1

MIGRATION AND THE GROWTH OF SLUM: A STUDY OF BANJARAN BASTI IN DIBRUGARH DISTRICT, ASSAM

Preeti Barsha Borah, Research Scholar, Geography Department, Nagaland University Email: preetibarsha11@gmail.com

1. INTRODUCTION

Slums are considered as one of the major issues of urban areas as the urban areas typically

face the problem of poor structural quality of housing, insecure residential status, inadequate

sanitation and infrastructure, inadequate access of safe drinking water, overcrowding etc. An

integral part of the urbanisation process, slum area is the manifestation of overall socio-

economic planning in the urban sector. An indispensable part of the urban space, a slum

denotes an urban residential area characterized by informal existence of the poor section

people with poor standard of living. The section-3 of the Act on Improvement of Slums and

its Clearance Act, Government of India, 1956, slums were defined as primarily those

inhabited places or areas where human habitation is unfit due to dilapidation, congestion,

wrong designs and provision of these buildings, restricted arrangement of sanitation,

ventilation facilities, streets, no entry of light, or combination of any of these factors which

are damaging to health, safety, and ethics. According to UN HABITAT “slum is a rundown

area of a city characterized by substandard housing and squalor and lacking in tenure

security.”

In India, with the rapid increase of urban population, the slum population has also accelerated

its growth. As per the census reports India, the slum population in 2001 was 42.6 million

which increased to 65.5 million by 2011. The same condition can be seen in Assam where in

2001 the slums population was 84,644 which rose to 19,7,266 in 2011 as per the latest data

from the office of Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. As per the report of

Town and Country Planning Organization (TCPO, 2011) about 17.4% of India’s population

lives in slum. In North East India, especially in Assam nearly two lakh people reside in slums

across 31 towns in the State. In Assam, a number of slum pockets are growing in a rapid

pace. As per 2011 census the slum population is the highest in Dibrugarh i.e 27,089 in total

which is 13.73% of the total slum population in Assam. In Guwahati, Silchar, Dhubri and

Nagaon the percentage of slum population of Assam are 13.05%, 11.53%, 9.38% and 9.18%

respectively. Dibrugarh is one of the highly industrialized districts in the State of Assam.

Some of the most important industries of the district are mainly based on Petroleum, crude

2

oil, tea and forest industries. Therefore, people are migrated towards the region in search of

occupation which the major cause of slum growth in the Dibrugarh. These slums create

seemingly insoluble problems for the region as the growth of industrialization in association

with the development of transport and communication as well as trade and commerce has led

to increasing inflow of unskilled and uneducated groups of people and thus leading to the

growth of slum areas in the towns & cities of the state.

2. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Slum dwellers have originated a complex urban character with unhygienic

environment and inhabitable territory of the towns and cities of urban India. Thus, the need of

the study is to give a brief picture on the existing slum and its growth which are concentrated

in the periphery of Dibrugarh district of Assam. The slum dwellers constantly deal with

issues or problems viz. low level of education, lack of basic needs, no sewage or waste

disposal facilities, pollution, unsanitary living condition etc. which hinder the progress of the

region. The environmental problem flood along with socio-economic drawbacks has

developed a peculiar society in this region of Dibrugarh district of Assam. The origin and

development of slum is the result of many causes and processes such as overpopulation,

migration, poverty, urbanisation etc.

3. OBJECTIVES:

I) To investigate the causes of growth of slum areas.

II) To assess the geo environmental impact of slum on the urban space.

III) To propose workable strategies for the holistic development of slum areas.

4. METHODOLOGY

The study is mainly based on the different statistical data collected from the primary

as well as secondary sources. The basic purpose of primary survey was to find out the origin

of the slum along with their household characteristics. Questionnaire survey was carried out

at individual household to collect both specific and general information. Questions are based

on slum dwellers economic activities and migration scenario of the study area as well as

future prospects for the development of the area in near future is taken in to consideration. At

the same time through observation method many information was collected. GPS waypoint

was used to find out the location of the area. Secondary data are collected from Government

reports, newspapers, books and journals, internet etc.

3

5. STUDY AREA

Dibrugarh, is the district of Assam of North East India and well known as the Tea City of

India. The word Dibrugarh is derived its name from Dibrumukh. The name derived from the

mouth(mukh) of the river Dibru or Dibru Dimasa kachari word dibru, (a blister) during the

reign of Suhungmung, Pharsengmung Borgohain, Chao Siulung, Kilong fought against the

Sutiya king who was defeated in the battle and surrendered before the Ahom King.

Dibarumukh was a renowned encampment of Ahoms during Ahom Chutiya War. Dibrugarh

became a separate district when it was split from Lakhimpur in 1976.

