are not nutritious.

Apart from all the problems housing problem is one of

them and for this they are leading an inhumane life. They

live in a congested place. Most of the families are

consisted of 4 or 7 members. All of them are living in a

narrow place. They have only one room for one family. As

they do not have their own lands, therefore, they illegally

possessed government’s lands. They have no fixed places for

accommodation. As a result, they always remain afraid of

the authorities as they visit slum areas intermittently.

Hence, they lead their daily life amid uncertainty. That’s

why things are getting harder for them to survive.

10

There are many things we could not cover due to the

time constraint. But we comprehend that how awful life they

are leading! We can also learn about the ill effects of

having extended family, unhygienic food, sanitation problem,

etc. It is pretty lucid that the slum dwellers are having a

lot of significant problems in their daily lives, which

actually require govt.’s direct intervention for the sake of

the well being of society as well as for the nation as a

whole. Needless to state that, if these problems suffered by

slum dwellers are overlooked, then it will be an obvious

thing that these slum dwellers will be a great obstacle on

the way of prosperity of the nation. They need subsidy from

the govt. and other aids like free education facility,

housing facility, employment provision, motivation for

proper family planning policy and so on. They are indeed in

need of proper provisions for their better livelihood.

Reports communicate information, which has been

compiled of research and analysis of data and of issues.

Reports can cover a wide range of topics, but usually focus

on transmitting information with a clear purpose, to a

specific audience. Good reports are documents that are

accurate, objective and complete. In our report, we have

also some specific purpose. Our reports title is Slum

dwellers and their Basic needs. Therefore, our purpose of

this report is stated below:

11

1. To investigate whether they know what is basic needs.

2. To find out whether they are getting the urban facilities

or not.

3. To study whether they can fulfill their basic needs or

not.

4. To find out how they meet up their basic needs.

5. To investigate what kinds of problem they face to fulfill

their basic needs.

6. To investigate the problems, when they cannot meet up

their needs and how it effected on our society.

To reach the objectives of the research, a fieldwork

and a desktop study extensive research on intranet, book,

articles, was carried out. The aim of developing the

condition of the slum people, we have to give them total

facilities in terms of their basic needs. They have got the

right of getting well drainage system, sanitation, water

supply as well as. The literature review showed that

urbanization and rapid population are closely related to

slum formation. So many decisions were taken against slum

formation but proper action is yet to take. When they won’t

get the proper facilities, stealing, hijacking, snatching

will be increased. In resulting the social valuation will be

fallen under crisis. Government should concern about the

slum dwellers and the slum formation, as well as assure

their basic needs.

12

Assumptions:

We couldn’t find out much information accurately and

that is why we assumed some of that information for our

research. We assumed the average income of the slum

dwellers. Md. Shamsul haque, the leader bought the meter and

distributes electricity in the slum, so assumed that whoever

in the slum has the connection, they pay 100 taka for each

point. Our sample families buy water for 100 tk per month.

We assumed that every family buys water for 100 taka

monthly. We also assumed that there are at least four

members in every family.

Limitations:                         While studying the slum dwellers we

faced a lot of problems. The earlier stage of the research,

group members could not coordinate together because of class

schedule and could not give more times for the research.

Then we failed to some extremely to understand the attitude,

mentality and pattern of conversation what they want to mean

actually. While investigating the situation and basic needs

13

of the slum dwellers, we faced some limitations that are

stated below:

   We could not survey in a formal procedure and find out

much statistical data as the people are illiterate in the slum.

We took interview of twenty families among the 300 households.

We took ten families as our sample of research in order to find out their basic needs.

  We failed to conceder all the categories of employed

people in the slum.

To some extent, we failed to cope up with the environment of the slum and because of that , we faced problems with observing and staying with in theslum for long hours.

     We could not visit the slum more than two days because we have limited time for this research.

      We could not get accurate information in for some

area of our study that is why we assumed some information about their slum dwellers.

  We also got some distractive to keep information which

made us confuse.

We could not follow the survey method because the people of the slum are not educated.

