An Analysis of Spatial Distribution and the Socio-Economic Aspects of Slum Dwellers

Using GIS: A Study in Neyyattinkara Town of Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala

An Analysis of Spatial Distribution and the Socio-Economic Aspects of Slum Dwellers

Using GIS: A Study in Neyyattinkara Town of Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala

Shaji J*, R. Thulaseedharan Pillai# , B. K Jayaprasad^, Dr. R. Anilkumar# *Assistant Professor, # Associate Professor, Dept. of Geography, University College,

Trivandrum, ^Scientist-B, Centre for Earth Science Studies, Trivandrum

INTRODUCTION

•A slum is a contiguous settlement where the inhabitants are characterized as having inadequate housing and basic services’ (UN-HABITAT 2003c, p. 6). •The phenomenon of slums has come to be regarded as a major problem of urbanization.•About 31.6 % of world’s urban population are now living under unacceptable conditions. •The urban population of India as per 2001 census is 285 million persons and ranks second in the world. • Kerala has a slum population of 64556 persons which constitute 0.78% of the urban population.

STUDY AREA

• Neyyattinkara, a Class II town of Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala state.

• Location: Latitudes 80 21’53.593” North to 80 27’26.799 ” North and 770 3’3.727”East to 770 7’ 27.301” East longitudes.

• Area: 28.78 sq.km

• Population: 69,467 persons

• Neyyattinkara, a Class II town of Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala state.

• Location: Latitudes 80 21’53.593” North to 80 27’26.799 ” North and 770 3’3.727”East to 770 7’ 27.301” East longitudes.

• Area: 28.78 sq.km

• Population: 69,467 persons

DRAINAGE, POPULATION AND LANDUSE OF NEYYYATTINKARA TOWN

The 7.02km of Neyyar River is passing through the town .

The population density of the town is 2414 persons per sq.km.

53.13 % area is coconut mixed crop, 14.06 % is mixed crop 9.5% is mixed built up, 9.055 % is coconut, 7.75 percent is residential and 6.5% as other landuse categories,

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The following are the aims and objectives of the present study.

1) To generate a spatial database of slums and its location.

2) To analyze the social conditions of the slum dwellers at the household level.

3) To analyze the economic conditions of the slum dwellers at the household level.

4) To analyze the problems and provide suitable suggestions for improvement of slums in the study area.

METHODOLOGY

•The methodology of the study involves the preparation of a series of thematic maps by analyzing the required primary data set collected from the study area through an intensive field work and questionnaire data collection.

• The spatial location of each slum has been delineated in the Cartosat Image through Arc GIS software (9.2) using the geographic co-ordinates collected through Magellan Explorist 600 hand held GPS, with an accuracy of + 7m.

•A detailed interview were conducted all the dwelling units as per the questionnaire designed for the purpose. The data were consolidated and a detailed .dbf file generated using Micro Soft Excel and has input into GIS through Add XY menu of Arc GIS 9.2 Software by giving unique ID so as to get different attribute fields for generating relevant thematic maps.

•On the basis of the spatial analysis of slum data valid conclusions are arrived .

DISTRIBUTION OF SLUMS IN NEYYATTINKARA

There are 13 slums in the Neyyattinkara Town which together constitute 2.8% of the total population.

SI.

No

Name of the Slum Latitude

(North)

Longitude

(East)

1Pavithranandapuram

Colony8o24’44.719”N 77o4’54.297”E

2 Kaniyamkulam Colony 8o24’18.341”N 77o4’33.302”E

3 Vadakethaithottam 8o25’7.687”N 77o4’56.988”E

4 Melekalam 8o23’25.495”N 77o5’13.732”E

5 Karithalikal 8o23’48.553”N 77o6’11.098”E

6Cheriyakonam

Channalkara8o24’58.675”N 77o3’31.015”E

7 Kadavankode 8o25’42.329”N 77o4’52.455”E

8 Thovottukonam 8o24’35.567”N 77o6’49.319”E

9Muttakkad Leksham

Veedu Colony8o26’10.21”N 77o4’53.189”E

10 Melekonam Colony 8o26’8.376”N 77o5’36.11”E

11 Theechakuzhy Colony 8o24’4.344”N 77o6’6.791”E

12 Kavalakulam Colony 8o23’32.044”N 77o4’51.246”E

13 Thottinkara Colony 8o24’26.595”N 77o4’47.119”E

Neyyattinkara Town-Spatial Database of the Slums

SOCIAL ASPECTS OF THE SLUM DWELLERS

•Caste•Religion•Size of the Family•Migration•Reasons for migration•Sources of migration•Sex composition•Age structure - Male Age Structure & Female Age Structure in Slums•Literacy•Level of Education

•Caste•Religion•Size of the Family•Migration•Reasons for migration•Sources of migration•Sex composition•Age structure - Male Age Structure & Female Age Structure in Slums•Literacy•Level of Education

Slums are areas of segregation of socially down redden people.

