HOUSING PROBLEMS FOR INDUSTRIAL WORKERS IN KHULNA CITY:A CASE STUDY ON SELECTED INDUSTRIES LOCATED IN WARD 8, 11 AND 13

1.1 Background of the study

Housing is one of the basic needs of man after food and clothing. It provides shelter, safety and a sense of belonging to the owner. It also provides privacy, promotes health and comforts, and provides a basis for employment and income generation. More over a planned and well-designed house provides a favorable environment for human resource development. Housing means not only a structure but also a combination of both structure and infrastructure and services needed for living. Today, there is an acute housing crisis in the country, in the rural as well as in the urban areas. From the very beginning of human civilization people used to build shelter, which later turned today’s residence. Modern human civilizations justify residence in different points of view, such as the location, design, orientation, accessibility, environmental feasibility, services facilities etc.

Khulna is well known as an industrial as well as divisional city of Bangladesh. It has a population of 1.4 million (CPD & REHAB, 2002). Many types of heavy as well as small and supporting industries have been established here in the 1950s due to its suitable geographic location. After the liberation war in 1971, the city became the heart of industrial and commercial activities in the southern region of Bangladesh. All the manufacturing industries in Khulna city had emerged during mid 1950s particularly in Khalishpur area.

Khulna City has its specialization in industries. There are 950 industrial units found in Khulna city. Among those 13 types of large industries (total 72 no.), 10 types of medium industries (total 488) and major 10 types of small industries have been identified (Environmental Mapping and Work Book for Khulna City, 1999). Such as jute industries, paper mill, hardboard mill, match factory, and recently added the shrimp factory. Among the jute and paper industries mostly are SOE (State Owned Enterprise). The industries were highly profitable from their establishment and contributed a lot to the national economy. But at present most of them have become sick industries. All these industries are at the state of declination. All these industries are established in Khalishpur Industrial Area and with excellent transportation facilities both land and waterways were developed during sixties. The area accommodates 4 jute and jute based industries and one hardboard and one newsprint mills. During early 80s these alone shared 30% of all manufacturing employments of the city. These industries provide housing facilities to its workers, which go a long way to solve their housing problem, especially the low- income group. In the constitution of Bangladesh it has been proposed that everyone should be provided with decent housing by the government of Bangladesh. In the socio-economic context of Bangladesh it is not possible for the government alone to provide housing to the people of all strata of society (CPD & REHAB, 2002).

Bangladesh is a poor country and its economy does not permit to supply planned residential area for all her industrial workers. It is true that the living environment in these industrial estates is poor. The number of units required for the industrial workers is not enough, a large number of workers living outside the industrial estates. The poor quality of housing that provided by the industrial authority is apparently more serious than the number of units required. Most of the areas of ward 8, 11 and 13 are unplanned. An unplanned residential area develops only through the needs and necessity of its inhabitants. Usually the organically grown residential area reflects a scenario of congested living area with lack of urban services and facilities. The present study finds out the existing housing condition of the industrial workers and also finds out the lack of service and facilities. Finally, the study suggests some guidelines for solving the housing problems and improving the existing housing situation.  

1.2 Objectives

<  To analyze the existing housing condition of the industrial workers.

<  To analyze the services and facilities available in the study area.

<  To find out the problems and suggest some guidelines to solve these problems.

1.3 Characteristics of major housing areas in Khulna city

¾  The old residential areas, characterized by one and two storied structures of bricks and steel truss roofs, still shows reasonably good and most houses are well maintained. Semi-urban settlements are common along the either side of the rivers Bhairab and Rupsha, and Khulna-Jessore railway line and road, except in the older part of the city.

¾  These settlements are characterized by low net density in terms of both housing as well as population. Housing structures are predominantly kutcha, but a good proportion of pucca and semi-pucca houses are also found. The southern part of the city, where main residential areas have been developed, is characterized by such spontaneous housing development.

¾  The southern part of the city developed as residential zone where old residential areas like Toot Para, Ray Para, Musalman Para are situated. Side by side new residential areas developed in Bagmara, BK Road, East Baniakhamar.  West Baniakhamar, Banarganti and Gobor Chaka are old residential areas in the southwestern part.

¾  Residential areas in Daulatpur and Moheswarpasha are also old residential areas. Towards southwest, where new residential areas both by KDA and general public were developed.

¾  However, KDA and HSD also developed a few residential areas in the central part like Sonadanga, Mujgunni and Boyra and Khalishpur.  However, mainly, due to non-availability of adequate services, low density of population prevails in most of these areas.

¾  Except around the central city most of the residential areas have vacant land, water bodies and non-residential usage. The condition of services and amenities are also not satisfactory in most areas.

¾  Drainage and road network was found to be inadequate. Agricultural use of land in many residential areas is common in Khulna.

¾  Planned residential areas in the city are of two categories:

a) Public sector sponsored site and services projects, and 

b) Apartment based staff housing of public sector agencies.

The development of site and services schemes in Khulna is quite remarkable. Situation in high-income areas like Sonadanga and Nirala is comparatively better. The major staff housing areas belong to important local and national level agencies. The staff housing areas are mostly provided with all necessary utility and service facilities.