We could not use the participant observation and focusgroup discussion method because both are very much time consuming.

14

Description of Research design:

In a sociological research it is very much important

that how we collect the data. Research design is a detailed

plan or method for collecting data scientifically. A

research design we used for generate data including surveys,

observation, experiments and existing data. This is base on

theories and hypothesis. Its inventor is Meroton in 1948.

There are four types of Research design. Those are described

below:

1. Survey

2. Observation

3. Participant Observation

4. Focus Group Discussion

Survey:

Survey is generally a form of an interview or

questionnaire that provides researchers with information

about how people think and act. In this method interviews

are taken in a formal way. It is more effective on the

educated people. It helps to collect more data in a limited

time. It also helps to gather data in a systematic manner.

15

Questionnaire is produced in this method. Questionnaire can

be both open ended and close ended.

Observation:

Observation is a collection of information through

direct participation and/or by closely watching a group or

communities are engaged. It is an informal way of taking

interviews and research. Checklists and field notes are used

for data gathering. It is more effective on qualitative

research.

Participant Observation:

Participant observation is a qualitative method with

roots in traditional ethnographic research, whose objective

is to help researchers learn the perspectives held by study

populations. It is also an informal way of researching. But

this method follows certain conditions such as, living with

the people under study, learning their language, showing

respect to their culture and participating with their way of

life and building rapport with them.

Focus Group Discussion:

Focus group is a form of qualitative research in which

a group of people is asked about their attitude towards a

16

product, service, concept, advertisement, idea etc. In this

method, questions are asked in an interactive group setting

where participants are free to talk with other group

members. It can also be used with the observation and

participant observation method. Through this technique, a

researcher throws a topic to the groups, whose members

belong to a homogeneous nature, and collect the required

data for the research.

Procedures used:

In our report, we used Observation method. Because, our

report is Slum dwellers and their Basic needs. Therefore, in

this report our reporting place is in the Slum area. So in

the slum area we can’t take their formal interview and we

can’t use questionnaire because, the illiteracy rate is too

high there. We couldn’t live with them, beacuse we have a

very short time for the research. That’s why we can’t use

here Survey method, Participant observation method, Focus

group discussion method. On the other hand, we observe their

lifestyle and we took their informal interview, using

checklist and field note etc. Therefore, for our research,

we followed the observation method.

Source of data

17

For any research we need to collect data from various

sources .As, our research is based on slum area of

mohakhali , that is why we collected data from the slum

dwellers of mohakhali. At first we went there and took some

informal interviews that is how we gathered primary data

about the people of slum .We talked with slum dwellers and

some people who are related with the slum. We observed the

slum closely and come to know about the current situation of

the slum .then, from the direct and indirect questions. We

got data the data about their basic needs ,like

food ,shelter ,education ,clothing and medical facilities

of the slum dwellers .We also tried to collect the accrued

information about the income and employment of the people

living in the slum .Samsul Haque , he helped us to find

out the worst situation of the slum dwellers. He is one of

the most important source in order to collect primary

data .We also used different web sides as our source of

data .We captured a number of photographs. By studying

those photographs, We collected data about the current

condition of the slum people ,Who are related with the slum

are our significant source of data .

Hridoy Roy, one of the people who related with the slum

.He is our key fellow. He helped us to get entry in the

slum. He is a school teacher of the bang-baby pre-primary

school, which established by a NGO named “HELP FOR LIFE’

located in the slum. From, Hridoy Roy We got to know about

18

the literacy status and rate of literacy, condition of

school and its teachers .He is also informed us about

Behavior & attitude, the present situation and the basic

needs of the slum dwellers. We also get information about

how many children are utilizing the operating of getting

educated .We also talked with an program manager who worked

for the NGO named “SAVE THE CHILDERN “Who helped us to know

about the child labor rate in the slum.

