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The Beginnings of a Process
Towards Empowerment

A
Partnership Venture together
with the People of
Maya Bazaar
Bangalore

if

February 1996

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rArea of Operation Objective

-

Maya Bazaar

To draw up a strategy of action based on the socio-economic

variables of the total population.

The tool for data collection was individual Interview Schedule - Twenty major
variables were identified and data on these were gathered - Data has been analysed

and concerned areas culled out. On the basis of this the strategy recommended.

DEMOGRAPHIC PATTERN
Total number of families
750
Total population - 3737. Male, female break-up being 1910 and 1827 respectively
Which means there is a 51% male and only 49% female population.

A descending female population figure does not auger well.
Agewise population has been analysed. The class intervals have been based on
needs of the particular age group. So that physical needs, social needs of each group

could be prioritised for that target population and programmes initiated.
POPULATION BREAK-UP

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Age

Male

Female

Total

0 - 10

465

498

963

25.68

11 - 18

283

347

630

16.85

19 - 25

423

356

779

20.84

26 - 40

458

376

834

22.41

41 - 60

222

205

427

11.42

60 & above

59

45

104

2.78

3737

99.98

TOTAL

—5
4

%

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More than one fourth of the population are children. The causes of the

2.

diminishing quality of childhood are known : insufficient food, lack of nutritious food,

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poor hygiene, and health care, no security, pushed into adult responsibility early.

These are not only the result of poverty but also the cause of poverty. Hence the
improvement of the quality of childhood must be a concern area for any
empowerment process.
Another 630 are adolescents - not gainfully employed, with time hanging on

their hands, lack of life goals, self-concept low, impact of the TV (have been cited) are
some of the causes of juvenile delinquency and the making of young criminals. This
group thus calls for goal setting, capacity building, self-worthiness, sexual maturation
needs and a healthy interpersonal relationship environ. Utilisation of energy m

gainful employment and recreation are a set of inputs that need to be worked at. The
Human Resources building and utilisation is an area of concern. The young adults
form less than 50% (20.84 + 22.41 = 43%). This is the working population and young

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parents, many of them shouldering responsibilities with no employment/little

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employment security. Some are alcoholics and yet some indulge in gambling.

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for this group.

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3.

Leadership for the community and a social responsibility are areas to bring meaning

104 persons are in the old age group. Society’s most uncared for group,

grappling with their own health problems, loneliness and not being wanted, are,

factors which have affected this segment of population. The community s quality or
life will to a great extent depend on the sensitivity it shows to make the dusk period

of these lives worth living. This groups forms part of the dependency population.

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*

The smallest size between 2 - 4 is the largest group. 16 families have a size of
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12 to 14 members. What has to be noted is that a 40% of the families are large. The
acceptance of the small family norm and effective education on Family Planning are
areas to be acted on.
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MARITAL STATUS

Males

Females

Total

Married

763

727

1490

Unmarried

547

353

900

Separated

6

10

16

Divorced

2

7

9

Widow/Widower

31

136

167

Not applicable

559

594

1153

Marital Status

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3737

Total

What needs to be noted is the special disadvantaged group of which women
form the majority. Of the total separated, divorced, widow/widower numbering 182,

women alone are 153, accounting thus for 84%. Women who are separated, divorced

and widowed suffer social stigma and are often exploited. They have no social status
and are nonentities - very often are sexually abused and looked down upon. This is

an area of concern.

EDUCATION
Education is an indicator of development. Literacy according to the government

is the ability to sign one's name. It merely helps in boosting the government s

statistics. Literacy according to the developmental index is the ability to read and
write simple texts. The idea behind such an ability is the foundation for an upward

mobility. This in operation means completing at least the Sth Standard. Very often
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COMPARISON OF LEVEL OF LITERACY
MALE & FEMALE
600
MALE

-P FEMALE
500

400

Ch

300

200

100

0
PRI

MIDDLE

SEC

PUG
education value

DIP

GRA

PG

Literacy Rates
Gender Disparity
80 -

70 -

60 4

III II 111

50 H i

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4
40 -

10 -

o—
Female 34%

I [EIJ Male 66%

ILLITERACY LEVEL
FEMALE & MALE

/

II
!3@?& ’36%:

34..5% Male
66.5% Female

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even a 5th Standard child is unable to read simple sentences or to write. 1 his has to

be kept in mind when one juggles with the statistics on educational level. There are
397 illiterates out of a population of 3358 (above 5 years). This means an illiteracy

level of 12%. Country-wise and Karnataka State-wise the illiteracy level is low. Yet

one cannot brush aside the fact that 397 persons had not seen the portals of a school.

ILLITERACY RATE

Number

% '

Males

135

34.5

Females

262

65.5

Total

397

100

Illiterates

1

The female illiterates level is almost double the male illiteracy level.

' ILLITERACY LEVEL
FEMALE & MALE

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66.5 66%

34.5% MAIO
66.5% FomAla

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The absolute 'no schooling’ figures cannot be analysed in isolation of the below
primary level. There are 38 graduates and post graduates at one end of the scale and
a 578 on the primary level at the other end. The literacy level between the male and
females is depicted in the graph - again it shows the female at a lower level. Right

from the start the females are at a disadvantage position. Though the enrolment rate

of the females is higher than the males but the sloping downwards is steep and

steadily falling at different levels. The education of the female child calls for support.

