Livelihood Status of Selected Slums of Visakhapatnam District, Visakhapatnam

Abstract

Mostly slum dwellers are living below the poverty line; poverty is the worst form of deprivation. One who is poor has little or no access to income, employment, education, housing, health and other basic necessities of the life. In fact, it is poverty which forces one to suffer agonies and hardship including social discrimination. Slum areas have substandard houses, high density and congestion overcrowding, in sanitary conditions and absence of basic amenities like drinking water, electricity and fair price shops, etc., the slums environment is responsible for the mental outlook of the dwellers, especially its effects on growing children is most remarkable. Children daily witness scenes of violence, drunkenness and crime. The personal hygiene is poor and is reflected in their clothing and living condition. Due to unhealthy environmental conditions prevailing in the slums, diseases like TB, Cholera, Malaria and Jaundice are common Visakhapatnam slums. The present study collects primary data from the study area and tries to explore the Population characteristics, Housing, Health and Socio-economic characteristics. It was found that most of the facilities are below the average. People are living in a very pathetic situation. The basic needs of people are not fulfilled. Such as Water, Sanitation, Health etc.