Sampling Procedure: Social scientists often select a sample from the

population to find something about a specific characteristic

of the population. To find out the basic needs of the slum

dwellers of a large slum will not be accurate, as there are

a large number of populations in our selected slum. It would

be very expensive and time consuming to collect the

information of the entire population of the slum in a very

short time. A sample is a selection from a larger population

that is statistically representative of that population. So

we went for sampling as it is the perfect way of having not

accurate but almost accurate information about the slum

dwellers. Approximately 200 families live in the “TNT godown

Slum” at Mohakhali. Therefore, among them, we took a sample

of about 10 families for our investigation. There are some

criteria prior to choose a sampling process. These are:

1. Basic concepts

19

2. Terms and concept in probability

3. Choosing a sampling approach

4. Considerations in determining a sample size

To emphasis on the collective nature of behavior,

sociologists tend to study large numbers of individuals in

formulating propositions concerning groups, organizations,

institutions, and societies. Depending on the nature of the

hypotheses, it is usually not possible to observe the

behavior of the entire collectivity. Consequently, the

researcher will study a representative group of individuals

drawn from the larger group of concern, and any research

conclusions reached will be generalized to all of the

members of the larger collectivity.

For this investigation we have used “Simple Random

Sampling process” that is mostly used by the scientists in the

study of a specific group of people in society. It is the

part of the probability sample. In Simple Random, every

member of an entire population being studied has the same

chance of being selected. By definition, a simple random

sample refers to those cases that are selected so that each

element in the population has an equal or known chance of

being included in the sample. We worked based on their

income, profession, habituation, entertainment, family size,

accommodation, as well as their basic needs and how they are

fulfilling their basic needs. What types of problems they

20

face to manage their needs. We also used stratified

sampling. We took different people from different

occupations as our sample.

A successful investigation takes place when time,

money, spontaneous cooperation of people and other

facilities are available. But due to shortage of time and

lack of sufficient financial support, we couldn’t go for

survey rather we choose sampling. If we went for survey, we

had to stay at least one month as well as financial support

was a great factor, which couldn’t be possible for us. We

tried to find out cream information within short time and

efficiently. That’s why we went for sampling. I think we are

quite successful in this respect.

Method and Instrument of Data Gathering:   We used observation method for collecting primary data

from slum dwellers. At first we observed slum dwellers at

Mohakhali to find out their current situation and basic

needs.This method allows sociologists to examine certain

behaviors and communities that could not be investigated

through other research techniques. We asked them some

question to find out accurate information of their living

style and basic needs. Direct or indirect informal interview

we took of the people living in the slum. Our key operant

was a school teacher named Hrodoy Roy who teaches in the

school named Bangbaby Pre- Primary School, located in the

21

slum .We took his information first. He is our key fellow,

he is the one with whom we talked first and he helps us to

enter in the slum and freely talk to the people. He

introduced with Samsul Haque who is the leader of the slum.

He helped us to introduce with slum dwellers. They discussed

with us freely. To collect data we took four instruments

that are given below:

                                            a)      Check

list

b)      Field note

c)      Sound recording

d)      Photography

 Checklist: It is a list of some point for checking. Before going

slum we make some question about basic needs of slum

dwellers and current situation .It helps us directly when we

went slum for researching. Two members took check list for

question.

 

Field note: It consists of the notes are written when we work

field. It is an essential instrument for collecting primary

data .One member was involved for field note.

 

22

Sound recording: How sound is recorded. One member used mobile phone for

recording their valuable speech. We used Nokia 3110 for

recording.

 

Photography: How we pick up a photo to others. Two members used

mobile and digital camera for pick environment situation

(house, kitchen room, road, toilet, school) of slum

dwellers.     

 

Statistical treatment:

We used some statistical graphs and charts in our

report. We used pie-charts and bar diagrams in order to

state the numerical data of our research in a graphical

order. We took sample families and took numerical data on

several variables. We calculated the percentage and put it

into the graphs.

