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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4. Ray, Sasmita (2015): Status of Women Bhubaneshwar Slums. Indian

Journal of Applied Research, 5(1), January 2015, pp. 563-564.

Mukt Shabd Journal

Volume IX, Issue VII, JULY/2020

ISSN NO : 2347-3150

Page No : 504