<  Low income housing areas: A large segment of urban population in Khulna city belongs to low income groups. Slum Improvement Project (SIP) identifies 55 slums in the city of varying sizes where the city’s poor people live.  The characteristics are of kutcha and semi-pucca structures of these settlements are deprived of basic urban services. High population density combined with inadequate infrastructure and sanitation facilities creates a deplorable environmental condition in these slums.

 

1.4 Characteristics of industrial housing

There are some common characteristics of industrial housing. They are as follows:

n  Most of the workers building are multi storied, from three to four or even more storied

n  The buildings are poorly designed in terms air, light and outlook

n  The housing areas are usually densely populated

n  The buildings have risk of fire hazard

n  Inadequate water supply

n  Sanitation condition is poor

n  Most of the buildings are old and not well maintained

n  The housing areas are divided into a number of colonies like workers colony, junior worker colony, senior workers colony, foreman colony, new colony etc.

1.5 Terminologies

House

A house is a shelter for rest, safety and comfort and for protection from vagaries of climate and enemies. It includes space for rest, sleeping, cooking and bathing.

Housing

The word “Housing” encompasses vast meaning like sanitation, water supply, cooking, bathing place etc. “Housing” means not only a structure but also a combination of both structure and infrastructure and services needed for living.

Industry

The organized action of making of goods and services for sale. People or companies engaged in a particular kind of commercial enterprises called industry. Each industry has its own trade publications.

Industrial worker

Industrial worker means a person who is engaged through an appointment order or otherwise on weekly or monthly rated basis for giving his services to an industry.

Floor Area Ratio (FAR)

Floor Area Ratio is the size of a building divided by the size of its parcel, expressed as a decimal number. For example, a 50,000 square foot building on a 50,000 square foot lot has a floor area ratio of 1.00 (or 100%) while the same building on a 100,000 square foot parcel would have a floor area ratio of 0.50 (or 50%). The FAR will be used in calculating the building intensity for the study.

Floor Area Ratio = Total Floor Area/Lot Size (%)

Per capita Floor Space

An unit of floor space area that occupied or used by each person. Total floor space or area divided by total family member = Per capita floor space.

Housing unit

A housing unit, by census definition, is equivalent to the dwelling place of one household. It may be occupied or vacant.   Generally, to be considered a housing unit, the unit must have its own kitchen facilities.

Rent

Rent is considering as the amount of money of fees that paid by the tenants to house owner including services and facilities charge. (Like electricity or other).

1.6 Literature review

 Some relevant literatures have reviewed, to understand the depth and magnitude of the problem. The review of literatures helped to select the parameters to evaluate the problem and assist to formulate the guidelines or recommendation to improving the existing condition as well as structure of the study.  Several studies related with housing have under taken by the researchers. Some of them are discussed bellow.

Omesh Saigal et al (1989) “Problem and Prospects of Industrial Development in a Metropolitan City”, this book discuss about the establishment of industrial estate and its development .It also includes services and facilities required to setup an industry and support its industry workers. Housing is one of the main facilities that the industry provides for its workers. This book discuss about the industrial development of the city of New Delhi, a major industrial development has taken place within a short period of time. Formal housing estate has developed for these people. It also causes large scale pollution, congestion, large inflow of unskilled labour and mushrooming of slum or informal housing. Some constructive suggestions are also given about the industrial development in a friendly environment.    

World Bank (1995) “Housing: The Sector Policy” In the third chapter, the book discuss about the public housing especially industrial housing. This book tells about the importance of industrial housing provided by the industry and their spatial location and distribution. Public housing may improve the spatial distribution of residences and employment by locating families where all earners have access to job opportunities. Public housing has to be well-located in relation to job opportunities. In Singapore and Hong Kong, public housing is well- located in relation to industry. A housing area has to be large enough to contain—or have good access to—functional community facilities, such as schools, health clinics, markets, shops and recreation facilities.

Bhabani P. Rath (1994) “Industrial Relations and Participative Management” this book embodies a detail discussion on the concept of workers participation and experience of participative management in selected countries. This study analyzes the workers participation in management of an industrial plant. They also take part in their housing development and other related service and facilities. The effectiveness of the management is analyzed in terms of production and productivity industrial relations climate, tackling human problem at work and fulfillment of the psychological needs of the workers. The fifth and sixth chapter highlighted the working efficiency and effectiveness of participation scheme in housing management and development.     

Hasan, Mahaudul and Kabir, Md. Ahsanul (2002), “Introduction to Housing in Bangladesh”, where the author described the existing characteristics of housing both in urban and rural areas, typology of housing, its importance, involvement of private sector and public sector in housing financing and development etc. He showed a repeated importance to the professionals, policy makers and intellectuals of the country to investigate manifold issues pertaining to housing in Bangladesh and emphasized to explore for a rational and sustainable strategy for the future.

K. Thomas Poulose (1996) “Reading Material on Housing” in this book discussed to developing countries about housing design and standards (such as minimum plot areas, minimum specifications, foundation and basement, superstructure, roofing, doors, windows and ventilators, flooring), building maintenance, construction management, building rules etc. In this book, the writer also explained about the living environment and housing condition.