23

Current Condition of the Slum

Dwellers of Mohakhali and Their

Basic Needs

As we all know that every person have to fulfill the

five basic needs, which are, food, shelter, education,

Medical facilities or health care and clothing in order to

lead a better life. Our research investigated that how the

slum dwellers of Mohakhali and struggling with their basic

needs. The two major variables that are working behind the

poor and unhealthy condition of the people and establishing

slum, are stated below:

Economic Condition: The slum dwellers are standing below the poverty line

in our country. Because of the poor economic condition, the

slum dwellers can not afford a better lifestyle. Their

average monthly income is 3000-4000 taka, which is

insufficient for surviving with a good number of family

members. There are some people who are working and doing

miscellaneous business. They have a good income, like 9000-

10000 taka at the end of the month. But those who are

unable to work, depends on the children’s income, has nobody

24

who is earning for the family, suffer a lot for their poor

condition. Their income range is 1000-2000 taka per month,

which is very much insufficient for their survival.

Employment:Unemployment is one of the greatest causes of the poor

economic condition of the slum dwellers. Many of the slum

dwellers are unemployed and can not work because of their

poor health condition. Most of the people are rickshaw-

puller, maid servant, day laborer and garments worker. Some

people have started business to earn their livelihood. And

some are contractual workers. Among the huge population, 40%

are employed, 38% are unemployed, 12% people depend on the

child labor and 10% are doing business and others.

25

Em ploym ent Status of the Slum Dw ellers

40%

10%

38%

12%

0%5%10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%

Em ployed Unem ployed Child labor Business andother

Series1

Figure 1.1

The discussion about how the slum dwellers of Mohakhali

are struggling hard for surviving and meeting up their basic

needs is stated below:

Food   

Food is the one of the important elements of basic

needs. Man can not live without food . The search for food

was man’s first occupation. He made his first weapons to

hunt animals for food. Gradually he learnt how to go food

plants. Thus he invented agriculture and settled in

communities besides his cornfields.

  Poverty is the main causes for food problems of slum

dwellers. Slum dwellers past their daily life by hard

working but they can not eat more than two squire meals a

26

day . Every family needs 3kg rice in a day . Usually they

eats twice in a day .Sometimes they become adorable. Monthly

they spend two thirds of earning money. They buy vegetables

from road which are cheaply in the market. They cannot eat

fish or meat every time because the food is very much

costly. They don’t know which food has many vitamins. As a

result they do not get  nutritious from food to protect

dieses. Lacking of nutritious they suffer by different types

of daises. When they can not earn money, they take rice,

salt, oil etc from other family. Lacking of land they can

not cultivate vegetables. Lacking of nutritious mainly

children are affected  by many ways. Most of the times they

can afford notorious food because price hike. Especially

female child discriminates than male children. Parents think

that male child needs more foods.

There have another problem to cooking food. Because it

is totally unhealthy environment. We saw that there kitchen

is out side of the house. So when they cook germ is effected

on the food. That’s why many dieses is occurred to the slum

area. Like Dairia Kolera etc.

             Approximately 90% of the foster children were

given animal and/or formula milk in their first month of

life while all children in the comparison group were given

breast milk. Among the foster children, 58% were given

semisolid or solid food before completion of 4 mo compared

with 14% in the comparison group. Significantly more

27

children in the foster group suffered from diarrhea and

acute respiratory infection than in the comparison group .

Most of the time newspaper published an article about

lacking of notrious food in slums. They give some

suggestions to government. Government should current step to

solve this types of problems so that children get proper

notorious food. Many NGO works for slums child to give

notorious food . Every members of the society should

participate for co-operating to slum dwellers. Day by day

food price is increasing. As a result slum dwellers can not

maintain their family.      

  Finally, food and nutrient intakes are quite related to

income. Unless income of the lower economic groups can be

sufficiently raised, income inequalities reasonably reduced,

and unless a food policy sensitive to human consumption

needs can be adopted and truly implemented, most people in a

class-structured poor country like Bangladesh will remain

undernourished and malnourished.

                  

28

ShelterShelter is another basic need for any kind of people.