Dibrugarh district occupies an area of 3,381 square kilometres (1,305 sq mi). The district

extends from 27° 5' 38" N to 27° 42' 30" N latitude and 94°33'46"E to 95°29'8"E longitude

with an altitude of 108 m above mean sea level. It is bounded by Dhemaji district on the

north, Tinsukia district on the east, Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh on the south-east and

Sibsagar district on the west and south-west. Banjaran basti which is also known as puja ghat

basti located on the bank of Brahmaputra river near phoolbagan area of the Dibrugarh city.

ASSAM

4

Fig1. Study Area

6. FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION

6.1 DEMOGRAPHY

The total population of the Banjaran Basti is about 420, out of which 232 populations were selected as a sample randomly. Among them there were 123 male and 109 female populations in the study area in 40 households.

i) Age composition:

Table 1: AGE-GROUP

Age group Total Male Male percentage Female Female percentage

0-14 80 36 33.02% 44 35.77%15-59 146 71 65.13% 75 60.97%

Above 59 6 2 1.83% 4 3.25%

ii) Migration pattern: All the slum dwellers of the Banjaran Basti are migrated people, came from different parts of the country especially from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The migration patterns are inter-state, inter-district, intra-state migration etc.

Table 2: Migration time scale

Sl no Years Total Percentage

1 2004 -2014 11 27.5 %

2 1994-2014 13 32.5 %

3 1984-2014 9 22.5 %

4 before 1984 7 17.5%

Source: Questionnaire survey, 2017

Table 3: Total number of migrated family from different parts of India, 2017

Inter-state Inter-districts Intra-district Remark States No of families Districts No of family

Uttar Pradesh 15 dhemaji 2 7Bihar 11 Sivsagar 1

Tezpur 1Tinsukia 3

Total 26 7 7 40

5

In Banjaran Basti three types of migration patterns have been seen i.e. Interstate, Inter district

and intra district. 57.69% of people migrated from Uttar Pradesh and 42.30% from Bihar. The

people are also migrated from Sivasagar, Dhemaji, Tezpur, and Tinsukia within the state

Assam. A large group of people migrated from Tinsukia which accounts 42.85%. 28.57%

migrated from Dhemaji and 14.28% of people came from both Sivasagar and Tezpur. Around

42.85% of people migrated Chabuwa and Grahem Bajar and 14.28% from Dikom Tea Estate

within the Dibrugarh district. Among the households 17.5% migrated in the time scale before

1984, 22.5% in 1984-1994, 32.5% in1994-2004, and rest 27.5% migrated after 2004.

The total number of birth and death among males has been reported to be 36.84% and 75%

respectively and among females is 63.15% and 25% respectively as per the field survey

report. During 2011-2015 period the birth rate was 30.30, 29.41, 38.09, 41.66, and 40.17

respectively. Death rate was 9.5, 4.6, 4.4 through the respective years from 2010-13. Among

the total surveyed population, only 37.5% have knowledge about the birth and death

registration and rest 62.5%are not aware of registration as they are mostly illiterate. The

family size in slum area is often larger than the urban areas because they were not aware of

family planning. In Banjaran Basti about 67.5% household consist of 4-8 family members.

6.2 Economic activities

The slum dwellers are not able to modify their living condition and do not have the

resources to do so hence the structural quality of the houses remain very poor. With a few

pieces of tin, scrap-lumber, card board, polyethene, gunny bags, thermocols (polystyrene) etc

are used to make houses and devoid of windows and ventilators etc. In some house’s walls

are made of bamboo mats, but most of the people used plastic tripal as roof and walls in

Banjaran basti. The occupation of the people of Banjaran Basti is secondary, such Rickshaw

driver, home maid, garage mechanic and labourer at some industries wholesale shops Almost

all the working population earned Rs.100-200 per day. Among them 22.3% male and 16.4%

female. The survey revealed that the household of the slum dwellers has only few facilities

like radio, bicycle, mobile, TV etc,7.5%use mobiles and TV,25% have only mobile, 10%

households does not have any household gadgets. Both kerosene lamp and electricity are used

as the source of light. But 30% uses only kerosene lamp and 45% have use electricity and

25% use both kerosene lamp and electricity. Generally, wood is used for cooking. Among

them 82.5% used wood and only 17.5% use LPG. In the slum, it is found that there are only 1

and 2 rooms in a house. Thus, room crowding is the basic characteristics of the slums.

6

6.3: Social and environmental aspects:

The slum dwellers are not well educated due to low level of economic condition and

they are not aware or interest in education, 50.43% are illiterate, 36.63% are primary, 0.86%

HSLC, 0.86% HS, 11.63% were dropout. Childhood is truncated, children have to do

something for the survival of the family, as soon as they are able. The age of marriages

highest below 18 years, 16.12% of female and 6.45% of male. The sanitation facilities are

inadequate, they do not have their private toilets, all of them have a common toilet which are

poor. 15% dwellers have private kutcha, 50% have common kutcha and 35% uses open field.