INCOME

Slums are expressions of the social sins of the larger community stated the late
Mr.Nehru. Basically people have been compelled to live in slums. It is not their
option. Only the poor live in slums. They are poor because they earn less, they earn
less because they do not have skills. Yet the larger community depends on the slum

community for cheap labour. They do not have a bargaining capacity. It is the
demand of such cheap labour that has led to the spawning of slums in all
metropolitan cities. There is thus an exploiting community that keeps the slum

population poor. Maya Bazaar is no exception to this. Some of the working population
have acquired skills om a non-formal learning system. Thus they are artists, painters,

masons, plumbers, tailors etc. But the larger working population have only their
physical strength to sell. The income of the slum community is based on the 1x99
working population.

INCOME PER MONTH

Amount (Rs.)

501 - 1000
1001 - 1500
1501 - 2000
2001 - 2500
2501 - 3000
3000 - above

330
630
132
50
27
19
11

Total

1199

500 below

■?

Number of Persons

For convenience the class intervals have been staggered at Rs. 500. To grasp

the depth or different levels of poverty an analysis of the incomes of the 330 persons

below Rs. 500 is given below.

Amount (Rs.)

No. of Persons

100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500

102
143
61
7
4
2
5
2
4

Total

330

Statistics cannot remain as mere numbers but represent humans who earn so

little. Humans who are exploited and on them the well-off people depend on. The 330
persons are coolies, construction workers, domestic helpers etc. Those earning above

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Rs. 2000 aocount for only 57 persons. These are factory workers and masons. The
individual earnings are aggregated and the per capita income has been calculated.

The percapita (monthly) income of the population in Maya Bazaar is Rs. 231. The
total incomes in a family has been aggregated and the mean calculated, the average

family income is Rs. 260. A significant and crucial dimension of the slum population
is its varying levels of poverty. Again the income does not reflect the ’real’ income.
This can be guaged only by the analysis of two factors, namely the purchasing value

of a rupee, and the expenditure pattern of the families. The lower the income the
larger is the proportion of the earning spend on mere food. It is necessary to just
work out the expenditure on just one item to understand the capacity of the earning

population. Through the Public Distribution System (PDS) the government supplies
rice, k-oil, sugar and wheat at subsidised prices for the poor on the ration cards they

possess. Each family is allotted 10 kgs. of rice, 1kg. of sugar, 5 litres of kerosene and
5 kgs of wheat monthly. The price of rice is Rs. 4 per kg. So the 10 kgs of rice cost

Rs.40. A family of 5 members will require two kgs of rice for two meals a day. Thus

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the total quantum of rice requirement is 60 kgs a month. The remaining 50 kgs of

rice they must purchase from the open market where the cost is between 9 Rs. and
12 Rs. per kg. So another 50 kgs cost them Rs.450 + 50(PDS) = 490. This for just

purchasing rice to have two meals a day. The fuel for cooking has not been included.

On such a calculation of the bare minimum necessities a family of 5 will need Rs.

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2000/- monthly for subsistence. One must remember that the purchasing value of a



take into account clothes, education and health. This kind of analysis must be kept

rupee is 15 np. even according to the Government. An augmented expenditure will

in mind when the incomes of the families are assessed. On such an assessment nearly
70% of the slum population is on and below the subsistence level. The questions that

legitimately needs to be answered are: what is the bargaining capacity of such a
population? Have they other alternatives? If their incomes are so low what is their
ability to increase their productivity? They have low income and if even all the

incomes go towards food they still eat less. The poor is thus caught in a vicious circle

^>Poor

Hence7
Eat less
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Productivity
low
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Health low

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Yet is all the incomes siphoned for food alone ? The lure of consumerism is too great

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also is a phenomenon that grips the poor. This is precisely why action has to oe

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and a higher earning capacity be firmly established.

a force and exerts a pressure, so many want to own a TV, the addiction to alchohsm

multi-prong if the vicious circle has to be broken and if a new pattern of priorities



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SAVINGS

zXbout 40% of the families claim to save through chit funds. This brings them
no interest. On the other hand when they need money they participate in the monthly

auctioning of the amount. Depending on the urgency and compulsions the auctioned

amount will at times be even less than the capital already paid by the members.

Hence the system of savings in the chit funds is not beneficial to the members. It is
rather strange that their hard earned savings are not profitable to them. Today many
financial institutions offer high interests, even the Small Savings Scheme of the

Government is a good scheme. But these have not attracted the people of Maya
Bazaar.
Loans are taken from money-lenders at exhorbitant interest rates - example.

Rs. 10/- per day for Rs. 100/-. This is for small loans and for short duration. Normally

these loans are taken by vendors and small business people in the morning to buy

vegetables and small items and they return the amount in the evening with the

interest. For long term loans of bigger amounts an interest of Rs. 100/- per thousand
per month is levied. What surfaces is the lack of credit facilities for the people. The
system now in vogue is very easy because they have no red tapism to overcome, nor

security or guarantees to be made. It is a mutually accepted code of payment and
repayment which they strictly adhere it. The easy availability of money is a
temptation to which they succumb to.

EMPLOYMENT STATUS
The employment status is correlated to the type of occupation and this in turn

reflects on the security of employment, the benefits the family will be entitled to and
in turn has an effect on the well-being ot the family.