Any people cannot live without shelter. Shelter means a

house in where people can live safely. In the slum area

shelter is a big problem. Because the people of a slum they

are very poor that’s why they can’t afford a better place to

live in. In our country, Slums settlements are usually

developed on land, which in most cases are topographically

unsuitable for housing. The slums of the urban area are

established by the city's low lying areas, such as on the

sides of ditches, lakes, rivers, sewage canals, railway

tracks and embankments are the usual sites inhabited by the

slum dwellers. On the other hand, they have no land of their

own. They live in the Government’s land. In the T&T godown

slum there is approximately 300 house and 1000 people live

in there. When we went there for investigation we got to

know that the land does not belong to them. The place is a

government place. But, people started living in this slum

from about 25-30 years ago. Now it has became the only

shelter for the people living in this slum. Mostly, they

live in jhupri, tong and tin shed houses.

From our investigation, we observed that most of the

families have built their own house. And some of them had

bought few years ago. Like one of our sample families, Mr.

Raju’s house. They came to the slum about 15 years ago. The

house is built by him and when he bought it, its cost was

29

250 taka only. His house consists of only one room. The

house is so tiny and unsuitable for living as they are 4

members who live in the room.

We found that the places and houses are very clumsy,

dirty, dusty and unhygienic in the slum. Therefore, the

environment is not so good and inappropriate for leading a

healthy life. The streets are so narrow within the slum that

two person can hardly walk together. In most of the cases,

there is no kitchen in house. The stove is stated out side

the house, in an open place and they cook in a very

unhygienic way.

Almost every family has the same condition. All of the

house is almost broken-down. The people tell us that when it

is flooded the house is going to under water. Then they

can’t live in there. At that time they lived beside the

road. They also said that few days ago the slum destroyed

with fire. Then all of the house was almost destroyed. That

time they lived without shelter. After some days they made

their house again and living here again.

All of the houses is self made. Almost 80% of houses

have 1 room and some the house is 2 rooms. Most of the

houses have no kitchen room. They cook in the outside of the

house which is very much unhealthy. Every house is made by

Tin, Plastic, Cloth, Bamboo, Wood etc materials.

Now I want to say about the contribution. When we

investigate there we listen that a NGO is work for them.

30

Name of the NGO is “Help for Life”. Some people of slum is

said that the NGO is help them when the slum was burn. They

said that the NGO give them money and other materials for

them. But they are not giving them any shelter or house.

Some people said that the NGO it not come in there and they

are giving them nothing. So we are so confused about the

information. They also said govt is never helping them for

their shelter.

Key Indicator Percentage

Own House 90%

Rent House 10%No of Room

1

2

3

85%

12%

3%Condition of House

Good

Poor

Very poor

3%

60%

37%

Structure of the House

Jhupri

Tong

Tin Shed

25%

5%

70%Shelter Condition of the slum dwellers

31

House Structures of the Slum Dwellers

Jhupri25%

Tong5%Tin Shed

70%

JhupriTongTin Shed

Figure 2.1

No. of Room s in a House

O ne Room85%

Three Room s3%Two Room s

12% One RoomTwo Room sThree Room s

Figure 3.1

                             

32

Education

In a broad sense, education refers to any act or

experience that has a formative effect on the mind,

character, or physical ability of an individual. In its

technical sense education is the process by which society,

through school, college, universities, and other

institutions, deliberately transmit its cultural heritage

its accumulated knowledge, values, and skills from one

generation to another generation. This is not our point of

discussion, as we worked on slum people, our principal

discussion will be on slum people about their education

privileges whether they are getting or not. We found through

our investigation in the Mohakhali TNT go-down slum that 25%

of the slum people aged (30-80) who have never been to

school. Among rest of the 75%, 45% is children and youth

aged 1-14. And rest of the 30% slum people have gone to

school seldom in their childhood. And their age margin is

within 22-56. Despite of that, they don’t know how to sign

their own name. At the time of any dealing, they use their

tip sign in Bengali which is familiar by the “tipsoi”. In

between 14- 30, they have left their study after being

passed class six or eight. Help for Life initiated pre-

primary education program in 1997 for children aged below

33

six years in the Mohakhali TNT go-down slum. The name of the

school is Bang-Baby pre-primary school. It has 110 students

at present. We talked to Rhidoy Roy, one ofthe teachers of

Bang-Baby Pre-Primary School about the education condition

of the slum dwellers.

