An analysis of slum dwellers in Bhubaneswar from a sustainable livelihoods perspective | |
| Author | Baral, Ranjan Kumar |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.UE-04-14 |
| Subject(s) | Slums--India Dwellings--India--Environmental aspects |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Conceptually, livelihoods connote the means, activities, entitlements and assets by which people make a living. Livelihood structures are complex, usually revolving around the capabilities, asset base and activities required for a means of living. Livelihood structure and process differs in rural and urban areas. Unlike in the rural areas (where the natural resources plays an important role in shaping livelihoods of the ruralites); livelihoods in urban areas are more complex and shaped by wage-based economy. Urban livelihoods are influenced by market mechanism. This study employs the Sustainable Livelihood Approach (SLA) for analyzing the livelihoods of the dwellers in a selected slum community in Bhaubaneswar, Orissa, India. The idea of SLA had consolidated as an approach by the late 1990s which was developed and/or implemented by different organizations including The Department for International Development (DFID) which is considered as a pioneer of this approach. SLA employs people's participation and view point at first place which opens the door for them to be a part of decision making that shapes their future. It uses individual and community assets as entry points. Building on those, opportunities are to be created thereby translating coping mechanism into adaptive strategies. As a holistic approach, it links urban poverty reduction to the concept of sustainability. Data and information were collected from primary and secondary sources in the study area by using both qualitative (participatory research) and quantitative (questionnaire survey) approaches. The results of the survey reveal that vast majority of the dwellers' livelihoods are labour based and they work in the informal sector. Income uncertainty, natural disasters, low asset base make them vulnerable. In the study area most of the dwellers are poor to hard-core poor with variation in socio-economic standard. The asset pentagon, which is drawn taking into account financial , human, physical, natural and social capital, shows that the dwellers' financial capital is better than any other assets. But it is only in a relative sense. Their asset base by all five types of capital is relatively poor. The study reveals that the dwellers are exposed to a number of vulnerabilities like cyclone, fire, health shocks, death in the family, etc. To cope up particular shock they do not have sufficient asset base. The security and legal status of land tenure is one of the biggest problems in the area which negatively influences building of the asset base. The study finds close interrelationship between livelihoods, poverty and environmental condition. On the basis of the conducted analysis and obtained results, recommendations are made to increase their individual household and community asset base through the provisions of education (especially vocational education) and skill improvement programmes for strengthening their human capital. Giving legal status to land tenure is recommended for enhancing physical and natural capital. Their social capital can be strengthened by providing "safety-net" to the hard-core poor and bringing a safe and secure environment which would have positive effects on their livelihoods. Political asset can be strengthened by declaring the slum as a ward of the City Corporation. Ward status will enable them to choose their own councelor, who will be instrumental to link their problems and issues with the policy level decision making. It is recommended that the organizational and institutional reform is stressed. Dwellers' participation and involvement in every stage of running of the organization/ institution is desirable. The recommendations made in the study, if implemented, will make the livelihoods of the slum dwellers sustainable or at least will result in bringing more sustainable features into their livelihoods. |
| Year | 2004 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Urban Environmental and Management (UE) |
| Chairperson(s) | Amin, A. T. M. Nurul ; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Shipin, Oleg V. ;Sajor, Edsel E. ; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Government of Netherlands ;Asian Institute of Technology Fellowship; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2004 |