Living Condition and Life Style of Mankhurd Slum Dwellers

Rajiva Prasad, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)
Maheshnath Singh, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)

Survival of poor households in an urban continuum is a matter of concern. Mumbai’s half population resides in slums. The average age of Mumbai’s Mankhurd slum dwellers was 26 years and household size 5.4 persons. Three fourth lived in own house having only one room without separate kitchen. Men were daily wage workers and women housemaids. Due to scanty water supply a 20 litre vessel cost them Rs. 5. Since public toilets were few open air defecation was quite common. They visited relatives’ house for entertainment. Logistic regression indicated that women were less likely to go out for entertainment. Living arrangement/social relationship was better in Mumbai. Connectivity with native place was maintained by sending remittances to kin. More Muslims fell sick. They ignored minor ailments due financial constraints. Logistic regression indicated that larger family size households were more likely to ignore minor ailments. Men consumed local alcoholic drinks during weekends.