He gave us some key information. Then we talked to the

slum dwellers. But the information was quite different that

we got from Rhidoy Roy and the slum dwellers. They stated

that it is really who have got the ability to bear the

expenditure of studentship in the slum they send their

children in Uttara model school. Some people gave us such

information. Not all parents are agreed to send their

children in school. The reason is the economic condition of

that family is not so good. That’s why the exploit their

children in different job. So child labor is increasing in

an alarming rate day by day. In terms of girl’s studentship

we can say that it is too poor. Parents are not willing to

send their girls in the school. They seem, girl can be a

great economical source. So they send their girls garments

factory or some thing like that and nearby household to do

household chores. That brings a good economic support to the

slum dwellers. This is the overall view of the education

system of the TNT go-down slum at Mohakhali.

34

Literacy7%

Illiteracy70%

Child education18%

Prim ary education

5%

LiteracyIlliteracyChild educationPrim ary education

Figure 4.1- Literacy Status of the Slum Dwellers

Medical Service and Health condition

Medical service is another basic need for every people.

On the other hand it is a main problem for the poor people.

Because poor people of our country not get enough facility

by medical service. There is much reason. Like money

problem, free treatment problem, not enough free clinics,

not enough free doctors, some times they are not conscious

about their diesis, illiteracy etc. In our report we want to

investigate about the slum people’s medical service

condition at Mohakhali “TNT Godown slum”. We see that in the

slum people they are very much unconscious about there

35

health. They can not get enough medical facility. In the

slum area there is approximately 200 family and more then

1,000 people live in there. But we see that most of the

children and most of the people are sick. Some times they go

to the clinic but many times they are not go to the clinic.

Statistically in that slum 2 people is sick in one family.

Now I want to describe about the problem.

When we go there to talk with them about their medical

service and their health condition they tell us that it is

the one of the major problem for them. Because the

environment is so much polluted and the other thing like

their food, water, there living place, their kitchen room is

not so well. That’s why their health condition is very bad.

When we talk with the slum people they are talk about

their problem. Almost all of the people is tell us that many

of diesis is effected in many times. Like Dairia, Cholera,

Skin diesis, Headache problem, Pneumonia, Abdomen pain,

Dizzy etc problem is affected them. Lack of proper

sanitation is one of the greatest causes of diseases. They

have only 10 bathrooms for above than thousand populations.

They don’t have tap or accessories facilities in them. An

NGO has established those bathrooms and is taking

installments of taka 50 every month from the slum dwellers.

Mr. Samsul Haque he is a slum dwellers. He has 2 sons and 1

daughter. His younger son is sick from last two days. He has

diarrhea problem. Because he said that in there clean water

36

is a big problem. For that problem his entire family member

is sick. When we ask him that what type of treatment you got

him. He said that he take him the clinic near by the slum.

Then we ask him that what about the NGO doctor? He answered

us that they never come here to help them. Some times they

facing skin diesis problem and headache problem which is a

big problem for his family.

Then we talk with Haowa Begum. She has two daughters.

One of her daughter is work in a garments. Haowa Begum is

with her leg. Her leg is not working. That’s why she can’t

doing any work. Some see go to the Koboraj. He gives her

some medicine but it is not working. She can’t go to the

clinic because she has not enough money. She also said that

NGO is not helping her for better treatment.

Then we talked with Hasina. She is so much poor in the

slum. She is married but her husband escapes her. She has 2

daughters and 1 son. All her child is married. One of her

daughter is escape her and giving her 2 child. She said that

one of the children is very much sick in last month. It is a

skin diesis. Then she begs money for the children’s

treatment. She said that no people was helps her.

When we survey we also see that the people is not very

conscious about there problem. Some times it is happening

for the illiteracy sometimes for money and some times they

are waiting for free treatment. Now we have some

37

recommendation for there health condition and their medical

service from the gov’t and the NGO.