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TYPES OF OCCUPATION

_

Males

Females

Attender / Peon
Carpenter / Assistant
Cooly
Domestic help
Factory worker
Gatekeeper / Watchman
Hotel worker / bearer cook, cleaning etc.
Mason
Construction workers
Shops, vendor
Tailor
Electrician / Plumber
_
_

53
41
205
25
48
59
149
85
102
49
34
129

4
3
46
79

979

220

I Types of Occupation

Total

12
23
8
45

The types of jobs clearly indicate the seasonal nature and also the demand for
h Except for factorv workers, attenders, peons all the rest are on and off jobs
periodically. The earnings also are not steady, with some months bringing in more

income and other months very little. It is this unsteady nature of earnings that dnves
the people to borrow. This creates insecurity resulting in quarrels, family bickerings

and more than all in starvation. It is also significant that almost all are not entitled
to anv familv benefits and have no insurance against accidents or injuries while at

work” \ total of 1199 persons. That 45.31% form a dependency segment ot the
populatton does not indicate automatically that the rest are economically independent

because of the insecurity of even those who work.
EMPLOYMENT STATUS

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Employed

7

Permanent I

Casual
321

i Temporary

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508

Males

979

150

Females

220

13

68

139

1199

163

389

647

Total

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As shown in the Table only 163 have permanent employment. This means just
13.5T. have security of employment. The temporary and the casual nature of

employment is because of the type of employment. Tailor, carpenter, painter, mason -

these are temporary, as and when the work comes up. Cooly, helper in construction

are casual labourers. That the majority have no security of employment is an area
to be concerned of.

The earning population is 1199 on which the total population subsists.
Total Population

i I x Z i i

3737

Earning population

1199

As depicted the weight of the entire population falls on the 1199. Had the 1199

‘good’ earnings, security of employment the strain would not be much. But the base
is weak and strainful.

TYPE OF HOUSE

Most of the families live in a one room house measuring 8 x5 . The space is not
correlated to the size of the family. The family activities like eating, family gathering,
sleeping or even just sitting are all outside on the streets. The space inside is useu
for holding their belongings. Except for a 2% (numbering 13 families) who have R. .

roofing the rest have houses with mud/brick walls and thatched/tinsheet roofs. There
is no pnvacv and here again women are the most affected when even changing
clothes, dressing etc. are not personal, private but becomes open activities. This has
an adverse impact on the personal relationships.

LANGUAGE

The slum population is predominantly Tamil speaking. The breakup on the
basis of the mother - tongue is shown m the Table.

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BREAK-UP ON THE BASIS OF MOTHER-TONGUE

Language

%

Number of Families

Tamil

547

73

Telugu

150

20

09

3

Kannada

Malayalam

15

2

Urdu, Marathi

16

2

Total

750

100

Strangely those whose mother tongue is only 3%. Irrespective of the mother

tongue all claim to be Kannadigas, having lived in Karnataka for generations. It is
relevant for any agency working here to be sensitive to the language because there

has been communal riots based on language. There is a vulnerability in this area but
it has not surfaced so far.

RELIGION

Coming to religion the majority are Hindus.

BREAK-UP ON THE BASIS OF RELIGION
No. of Families

%

Hindu

554

74

Christian

184

25

Muslim

11 "

1

Others

1

Total

750

Religion

*

100

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An interesting feature is the celebration of both hindu-chnstian festivals by the

total population. There are two Christian shrines and three temples. Annual festivals

are conducted in these shrines and temples by the 750 families contributions. This
is a great strength of the community-that religions are not divisive factors.

CASTE
As far as caste is concerned the SCs/STs form 79% (594 families) with BCs

following with a 20% (147 families) and FC-1% (9 families). Throughout India this
pattern has emerged: The slum population comprise of the SCs/STs and BCs - that

they are the poorest of the total population is evident. The castes follow their own

segregation norms. The SCs/STs are clusters and are on the periphery. The muslim
population are also contained in one corner. The BCs here are not the dominant class

numerically and hence keep to particular streets.
ASSETS
Coming to ownership of movable and immovable assets of the 750 families, 350

own their houses - while 396 are in rented houses and a mere 4 are in houses on

leased.

What is to be noted is that 45% of the families own TV sets. The lure of
consumerism is obvious. Three factors have influenced this high rate of TV sets in the
slums : the availability and sale of TV sets on easy and small instalment basis, the

need for recreation, and when a few have the TV sets the neighbours too get addicted
to TV watching. TV sets have found its place in the priority list of needs even where
education and health have not. 39% own cycles to commute to work. Notable assets

in a few families (21) are grinders. This brings them a small income. Transistor sets

are also owned. This was observed in 48 families.
A strength of the community is its saving habit. About 417 families claim to
save something of their meager earnings. Why they save? Again for those who do not

have a TV set for a TV., for others, savings go to meet marriage expenses and still

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for a good number for festivals and religious rites. Savings have not been earmarked
for health, education or other basis needs. Clearly this indicates that an area for

education and ordering of their priorities is called for. The following priority list of
the families clearly clearly points to this.

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List of Priorities

1.

Household items (TV, Transistors etc.)

2.

Marriage expenses/festival expenses

3.

Pilgrimages

4.

Clothing
All the 750 families had given the above priority list. Even at the cost of

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cutting down one meal some are motivated to save to acquire these/or to make a
pilgrimage. Consumerism and fatalism both have influenced their set of needs.
FUEL

The commonest fuel used for cooking is kerosene oil. This is available at the
Public Distribution shops of the government at the cost of Rs. 3/- per litre and each
family gets about 10 liters. Some complement this with firewood.

UTILISATION OF COOKING FUEL

Type of Fuel

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No. of Families

%

K.Oil

526

70

K.Oil & Firewood

157

21

Firewood

52

7

Gas

15

2

Total

750

100
*■

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Those using firewood only are the lowest economically. They do not possess a

kerosene stove even, and sell their ration kerosene for double the price in the open
market. This group has to come into the targeted group.