DISTRIBUTION OF SLUM HOUSEHOLDS BY CASTE

The majority of slums in Neyyattinkara has scheduled caste households and their share is higher in Pavithranandapuram, Melekalam and Kadavankode colony. Cheriyakonam Channelkara Colony near Aralumud Masjid has 92 percent backward class households.

DISTRIBUTION OF SLUM HOUSEHOLDS BY RELIGION

Out of the 13 slums 53 percent of the slums have more than 70 percent Hindu families. Christians are present in all slums except Thottinkara, Cheriakonam Channelkara colony and Melekalam colony. Cheriakonam Channelkara colony near Aralumood Masjid and Thottinkara colony have 80 percent Muslim households.

DISTRIBUTION OF SLUM HOUSEHOLDS BY SIZE OF THE FAMILY, MIGRATION

Family with less than four persons - Small Size Family with four to six persons - Medium Size Family with more than six persons - Big Size.

In the slums, 62 percent of them have majority of households with a family size of 4 to 6 persons.

Migrant population accounts for 58.9 percents or more of households in slums. Cheriyakonam, Melekonam and Thottinkara colony have only migrant households. Pavithranandapuram colony located near the core of the town have a migrant household population of more than 90%.

DISTRIBUTION OF SLUM HOUSEHOLDS BY REASONS FOR MIGRATION

The main reason for migration to slums is ‘other reasons’ category like landlessness or availability of free land.

DISTRIBUTION OF SLUM POPULATION BY SEX & AGE STRUCTURE

Out of 13 slums, 69 percent have female dominance and 31 percent slums have male dominance. Sex ratio among the slum population very high in Neyyattinkara town which is 1089 females per 1000 males.

Majority of the male population falls in the age group of 35-59 years. This pattern is found in 69.23 percent of the slums.

76.92 percent of slums have a dominance of female population which falls in the productive age group of 14 to 34 years.

The literacy rate in slum population is 77.33 percent, which is lower than the state average of 90.90 percent and Neyyattinkara town (81.75percent).

LITERACY RATE IN THE SLUMS

Sl.No Name of the slums Literacy Male Literacy

Female Literacy

Level of Education

Up to 4 4-7 8-10 10-12 >12

1 Pavithranandapuram 77.03 84.21 69.44 9.65 25.44 55.26 5.26 4.39

2 Kaniyamkulam 74.07 67.69 84.29 20.00 20.00 46.00 13.00 1.00

3 Vadakethaithottam 71.22 78.89 65.23 15.76 22.60 51.37 6.16 4.11

4 Melekalam 88.06 89.66 86.84 11.87 16.95 54.24 5.08 11.86

5 Karithalaikal 71.23 66.67 75.68 12.96 22.22 37.90 19.23 7.69

6 Cheriyakonam 67.16 55.56 67.57 13.33 26.67 55.56 2.22 2.22

7 Kadavankode 79.44 78.75 80.00 13.29 27.98 49.65 3.49 5.59

8 Thovottukonam 77.49 80.00 74.81 11.91 22.38 48.09 10.48 7.14

9 Muttakkad Leksham Veedu Colony

77.06 81.36 72.00 14.29 26.19 46.43 5.95 7.14

10 Melekonam Colony 78.17 83.33 73.48 14.72 22.10 49.48 9.64 4.06

11 Theechakuzhy Colony

75.18 75.00 75.32 11.65 22.33 49.51 8.74 7.77

12 Kavalakulam Colony

84.77 89.43 79.85 11.06 20.28 41.94 17.05 9.67

13 Thottinkara Colony 76.47 79.49 72.41 26.92 26.92 42.31 3.85 -

Neyyattinkara Town-Literacy Rate and Level of Education in Slums (in percentage)

LEVEL OF EDUCATION IN THE SLUMS

Majority of the literate population is distributed between lower primary, upper primary and High school level of education

ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF THE SLUM DWELLERS

•Workers

•Distribution of workers in terms of sex

•Occupational Structure

•Income

•Nature of the Houses-Number of Rooms-Roof Materials-Wall Materials-Floor Materials

•Sanitation facility

•Electricity

PROPORTION OF WORKERS TO TOTAL SLUM POPULATION

slums have nearly 47.92 percent of the total population as workers. This rate is higher than that of Neyyattinkara Town (24.92 percent). The proportion of workers varies from 42.33 percent in Theechakkuzhy colony to 57.22 percent in Kadavankode colony. The slums located near the transport routes have the highest concentration of workers.

DISTRIBUTION OF WORKERS IN TERMS OF SEX

Male workers exceed female workers in all the slums. All the slums have more than 55 percent of male workers, Theechakkuzhy colony (77.59 %) has the highest concentration of male workers followed by Thovottukonam colony (73.28 %). Kadavankode colony (56.31 %) has the lowest concentration of male workers Kavalakulam colony and Thottinkara colony have the same population of male workers (70 %).

OCCUPATIONAL STRUCTURE

•Occupational structure is divided into 5 categories, namely coolie, petty traders, housemaids, Govt. servants and others. Occupational variation is a peculiar feature noticed among the slum dwellers.

•Coolies are found in all slums and forms the majority of workers in 6 slums.

•Petty traders are present in all slums except Melekalm colony. They constitute only 6.47 percent of total workers in slums.

