Perspective

Slumdogs can become millionnaire in the movies, but in real world the scenario is totally different. Indeed, they lead a very miserable life and suffer thousands of problems in their everyday life. But who are the slum dwellers? According to the UN, …”their residents are missing at least some of the following: durable walls, a secure lease or title, adequate living space and access to safe drinking waters and toilets.” The slums of Dhaka city are no exception. The future of the city is vast third world slum. Western security experts rightly fear failed states; in the future they will have to worry about failed cities. Megacities of ten millions or more, are on the rise across Asia, while cities like Dhaka, Jakarta, Lagos and Delhi will cross twenty million thershold by 2020.

In 2010, the population of the city of Dhaka has been projected at 17.6 million people, with upto 60% in the slums. Everyday we observe the influx of hundreds of new people to the city of Dhaka. But why do people come to Dhaka and other cities in Bangladesh? There are two factors behind it: a) pull factor and b) push factor. Bangladesh is urbanizing fast. People are moving to places where there are or perceived to have jobs and opprotunities. The cities are the new centers of jobs and opportunities. The bigger the center, the stronger is the pool. Dhaka is the primate city in Bangladesh according for over 30% of the total GDP. It is pulling rural migrants faster and larger than any other cities in Bangladesh. Findings showed that, 56% people migrated to Dhaka city for economic reasons. There are also some push factors working in the process of migration to the cities, specially to Dhaka city. Now-a-days maximum slumdwellers are one kind of environmental migrants. The often natural disasters: flood, drought, cyclones, riverbank erosion destroys the agricultural outcomes every year. While Bangladesh is an agro-based country these disasters are much painful for the farmers and they are obliged to go to the cities. The job sector of rural areas are not much strong so people are pushed to the cities. And for many other people demonstration effect is big enough to push them to the cities.

Until the early nineteen nineties, majority of the slums were located on public lands. The percentages of slums on private lands were less. Things began to change in the nineties. The government started to evict many slums from public properties. Open private lands were still available. Private land owners started to rent out the lands to slumdwellers as the return on these lands were handsome because of high densities. Thus in 2006, 77% of slums were on private lands.

The Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey(BDHS) is a periodic study of the population and urban areas are surveyed including the slum areas. Some findings of the survey can be mentioned here. Slum land was owned by a land owner or Bosti(slum) owner for 83%, and rent collected for permission to build a bamboo shelter to use as a home. Land owners and Bosti owners are not thought to pay government taxes and are not accountable for the conditions or safety of the slums. All families lived in one-room dwellings, with construction usually of bamboo frame, fencing and roof. An average of five people lived in each room, and some families had over eight individuals in one room. Female, adults and children tended to work as housekeepers, labourers or in the garment piecework, while male adults and children tended to work as rickshaw pullers, laborers, brick breakers, drivers or carpentars. The average income per family was 3725 Taka per month and the average expenditure was 3218 Taka per month. However many families reported that expenses greater than income and dependence on loans for survival. Expenditures included rent, food, education, cloths, electricity, water, wood and health care.

The situation of these slums is not very satisfactory. Most respondents(89%) did not feel that they lived in a hyzenic environment, and 93% felt that the slum had lead to disease or ill health in their families. The most desirable place to live was felt to be in their village of origin(57%), while others dreamed of living in higher-class places in the city(14%), a place more quiet(14%) or free of mosquitoes(5%). Only 6% were happy in their current location. Evils described were unclean latrine facilities(30%), harassment by slum owners and need to pay bribes(10%), lack of employment(32%), mosquitoes(86%), extremes of heat(5%), lacking roof(11%), harassment of women(7%), lack of available fuel/gas(17%) and lack of food(3%). Barriers preventing to a move to a more desirable location were stated as a lack of funds(91%), lack of land(11%), inability to find work(10%), lack of government assistance(14%), illiteracy(2%) and large family size(1%).

A fifth of slum households are missing missing at least 3 of their basic needs. According to an UNESCO report, education figures for slums in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka are among the worst in the South-Asian county. The report entitled, “Education for All Global Momitoring Report 2010, Reaching And Marginalized”, which was launched in January from the UN Headquarters in New York, revealed schools run by non-governmental organizations play and important function in slums in Dhaka. Childhood immunization in Dhaka slum households has been reported at (51-76)%. In the survey 89% reported childhood immunization, though records for each child were not polled. The rate of substance use and gambling is very alarming.

There are also some positive factors. A 2005 study on migration and poverty in Asia by the International Organization for Migration notes that ‘’even if migrant jobs are in the risky informal sector, the gains to be made can be several times higher than wages in rain-fed agriculture.’’ Many slum dwellers are infact enterpreneurs, albeit writ very small. At the individual level, the woman were benifitted in terms of mobility and skill, self confidence, widening of interests, access to financial services, build own savings, competence in public affairs and status at home and in the community that lead a better awareness for enhancing women’s empowerment. However there is a need for proper training for sustainable development in the long run.

Although there are some positive aspects, the negative aspects overshadows these positive factors. So some reforms can be done for the betterment of the lives of the slum dwellers.

• Thoughtful open space planning and environmental management and sustainable development of the city area.
• Urban land management of the city will be much more feasible for all.
• Rehabilitation of slumdwellers in new settlements in which the allocated slumdwellers will have legal tenure of land and thereby benefit from future development programs.
• The current land occupied by the slums will be cleared and returned to the private and public owners in phases.
• NGOs and other donors and assisting agencies can provide financial and other help knowing that the residents have security of tenure.
• Provisions for various slums either by the public sectors or NGOs would be eminently feasible.
• The government should ensure healthcare and reproductive training and facilities.
• Educational and Vocational training should be served.

Community building will become feasible while currently there is no community in the slums. People live in fear of eviction, of criminals, rent seekers and other miscarants. It will be possible for them to live in the knowledge of security and protection of the law of the land.

Bangladesh has one of the highest rates of the urban population growth rate of about 1.67%(4th decennial population census 2001, Statistical Yearbook of Bangladesh, 2004). The number of the urban poor has also increased from 7 million in 1985 to 11.9 million in 2005(CUS Slum Report, 2005). Moreover an estimated 3-4 lakhs new migrants arrive each year and create new problems in urban areas. By 2030, an estimated 5 billion of the worlds 8.1 billion people will live in cities. About 2 billion of them will live in slums, primarily in Africa and Asia, lacking access to clean drinking water and working toilets, surrounded by desperations and crimes. So it is very hard to predict that how the reform packages will work. But at first combined effort is necessary from the policy makers level with the coordination of grassroot level is necessary to solve the slum problems to make a better future for the citizens of Dhaka Megacity.

Writer: MD. Rubel