HEALTH

Physical and mental health are indicators of the well-being of a community.

Development is measured on these parameters. The factors which directly affect
physical and mental health of a community are: low nutrition, environmental
pollution, lack of basic sanitation facilities, inaccessibility to health facilities,

ignorance of basic health safeguards and lack of safe drinking water. All these factors

can be easily observed in Maya Bazaar. One is almost reluctant to even attempt to
educate the people unless they have sufficient water. It has been pointed out by the

World Health Organisatiton that half the illnesses suffered by children can be
prevented if safe water is available sufficiently. Similar when the environment is

polluted by open drains, stagnant water, human waste etc it becomes a fertile

breeding place for viruses and contamination. Here again community action, family­
wise action and individual action need to be simultaneously stimulated. No data is

available on the community’s mental health. No medical check-up has been carried
on. But what had been observed has been noted down to give some indication of what

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needs to be further investigated indepth.

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HEALTH STATUS
Categories of illness

Visually handicapped
Hearing impairment
Locomotor (lack of co-ordination)
Mental retardation
Chronic illness
Terminal illness
Others

Males

Females

9
4
37
6
42
40
16

10
31
3
42
19
11

This does not take cognizance of other ailments fever, diarrhoe etc. Similarly

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also it is obvious that a medical eye alone would observe more symptoms and detect

ailments. But even from what has been recorded there is a morbidity revealed in the
community. The people are not unduly anxious on this aspect. A fatalism that these

are sent by God keeps them ‘accepting' inflictions stocially. Most of them do not go
to the hospitals because even there drugs are not free and they are not treated well.
Hence they resort to home remedies or go to the ‘vaithiyan’ or native doctor who uses

both native medicines and some religious rites to effect a cure, when sickness persists

then they go to the private practitioner. Many believe in witchcraft. Simple

prevention, home made remedies, and ability to detect ailments should become part
of an educative process. It is in this general health dimension of the community that
health of women has been focused.

Women’s health has never been sufficiently emphasised in the socio-cultural

dynamics. That women eat less and last in a family and yet she natures a child and
so needs better nutrition is lost in the secondary status given to women. They are

expected to eat of what remains - Maya Bazaar women are not exempted from this
gender based deprivation which has an adverse effect on their health.

WOMEN AND HEALTH

Social discrimination, economic deprivation and gender-bias rapidly converse.
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This is reflected in gender differentials in education. The cumulative consequences
becomes visible in other areas too. One such is health. It must be emphasised that

health care has not found a place in the list of needs.
The average age of marriage for the women is 17. Of the total 590 married

women 56% had their deliveries in the corporation / state hospitals. 40.5% in private

hospitals and only 3.5% had their babies delivered at home.
Private hospitals are expensive but the attention in the government hospitals

is so deporable that they go to private hospitals. This becomes a major expenditure
and puts them under a great strain. It is a compulsion rather than an option which

makes them go to private hospitals.

1*>

*•••* *»*- •

BIRTHS
1800
] Live Births

1600

1479

Still Births
] No. of Abortions

1400

1200
1000
&

800

600
400

200

156

85

0
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No special nutrition or supplementary nutrition intake has been reported by

mothers during their pre-natal and post-natal periods. None had reported of having

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had immunized tetanus during pregnancy.

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The present status of women is given below:

Present Status
Pregnant women
Lactating mothers

21
299

Total

320

This 320 women need nutrition, health care, and health education.
A total of 243 married persons had undergone permanent Family Planning

measures. Of this 235 are women who underwent tubectomy and only 8 men had
-

undergone vasectomy. Another 52 had adapted temporary measures.
Population trends show that it is the poorest who grow the fastest in numbers.

Poverty line also runs closely parallel to illiteracy line particularly in respect of

women. Family planning methods especially the permanent methods are directed at
-

women.
BIRTHS

There has been 1479 live births. 156 still births and 85 abortions. Data is not

available whether these were selective abortion of the female foetus.

IMMUNISATION
As far as immunisation of children are concerned a total of 463 below 3 years

have been immunised. 25 children have not been immunised.
$

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IMMUNISATION

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Immunised against

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No. of Children

1.

BCG

428

2.

Polio

426

3.

Measles

338

4.

DPT

202

5,

Non immunised

25

Though statistical data is not available, childhood diarrhoea is common. The

causal factors include lack of access to nutritious food, poor sanitation and unsafe
drinking water. Health of women and children must be a goal if gender disparities

and the cumulative effects of it removed for development.
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WOMEN AND WORK
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The total number of women working for a wage is 220. The age-wise break up
is as follows:
WORKING WOMEN - AGE-WISE

Age group
years/

No.of women

%

15 - 25

78

35.6

26 - 35

69

31.3

36 - 45

43

19.5

46 - 55

19

8.6

56 - 65

10

4.5

65 - 68

1

0.4

220

99.9

Y

'OO

05803

86.4%

/

t x°°

y

1
The maximum number of working women fail between 15 and 45 years. This

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is also the fertility age group. One must reckon with the realities. This age group

bears the full burden, pregnancy, child rearing, lactating, and the normal duties at
home. Thus the women in this age group carries a heavy burden - what is come to be

known in development parlance as the "Double Day" workload. Though only 220
women are working there is a demand for employment from 497 women. Gainful
employment training could be an action mandated. Of the 497 women who seek

employment only 70 women are prepared to go outside for work. The difficulty to
commute, the need to look after the children and the household chores and also

special mention was made on the hours they need to wait and carry water home.