In the slum people they are always waiting for the NGO

contribution. Because, they give them totally free treatment

and free medicine by effective doctors. When we go to the

slum we see that there have a NGO and the give them free

treatment but they comes after three month. Some people said

that they r not come and they was not give then free

treatment some times they are come but take money from them.

But some people said that they are come after two or three

month and give them free treatment.

The place of the slum is gov’t place. So gov’t should

give them free treatment and free clinic. But in the slum

people said that gov’t is not help them. In the TNT godown

slum there is no gov’t contribution for the medical service.

All times they get free

clinic

Yes

No

20%

80%

Condition of their health

Good

Poor

Very poor

25%

65%

10%Get free medicine

38

Yes

No

40%

60%Type of facilities received

Doctor

Hospital

Others

35%

25%

40%

Chart: Medical and Health facility

Rate of M edical Facilities Getting by the Slum Dw ellers

35%

25%

40%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

First Aid andDoctors

HospitalFacilities

Others

Series1

Figure 5.1

Clothing

There are some basic needs in the running of our

life and livelihood smoothly. The basic needs are the

39

specific for all general people. There are five basic needs.

These are foods, clothing, shelter, health care, and

education. All are complementary to each other. Without one

need life can not be easier. Clothing is among of them

essential part of basic needs. We need cloths to cover our

body. In most cases, social values depend on cloths. Our

research is based on slum people and their basic needs. We

got a lot of information about their clothing problems. They

suffer a lot in terms of clothing. We found such people they

have not got proper clothing to cover up the body. So it is

a matter of fact to think how they suffer in the winter

season. Even we have seen that parents are to strive to

manage the cloths of their children to keep themselves

almost uncovered. Those who go to school, they get a school

dress from different private organization or the association

by which the school is conducted. We investigated that

sometimes they wear the school dress in different occasions.

So this is their only dress code to attend any accession and

at the same time in the purpose of going to school. We saw

in maximum family, children wore torn and dirty cloths. And

dress code of grown up people was the Bengali traditional

like saree, loongi, etc. We investigated that maximum

cloths, they use are the used cloths of rich people.

Different private organizations tried for their betterment.

It was not sufficient for them. It came through some

organizations to them. They didn’t get the full privileges

40

that they could get. They said once they got one blanket for

per family from a foreign organization. We wanted to know

about the organization but they could not give any

information related to the organization. In winter season,

they suffer much.

Condition of cloth Good PoorVery poor

20%60%20%

Getting free cloth from NGOsYes No

40%60%

Getting free cloth from rich people.Yesno

30%70%

Buying cloth in a yearOne timesTwo timesThree times

50%30%20%

After we went to the slum we talked many slum

people about their clothing state. When we hear the slum

word, some specific things come to our mind. That is slum

poor people with dirty cloths. That means every people are

poor in the slum. But it is not true. There are some people

in the slum whose income is more than 10000 tk. Shamsul

Haque is one of them who is the leader of the slum. He has

not got any problem in terms of fulfilling his basic needs.

41

But there are some other people whose condition is not well

and it is in a great amount.

Conclusion:             Each and every one knows that the slum people

suffer many problems. Really, life of slum’s dwellers is so

difficult. They are the real worst suffer in our society.

Poverty and diseases is daily friend of these slum dwellers.

Actually they never meet with basic need in contrast. Slum

children don’t get proper education. They deprived all types

of opportunity. Everybody in our society all the time try to

avoid slum people. Infect, slum people have no social

status. So to state in a way, it can be said that the

government and the conscious people in our society have to

take positive steps to develop the condition in the slum

dwellers.

At last we can say that poverty is the main curse of

slum dwellers. They can not have two squire meals a day.

They are affected by many problems and they are deprived

from government facilities and basic needs. They past their

life by hard working but they can not improve their

financial situation. Environment of slum is polluted by

making enplaning house, road and many ways as a result every

people is affected by any kind of disease. Some NGO works in

42

the slums to give education and medical treatment but those

who are caretaker they do not offer properly. Mass media

should proper step to focus their basic needs and problems.