Room crowding is another important characteristic of slum dweller. Most of the household

have single room unit. The slum people are live in such an unhygienic condition and suffer

from many diseases and found lack of nutrition support among them particularly among the

children. They are also not aware of the free vaccination of various diseases provided by the

government.

7. Suggestions

The slum area being have innumerable socio-economic, demographic and environmental

problems calls threat for Dibrugarh town. Though the solution of these problems is hard task,

but yet there is a little hope. It can be hoped that it may become fruitful to develop the slum

as not to hamper upon urban growth by removing its problems. There must need of adopting

sufficient remedial measures to deal with the concerning problems of the slum area. It needs

an effective way to develop the urban poor at a very large scale and at the lowest cost. By

taking steps for prevention of common diseases and for development of health condition and

providing free education facility to all the slum dwellers. Increase awareness about sound

livelihood. Being literate people with the bad impact of population growth and increase

awareness to reduce population growth. Facilitate proper sewage facility to decrease

environmental degradation. Providing safe water supply so as to all the people get this basic

needs of life. To develop hygienic condition, it is essential to improve Sanitation facility.

Every year flood causes lots of loss of the people hence it must take measures to control

flood. Recurrences of flood in every year leads to soil erosion and it is also important to take

steps against it. The schemes that have been adopted slum removal, allocation, upgrading by

Indian Government such as Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY), Rajiv Awas

Yojana’ (RAY) Environmental Improvement of Urban Slums (EIUS), National Slum

Development Programme (NSDP) and Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission

7

(JNNURM) etc. But these schemes in Banjaran Basti not successfully used due to negligence

of Government and lack of awareness of the people of the area. The Government and Non-

Government Organization have to participate the solving the problem of mal nutrition, lack of

education, improper sanitation, poor medical facilities etc, and should have to making plan

and programme for the development of Banjaran Basti. Some of the world’s most popular

and successful project like Polder building concept of Netherland, Damodar Valley

Corporation project of India etc models are also can be used to control the flood which is the

major hinder in the development of the region through which people can utilise the land for

agriculture, pastoralism and also cruise ship or boat business like Jammu and Kashmir for

tourist attraction can change the life of the slum dwellers in this region and overall

development of Dibrugarh town.

8. CONCLUSION

Slums form and grow in many different parts of the world for many different reasons. Some

causes include rapid rural-to-urban migration, economic stagnation and depression, high

unemployment, poverty, informal economy, poor planning, politics, natural disasters and

social conflicts. With the growing industrialisation and urbanisation process in the city

increasing the rural urban migration and this is the main cause behind origin and growth of

slum. Urban poverty encourages the formation of slum. Flood is another cause behind this.

Due to the flood many people losses their land and livelihoods. These people migrated to the

region and the growth of civic amenities in the urban areas does not keep pace with the

housing facilities. Poor people are not able to pay high rent of houses in the towns. Hence,

they find land, public or private they start living there in temporary dwelling later on their

place develops into a slum. starts settle there. Moreover, slums are the product of failed

policies and poor administration. There fore community-based development, rehabilitation

and sustainable management of slum, proper planning programmes are needed to end the

formation of slum.

References

1. Wadhwa, K. (2000). Urban Poverty Alleviation Strategy: A Critical Assessment. Shelter.3 (2): 57-64.

2. Gurumukhi,K.T. (2000). Slum Related Policies and Programmes. Shelter.3 (2): 57-64.3. Goyal, S.L. and S.S.Thaliwal.(2002).Urban Development and Management. Deep and

Deep Publications, Delhi: 233-256

8

4. Vaid, A. et.al. 2007. Infant Mortality in Urban Slum in India, Journal of Pediatrics.74: 2731.

5. Census of India, Assam, District Census Handbook, Dibrugarh, Series 19, Part XII-A, 2011.

6. The India Economy Review, 15 May 2011, http://www.theindiaeconomyreview.org/MagazineIssue.aspx?id=4.

7. State of Slums in India: A Statistical Compendium, Government of India, Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, National Buildings Organisation, 2013.

8. Tabrez Uz Zaman, Goswami H.D. and Yamin Hassan, “The Impact of Growth and Development of Slums on the Health Status and Health Awareness of Slum Dwellers”, International Journal of Medical Research & Health Sciences, ISSN No: 2319-5886 ,2018, 7(3): 55-65.

9. Singh A. K., (2013) “Slums and Urban Environmental Challenges in India: An Appraisal of Planning and Policy Issues”, ISBN 81-927456-7-4

10. Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Primary Census Abstract for Slum (2011), 30 Sep. 2013, http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-Documents/ Slum-26-09-13.pdf.

11. Shekhar S. (2020) “Effective management of slums- Case study of Kalaburagi city, Karnataka, India,” Journal of Urban Management journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/j 9 2020, 35-53

12. Census of India.2001.Metadata and Brief Highlights on Slum Population, available at http://www.censusindia.net/results/slums/metadata_highlights.pdf

S