Hence 306 women prefer to be trained in tailoring, small business, shops etc.
Perception could change with situational changes and awareness inputs.
COMMUNITY AMENITIES/NO AMENITIES

I

The characteristic externalities of poverty so obvious in a slum are the lack of
access to safe drinking water, and the nonavailability of safe facilities for human
waste disposal. This is true of Maya Bazaar slum.
There are three Corporation taps in and around the locality. But water comes

only a few hours a day and so there are long queues. Most of the families do not have
the facility to store water nor the space to keep the collected water. This means with

the minimum water they manage. A basic input for human survival is water. Scarcity
of water, no water for the toilet nor to wash hands before a meal directly affects
health and well being of the community. These affected mostly women and children.

This leads to a kind of impoverishment in their total well being. There can be no
worthwhile development - nor sustained development unless water is made available

to meet their daily requirements. There are no proper drainage system. Most of the

houses allow the water to collect in a pit dug by the side of house. Very often these
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overflows on the road. Some have small open channels dug along the narrow lanes

and let out towards the main road. The main road is on a higher level and hence it
flows back or i£ stagnate. In rainy seasons the slum lanes becomes one with the

drainwater. Except two houses which have individual toilets the rest have to use

community toilets. This again is more misused than used because there is no water.
All the children defecate on the roads and there is no proper facility to remove the

human waste.
These are serious environmental issues affecting the human quality of life.

II

Access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and sanitary means of excreta disposal are

prerequisites for survival and development.
SOCIAL PROBLEMS

Child labour definition varies. But the most commonly accepted one is children

employed by the families, at the cost of education and other childhood activities
necessary for growth. The slum has reported only 12 children below the age of 15
engaged in working for a wage. All the 12 are assistants to masons, carpenter, tailor
except 2 who are domestic helpers. Of the 12 child labour. 8 are girls and 4 are boys.

So the girl child labour rate is double than that of boys.

SCHOOL DROP-OUT
School drop-out rate shows only a total 29 number. The details are given in the Table.
DROP-OUT RATE SEX-WISE

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Age intervals

Males

Females

Total

5-6

2

4

6

7-8

0

2

2

9 - 10

4

5

9

11 - 12

2

3

5

13 - 14

3

3

6

Total

11

18

29

8.3

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Fhe differential female /male dropout rate is almost double. For the female it



is 62% and male is 38%. Once again disparities are accumulating. Female child

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labour is double and school dropout is a little less than double. This calls for
purposive interventions, for the female child, must form part of the empowerment

process.

EVE-TEASING
A cluster of social and familial are visible. Some have been articulated and

some have not been so well expressed. Eve-teasing and rowdyism were cited by all
the female respondents as unbearable problems. In this context it is relevant to note
that the famous social activitist Sheila Barsa has pointed out that exploitation and

harassment of the female child is rather high in Bangalore with eve teasing heading
the list. The Maya Bazaar women blantantly accused the youth for constantly
|

intimidating and harrassing the girls. When and if the elders intervene it leads to
street fights. There is thus an unfriendly and aggressive socio-cultural milieu in

which the girl child grows, taking it silently and allowing herself to be a victim of
anti social behaviour.
ALCOHOLISM
Alcoholism is rampant. All the men are addicted to drinking country arrack
and whatever comes handy. This often leads to the battering of the women in the

house. The man who returns home drunk expects a good meal and if it is not there

the wife is beaten. Children who come in the way are not spared. The home
atmosphere becomes vitiated. But what is surprising is the way to women look at it.
They feel that alcoholism cannot be prevented - men will continue to drink. Since all
the men drink it has become an accepted habit. They are not able to analyse the

ramifications it has on the personal and family levels. Domestic violence is something

i

common in Maya Bazaar. The men expect the women to provided food for the family

whether they bring in their wages or not. This has led many women to supplement
their incomes by taking up the only available means to them - namely become sex workers. Thus pushed into prostitution many women of Maya Bazaar are victims oi
3

a tragic situation. What is surprising is that prostitution is not frowned upon as an

evil as long as money comes to provide food and meet other expenses, the men try not

I

to question the means. In a few cases the men demand part of this money for liquor.
No attempt has been made to further investigate on areas like protected sex

practices /AIDS etc. That the people of Maya Bazaar are unconsciously living as all
paupnsed grups, a de-humanised existence is a challenge thrown to thelarger society
on which Maya Bazaar impinges on. If there is exploitation then there is an exploiter
andthe exploited, if there is dehumanisation then there is a dehumaniser and the

dehumanised. Maya Bazaar thus knocks at the conscience of the larger community
with these issues.

It is in this environment that money lenders thrive. Though the community has

inculcated the habit of saving they have also a habit of taking loans at an exhorbitant

interest. This is for emergencies and also when there are long periods of
unemployment. Fulfilling a vow to'on a pilgrimage, fear that calamity willbefall if
they do not go on a pilgrimage makes the people spend enormous sums of money
towards this. About 30% of the families sent one male member of the family to

Sabarimala annually. This costs approximately Rs. 3000 - 3500. That is the kind of

socio-religious fervour one experiences in Maya Bazaar.
The extent of these and allied problems on the quality of human life is
certainly detrimental. The ramifications of these social aberrations on the existential
I

svstem of the people will call for a deeper study. - This area needs careful handling
with programmes to diminish these social aberrations to create a conducive

V

i

environment for growth and integration.
MIGRATION
The pattern of migration is urban

varying periods.