Some times many seminars are held on the occasion of world

slums day for discussion about slum dwellers life and their

basic needs and they give some guidelines to the

governments. It is right time for government for taking a

good policy to ensure their minimum basic needs and other

problem. There fore   social organization should works with

governments according to the policy.

Recommendation for further

investigation

In our report (Slum dwellers and their Basic needs) we

investigate about their basic needs, their current

situation, their life style etc. For our investigation, we

go to the “TNT Godown Slum”. In the slum, there have

approximately 300 family and approximately 1,000 people live

in there. However, the thing is we cannot able to

investigate all over the people for the limited tine and

many other things. That’s why in the slum there need some

further investigation. If the Gov’t or some NGO will come

for detail investigation, they can find out all of their

43

problem, their needs, their current situation etc. They can

find out there accurate number of population.

We have some recommendations to betterment and improve the

present condition of the Slum dwellers. Those are given

below:

1. At first, we want to say about their food. In the slum

area they are very much poor so can’t take proper food

for their health. Nutrition problem is very much

popular in the slum area. I think if some NGO,

Organization will help them and if they can make

awareness between the slum people I think this problem

will reduced.

2. They can’t get enough medical service for their need.

I think if any organization or NGO or the Gov’t help

there they will get freedom from some dieses. NGO can

give them a permanent doctor for them. They can also

provide them free clinic service.

3. Their shelter is very much tiny I think they need some

help for their proper shelter. Some Organization, NGO

and Gov’t can give them free house.

4. In the slum area the place is so dirty and so

unhealthy. It is very much needed to clean the place.

Dhaka City Corporation can help them for cleaning the

place. Awareness is very much important for the slum

people.

44

5. In the slum area 90% of people are uneducated. We

should help them for their proper education. Some NGO

and Gov’t can make more free school for the children.

They can also make rules that class 1 to class 5

education is must for every people.

6. Unemployment is another great problem in the slum

area. Many of the people have no work. For that

problem some NGO or some Organization can help them by

giving some money. They can use here Micro Credit

system.

7. In the slum there have also dowry system. We should

remove this system by taking some steps and by

following the law of the country..

Bibliography

BOOK:

1. Essential of sociology -Anthony Giddens

2. Practical research - Leedy

3 Society on focus - Thempson

45

4. Environment &Organization - Aldrech howard

5. The social experience - James w. vanider zander

6. Sociology (An introduction) -Richard .S gellers

7. Sociolization to Gender role - Steven j kiles

WEBSITES:

1. www.bdix.net 2. www.wikipedia.org

3. www.forbes.com

4. www.worldvision.com. 5. www.spinet.org

6. Www. worldster.net

Appendix

46

Checklist

1. Income

a. Daily income (if a laborer)b. Monthly incomec. Income sourcesd. Earning members in a family

2. Employment

a. Employment rateb. Unemployment ratec. Male employmentd. Female employmente. Male employmentf. Type of employmentg. Child labor

3. Food

a. Daily expenses for foodb. Monthly expenses on foodc. Malnutrition rated. Place of cooking-unhygienice. Type of food eaten mostly

4. Shelter

a. Land informationb. Rented, bought or built houses--expensesc. Utilities (electricity, water, gas) expensesd. Accommodation facilitiese. Environment

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5. Medical Facilities and Health Care

a. Sanitation facilitiesb. Free treatment facilitiesc. Duration of the doctors’ coming for free check upd. Expenses, if it is not freee. First aid instrumentsf. Medical facilities for pregnant womeng. Diseases that mostly shown

6. Education

a. Literacy rateb. Illiteracy ratec. Primary educationd. Child educatione. Gender discriminationf. Signature rateg. Free educationh. Expenses if it is not free

7. Clothing

a. Expensesb. Source of buyingc. Type of clothingd. Cleanlinesse. Duration or occasion of buying

________________________

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