•There are 14 government servants in all 13 Slums.

LEVEL OF INCOME

SI.No

Name of the Slums

Income

Rs. <500Rs. 500-1500

Rs. 1500-3000

Rs. >3000

1Pavithranandapuram Colony

14.29 42.86 20.00 22.85

2Kaniyamkulam Colony

12.90 58.06 22.58 6.46

3 Vadakethaithottam 24.53 62.26 7.55 5.66

4 Melekalam 21.43 57.14 7.14 14.29

5 Karithalikal 25.00 43.15 25.00 6.25

6Cheriyakonam Channalkara

21.43 64.29 14.28 -

7 Kadavankode 16.33 61.22 14.29 8.16

8 Thovottukonam 11.94 55.22 14.93 17.91

9Muttakkad Leksham Veedu Colony

15.15 57.58 12.12 15.15

10 Melekonam Colony 16.90 69.01 9.86 4.23

11Theechakuzhy Colony

22.73 50.00 20.46 6.81

12 Kavalakulam Colony 10.29 50.00 29.42 10.29

13 Thottinkara Colony 18.18 36.36 36.36 9.10

HOUSING CONDITIONSSINo

Name of the Slum Roof Wall Floor Number of Rooms

Thatched Tiles Cement Others Mud Cement Others Mud Cement Others 1 2-3 >3

1Pavithranandapuram Colony

28.57 34.29 8.57 28.57 77.14 17.14 5.71 62.86 37.14 - 22.86

68.57 8.57

2 Kaniyamkulam Colony

51.61 16.13 22.58 9.68 70.97 29.03 - 67.74 32.26 - 9.68

67.74 22.58

3 Vadakethaithottam69.81 7.55 15.09 7.55 81.13 11.32 7.55 83.01 15.09 1.88 58.

4935.85 5.6

6

4 Melekalam

42.86 14.29 35.71 7.14 71.43 28.57 - 57.14 35.71 7.14 14.29

71.43 14.29

5 Karithalikal37.5 18.75 6.25 18.75 75.00 25.00 - 87.5 12.5 - 6.2

587.5 6.2

2

6Cheriyakonam Channalkara

100.00 - - - 85.71 - 14.29 92.86 7.14 - 57.14

42.86 -

7 Kadavankode

44.89 16.33 22.45 16.33 69.39 26.53 4.08 91.84 8.16 - 22.45

59.18 18.37

8 Thovottukonam

40.29 19.40 14.93 25.37 71.64 25.37 2.99 68.66 31.34 - 19.00

53.73 26.87

9Muttakkad Leksham Veedu Colony

33.33 15.15 48.48 3.03 51.52 48.48 - 81.82 15.15 3.03 18.18

78.78 3.03

10 Melekonam Colony

47.89 8.45 15.49 28.17 78.87 18.31 - 76.057 21.13 2.81 22.54

53.52 23.94

11 Theechakuzhy Colony50.00 6.82 22.72 20.45 54.55 40.90 4.55 72.73 22.73 4.55 36.

3656.82 6.8

2

12 Kavalakulam Colony

22.06 20.59 50.00 7.35 33.82 61.76 4.41 30.88 66.17 2.94 23.53

54.41 22.06

13 Thottinkara Colony100.00 - - - 100.00 - - 100.00 - - 9.1

090.90 -

HOUSING CONDITIONS

SANITATION AND ELECTRICITY

71.74 % of households have individual latrine facilities.

Only 34 out of 506 houses lack electricity connection.

•Slums like Cheriyakonam Channelkara Colony near Aralumud Masjid, Thottinkara colony, and Karithalaikal colony faces the problem of inadequate sanitation facilities.

•Slum dwellers are facing electricity connection and street lighting problems in Melekonam, Thovottukonam and Theechakkuzhy colony.

•Cheriyakonam channelkara colony and Marruthathur thottinkara colony are located in the low lying areas and are prone to diseases like Malaria, cholera etc.

•Safe drinking water is a major problem in many slums. As the supply from community stand-pipes are erratic and inadequate, the slum dwellers are forced to depend on well water which is of suspect quality. This is a major problems in slums like Cheriyakonam Channelkara, Thottinkara colony and Vadake Thaithottam.

•Water logging and inadequate drainage are the major problems in Pavithranandapuram and Kaniyamkulam colony.

•Road condition is worse in slums like Kaniyamkulam, Thovottukonam and Melekonam colony.

•Melekalam colony of Panangattukari has a community graveyard which lacks a wall and lighting is a serious problem in that slum.

•Yet another problem in most of the slums are social segregation. The slum dwellers are isolated from rest of the urban people in many respect.

PROBLEMS

SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT

• Action plans are to be prepared to provide sanitation facilities to all slum dwellers through individual or community latrines.

•Drainage systems should be improved, water logging should be avoided by providing proper drainage canals.

•Health facilities are to be improved in slum areas and the growth of mosquitoes should be checked.

•Municipal authorities should implement programmes in proper manner and also look after the proper maintenance of the services already provided to the slums under various schemes

THANK YOU