1?

urban flow. 121 families become mobile for

1

MIGRATION

Migration Trend

No. of Families

Within Bangalore

31

Within the State

7

Outside the State

83

Of these 12.1 families affected 104 complete families move out. 7 families only
the male members migrate. The duration of migration for 103 families is 3 months

and 18 families between 8 months to 10 months. The peak of migration is during the
summer i.e. March to Sept. Normally they return to the same slum in a few rare

cases when they have found better employment they do not return. But this is a very
insignificant number.

Causal factors of migration are: no permanent employment, they have very

little possessions to tie them down, the type of occupation they are accustomed to like

cooly work, construction (including road laying) are not anchored in a specific place.
So they go seeking for these. The problems that they face are insecurity, no schooling

for their children, inability to conserve goods, no belongingness. These 121 families
should be drawn into the target group with linkages to achieve ’O’ level school

dropout and ‘O’ level child labour within a specific period.
The socio - economic analysis has been utilised to map out concern areas of

deprivation, dehumanisation, powerlessness and differential male/female levels
i

that converse fast to accumulate against the empowerment of females. On this

canvass of human living and situation any strategy envisaged must aim at

injecting inputs to remove deprivation and initiate a process of humanisation,
build power within the community to enable them to demand their rights as
citizens of this country.

i

fe

I
Part II
STRATEGY MODEL RECOMMENDED SOCIAL PLANNING MODEL
Rational for this model is based on the following:

1.

Goal categories : Problem-solving with regard to substantive community
problems.

1

Major goals : Reduction of the number of indicators of the Poorest of the Poor
Index (PPI) and thereby alleviate poverty.
Support sectoral goals : Special attention to health & nutrition to the female

child and to pregnant, lactating mothers (Task goals)
2

Assumption concerning community structure and problems conditions

: Substantive economic and social problems - housing employment, sanitation,

drinking water.

i
3.

Basic Change strategy : Fact gathering, analysis, structuring of the Poorest
of the Poor Index, administration of the PPI for the targeting group. Decision
on the most rational course.

4.

Characteristic change tactic / technique : Capacity building, awareness

of Fundamental Rights, affecting Convergence of Services.

I

D.

Agency’s Role : Fact gatherer, analyst, resource mobiliser, builder of

collaborative alliances, facilitator.

3

Medium of change : Awareness, training, education, manipulation of formal
organisations, creation of leadership.
Boundary definition : Segment of the population-poorest of the poor. Total

community for sanitation, water drainage and drinking water.
.APPROACH

Participatory approach to development. The strategy aims to promote the

opacity of the Maya Bazaar Community to plan, implement and maintain physical

and social improvements through a participatory process. Towards this the women
should be mobilised and organised to form groups. It is through these groups that
action should be initiated and carried on. Thus a real process of empowerment will

simultaneously be experienced.
The Process is based on Triple A (assess, analyse, action)
FLOW OF THE PROCESS

PHASE I

Survey
Study
Analysis

PHASE II

Concretisation of concern areas
Rational choice of strategy
Targeting poorest of the Poor
Resource development
Collaborating alliances

PHASE III

community influx
Monitoring
Rapid Appraisal
Building supports

I

x proce88 ■„ an ongoing dynannos. Those are not contain^ in watertight

Analysis - action
evaluation is on going. Much depends on
,„npartments - s,rv Their can be no blueprint drawn for
Ionian and response of the community. Lneir
.neoieement of the cnmmumly ■ especially th. women groups
Mierauon without the mvol
tlexibihtv plan of action must be
ind the alliances (other NGOs). Hence m-bmld of a flembhit. p
.■nvisaged which acts more as guidelines.
The following index to target the poorest of the poor has been structured on the

basis of the analysis of the data.
THE POOREST OF THE POOR INDEX (PPD

More than 3 dependents below 15 years
Average family income below Rs.2,000 p... (for a femtly of 5)

1.
2.
I

Thatched/asbestos roofing houses

3.

Women headed families

4.

Families with an alcoholic
Families with no access to safe drinking water

D.

6.
I.

8.
9.

Both parents illiterate
Whole families which migrate seasonally
Families with a child labourer (below 15 years)

Tills has been structured with easily observed indicators for identificationincomeX cannot be refied on hence externalities of poverty need to become file

indicators.

Any family with 5 and more of the above indicators can

be termed as Poorest

*

of the poor.
Reduction of indicators can be easily evaluated.


according to the maximum indicators

Prioritise
accordingly so families with 10,9,8.7.6. etc.
■1

^3.

and order the families

r
No.of Families

No.of Indicators

10
9
20

68 etc.
A time-bound period to be fixed for the execution elimination of the number ot

indicators, leading to elimination of poverty.

alliances
Alliances should be formed with NGOs and Government kindly keep in
perspective (page 31) Action Aid Strategy Paper (under NGOs and the Government).
It is inevitable to Alliance with the Karnataka Government Departments in the

following areas.

1.

Drinking Water

2.

Drainage & Sanitation

3.

Housing

Karnataka Slum Clearance Board

4

Urban Poverty
Alleviation Programmes

Corporation of Bangalore
Social Welfare Department

Bangalore Metropolitan Water Supply &

Sewage Board

(Like NRY)
5.

I
6.

I



I

Health - Mother & Child

Health Dept & Corporation of Bangalore and

Care

hospitals around the area

Leadership training
module for training

NGOs

The Schools where the
children of Maya Bazaar
are attending.

^0

I
"4 * -------

UPS FOR AREA WORKERS

(deodar of activities
Minute maintenance of records by each one.
quick everyday review

Teamwork calls for sharing sessions
Detailed plans
People are not recipients - but partners - do not take them for granted.

"The whole process is based on the premise that "eradication of absolute poverty is

an attainable goal.
We have a significant part to play in this process.
We will do this carefully, without fear of failure and reaction .
(Action - Aid. India, Strategy Paper 1993-1997, P-29)

By
Dr.HILDA RAJA
Development Consultant
26. Ramanathan Street
Mahalingapuram
Madras - 600 034

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SOCIO-ECONOMIC SURVEY
Bangalore Slums

Date:

Address:

1.Family Profile:
Name ol the Members

S nos

Sex

a

Rel. to
H OH
b

Age

c

Edu
Quli.
d

Employment Occupation Marital
Status
Status
9
f
e

Monthly
Income
h

Dropout 5-14 Yrs

Health Status

l ullJoJJ-

I*

A

School Leaving
Age

Leaving
Reason____

1

2
3
4

5
6
7

8
9
10
Total

1 d. Education Qualification:
1 - 5 (Primary)
6 - 9 (Middle School)

Coding

1 a. Sex:
Male
Female

- 1
-2

S.S.L.C.
P.U.C/H.Sc/Jc

- 1

Diplomo
Graduate
Post graduate
Others (Specify)

1b. Relation to the H.O H

Wife
Son
Daughter
Father
Mother
• Son in law
Daughter in law
Brother in law
Sister in law
Others (Specify)

1 c Age

-2
-3
-4
-5
- 6
- 7
-8
-9
-0

1. e Employment Status
Permenant Employ
Casual Employ
Temperoiy Employ
Un Employment
Not Applicable

- 1
-2
■3

-4

-5
-6
-7
- 0

-/
■2 '

-3
-4

-5

1. f Occupation
Tailor
Carpenter

- 1
-2
■3

Artist / Painter
Hotel cook / Bearer -4
Gate keeper
- 5
Mason / Cooly
-6
Domestic Help / Ayah - 7
- 8
Attender
- 9
Factoiy Worker

Others (Specify)

1.g Marital Status
Married
Un Married
Separated
Divorced
Widow

■ 0

- 1
■2

-3
-4
-5

1.h Monthly Income
Below 500
501 - 1000
1001 - 1500
1501 -2000
2001 -2500
2501 -3000
3001 - above .

- 1
-2
-3
■ 4

■ 5

-6
- 7

1. / Dropout Reasons
- 1
Low Fly Income
Lack of Interest /Parent - 2Discouraged by Failure ■3
-4
Employment
-5
Migration
-6
Sickness

Family Situation
School Factors
More than one Factors

1. j Health Status
Visually Handicapped
Hearing Handicapped
Locomator
Mentally Retarderd
Seasonal Illness
Terminal Illness
Others (Specify)
1. k Languages Known:
Kannada
Malayalam

Tamil
Telugu
English
Hindi
Urudu

-7
■ 8
■ 0

1
2
3
4

5
6
0
- 1
-2
-3
4
■ 5

-6
7

| 9. Cooking fuel: |

2 Mother Tongue:

| 5. Caste:

14. Religion: |

^3. Type of Family: [

6. No. of dependents:

10. Safe Motherhood:
S no

Details

Name of Mother

Family Planning Method

S.

a Age at Marriage

1

No.

Couples Name

Live Birth

Any F P
Method
Practiced

Type ot
F P Method

9

h

b Type of Birth

Still Birth
c No. of Children born
1

d No. of Abortaion
2

e. Place of Delivery

f. Current Status

(F.P - Family Planning)

a. Age at Marriage

2

Live Birth

g. Family Planning Method
- 1
Temporary
■2
Permanent

b. Type of Birth

Still Birth
c. No. of Children born

h. Family Planning
Condemns
IUD
Vasectomy
Tubectomy
Others (Specify)

d. No. of Abortion

e. Place of Delivery

- 1
■2
■3

-4
-0

f. Current Status

Con-conception; LB ■ Live Born; SB Still Bom; P - Pregnancy;
SA - Spontaneous Abortion; IA- Induced Aboilion.
Aboition.

2. Mother tongue
- 1
Kannada
-2
Malayalam
-3
Tamil
- 4
Telugu
Others (Specify) - 0
3. Type of Family
- 1
Joint
-2
Nuclear
-3
Extended
Others (Specify) - 0

4. Relegion;
Christian
Hindu
Muslim
Others (Specify)

5. Caste
SC /ST
BC
FC

- 1

-2
-3

- 1
■2

-3
■ 0

6.No. of Dependents
- 1
1- 4
-2
5-8
-3
9-12
-4
above 12

8. Type of House
Thatched
Tiles
Sheet
R.C.C
. Others (Specify)

7. Ownership of House
-1
Leased
-2
Rent
-3
Owned

9. Cooking Fuel
Fire Wood
Kerosine

- 1
-2
-3
Gas
More than One - 4

-1
-2
-3
-4
-0

10 (e) Place of delivery
Govt./ Corporation
Private Clinic
Home delivery

- 1
- 2
- 3

10. (f) Current Status
Pregnancy period
Nursing Mother

- (Actuals)
-0

12.(a) Cash
0 - 1000
1001 -2000
2001- 3000
3001 - 5000
5001 - 8000
Above 8000

11. Child Health

Immunisation Details
Children below 5 years
No. of
Child

B C. G

Polio

Measle

D.P.T

Booster

13. (c) Interest/annum
Below 12%
13% - 17%
18%- 22%
23% - 27%
Above 28%

- 1
- 2
-3
-4
-5
-6

1
12.(b) Movable Property
Cycle
- 1
TVS 50
-2
Scooter
-3
Others (Specify) - 0

2
3
4

12. (c) Immovable property
House
- 1

12.Savings and Assets (Approx^Amount in RsJ________________

Immovable Property

Movable Property

Cash
a

Shop

_ _____ ___ 9.______ -

b

•3. Loan Details

S No.

Source of I oan

Amount

b

Interest / ann

Reason for not availing
Loan from Bank/Govt

d

c

Private

a
Bank
Govt
14. Major Family Expenses per Annum:
Amount bJ
(last two Years)
A

_ ___
15. Household Items:

(Observation) J"-1

- 2

Others (Specify) - 0

j

|

13. (a) Specify
Relations
Friends
Agencies
Money Lenders

- 1
■2
-3
-4

13. (b) Amount
0- 1000
1001 -2000
2001 - 3000
3001 - 5000
5001 - 8000
Above 8000

1
2
3
4
5
6

- 1
-2
-3

13. d Reason for not
availing
Loan
Defficult Proceduars
Political Patranage
Bribe
Others (Specify)

-4
-5

■1
-2
-3
■0

14 Major Family Expenses
- 1
Household Items
a
-2
Education
-3
Festival
-4
Health
-5
Marriage
- 6
Cloth
-0
Others (Specify)

15. Household Items
TV
Mixi
Grinder
Table
Chair
Tape Recorder
Radio
Others (Specify)

- 1
-2
-3
■4
- 5
■ 6
- 7
-0

16. (a) Membership
Yes
No

- 1
- 2

16.(b) Dii^.non (Months)
0-6
7- 12
13-24
25 ■ 36
37 - above

16 (c) Loan
& 14 (b) Long Term
Short term
16 (d) Amount
0- 1000
1001 -2000
2001 -3000
4001 -5000
»
5001 - 8000
Above 8000

16 (h) Monthly Income
1
2
3
4
5

0 ■ 300
301 600
601 1000
1001 - 2000
2001 3000
3001 4000
4001 Above

■ 1

16 (i) C ompleted

-2

0 ■ 300
301 ■600
601 - 1000
1001 - 2000
2001 - 3000
3001 ■ 4000
4001 Above

-1
■2
■3
■ 4
■ 5
- 6

16 (f) purpose
Household Items
Education
Festival
Health
Marriage
Cloth
Others (Specify)

1
- 2
- 3
4
■ 5
• 6
7

1

2
3
4
5
6
7

16 (j) Pending

- 1
■2
-3
■4
■ 5
■6
■0

16 (g). Amount

0 - 300

1

301 600

2

601 - 1000
1001 - 2000
2001 - 3000
3001 - 4000
4001 - Above

3
4
5
■ 6
- 7

- 1
-2
■3
- I
■ 5
■ 6

0- 1000
1001 -2000
2001 - 3000
4001 - 5000
5001 - 8000
Above 8000

16. Women Savings and Credit
S.
No.

Name of the working Woman

Age

Literacy

Membership

Duration of
Membership

a

b

Repayment
Details (Rs)

Utilisation of Loan

Loan Taken

Credit

Marital Status

Source of

Amount

When

purpose

Amount

Monthly
Income

Cornpleated

Pending

Loan
___ c___

d

e

f

9

h .

i

I

Emp

Wc

n

,

In House

Nature of employment Interested

Name of the Women

S no

How far away from House ?

1

2

3

4

19. Migration Details : Last two years

How long
you are
Irving in ttvs
Area

Do you Migrate

a

h

When do
you return

Where do
you return

When

Duration

Where

Why

c

d

e

f

g

- 1

19 (g) When do you return
0-3
4-8
9- 12
1 Year
2 Years
No

Who in
the family
migrates

h

19 Migration Details
19(a) How Long
0 1

I 3
4 5
6- W

. i

2


II 20
21-35

19 (b). Migration
Yes
No

3
4
. 5

• fl

1
■ 2

19(c) When
Jan - March
April June
July Sept
Oct - Dec

- 1
■2
■3

19 (e) Where
With in Bangalore
With in Karnataka State
Outside Karnataka State

■ 4

19(d) Duration
0-3
4 - fl
9- 12
One Year
Tow Years
<S above

■ 1

-2
■3

■ 4

5

19(f) Why
Employment
Festival
Others (Specify)

- 1
-2
-0

■2

-3

19 (h) Where do you return
Same Slum
Other Slum
(With in Bangalore)

- 1
-2
-3
- 4
-5
- 0

- 1
-2

Other Place
Others (Specify)

-3
-0

19 (I) U'b- Migrates
lily
:ld
ile meml ■
male memi ■
'lhers (Specify)

- 1
-2
-3
-4
-0

1

20. Govt, nun Uiu»o«. ^ervic.- -JsecJ -,

,

jr fai

If No Reasons
Aminit'es

Yes

No

Education (Primary)

Dispensary
Hospital

Drinking Water
Supply

Borwetl
Corporation

Sewage

Latrine

Individual
Community

Electricity House

Street Light
20 c

Road
Pol if n

Open space as toilet
1

Children

2

Men

3

Women

Judiciary
Transport

21. d What is the Major Social Problem in your community ?
Others (Spnci’yl

Name of the Investigator

fl

Yes

No

Position: 4700 (1 views)