Khilji, Dr. Z. M, “An Application of the Industrialized Construction for Low Cost Building and Housing in the Developing Countries”. In this book the author has indicated the planned housing in developing countries. In this context he has screened some important factors as training of the workers for the construction industry, research and utilization of the talents of people and mobilization of the human resources. He illustrated that, the economic, social and administrative decisions affect the design and cost of housing.

Md. Shariful Alam (2001) in his study “Changes in Rent Structure of a Planned Urban Residential Area in Khulna City” highlighted the urban house rent and change in rent level. He expresses his view about the total rent structure of a residential area. He also identify some factors responsible for change in rent structure and investigate the changes in rent level for different types of houses.

 

Ismat Ara Runa (1990) In her study “Living Environmental Quality of Nirala Residential Area” focused on some selected parameters which are capable to judge the living environmental quality of a residential area such as water supply system, drainage system, solid waste management, fire hazard mitigation measures, community services and other facilities and environmental management financing. After analysis of these parameters she remarked about the quality of living environment.  She only selected the parameters for planned residential area. But the present study selected planned as well as unplanned areas.

Master plan of Khulna Development Authority's Interim Report on "Housing and Physical infrastructure (September 1998)",The authority provides an analysis on the existing infrastructure facilities such as roads, drainage, water supply, sanitation, solid waste management, power and telephone, etc for Khulna city. But there were no indicators used to measure the housing situation of the urban poor.

1.7 Rationale of the study

  Generally the industrialists provide housing facilities for their workers. But these housing facilities are not enough for their workers. A large number of people live or make provision for their own housing. Again these industries are dying industries. And most of the workers are included in labour class. They don’t get their wages timely and their income is so small that they can be very surely in urban poor class. Making provision of housing for the urban dwellers particularly for the poor is a critical issue. The gap between the demand for housing due to increase in population and the actual supply of housing is getting wider, particularly in larger cites. The rate of new housing construction has not been able to keep pace with the rate of urban population increase and the cities and towns are over burdened with slum and squatter settlements with poor quality of environment and infrastructure services.

In Khulna City, housing condition seems to be a bit unstable. In Khulna, the poor quality of housing that provided by the industrial authority is apparently more serious than the number of units required. Most of the areas of ward no 11, 12 and 13 is unplanned. People of this area are not satisfied with the present services and facilities. The development trends of housing in this area are very slow. The overall housing condition of this area is not satisfactory. Most of the urban poor groups do not have any municipal garbage disposal services. They normally dump the garbage in the nearby low land. Drainage facilities are very unsatisfactory and road condition is pitiable within the low-income settlements.

This study would be helpful to find out the existing housing condition for industrial workers in the study area. Also identify the problems of different types of services and facilities.

1.8 Limitations of the study

From the beginning of the study, it was faced various kinds of problems. The major limitations of the study are as follows:

¾  During primary survey the respondents of the study area often provided misleading information related to their monthly income, house rent, ground floor space, plot size etc. This misleading information created some problem in data analysis and interpretation and further justification and enquiry of the data was done. This ultimately delayed data analysis and interpretation.

¾  Actually conducting the primary survey in four residential areas is hard work and there are enough parameters to analyze the housing condition.

¾  Co-operation of the industrial authorities were not helpful to gather relevant information.

¾  No industry has plot map or detail layout map of the area.

¾  The more detailed information about the study has not been properly collected for the lack of money constraints and limitations of the study time.

¾  Their understanding level about some problems has been so poor and the education level of the people has not been so satisfactory that their given data would be properly reliable. So, cross check of the data is necessary and it was a time consuming matter.

1.9 Structure of the thesis

1.9.1 Chapter One Contains

Chapter one titled as ‘Introduction’ contains the background information about the study, all the possible literature review that is essential for the research, characteristics of housing in Khulna city and in industrial area. The objectives and rationale of the study are also included in this chapter. 

1.9.2 Chapter Two Contains

Chapter two titled as ‘Methodology’ contains the detail stages of the methodology of the study and the parameters selected to fulfill the objectives of the study.

1.9.3 Chapter Three Contains

Chapter three titled as ‘Study area’ contains the description of the study area with land use pattern, population density, demographic and economic characteristics. The production information of the industries, their problems and profile of the industries are also included.

1.9.4 Chapter Four Contains

Chapter four titled as ‘Socio-economic condition of the study’ contains the information about age-sex structure, occupational pattern, monthly income, educational status, family size and sex ratio.

1.9.5 Chapter Five Contains

Chapter five titled as ‘Housing pattern’ contains the type of houses found in the study area. The types are detached house, semi-detached house, row house, duplex, apartments and tenement house.

1.10.6 Chapter Six Contains

Chapter five titled as ‘Findings and analysis’ contains the detail findings and analysis of the study. It includes information about existing housing condition and various services facilities like water supply, drainage facilities, sanitation, solid waste management etc.

1.9.7 Chapter Seven Contains

Chapter five titled as ‘Problems and guidelines’ highlights the main problems in the study area and provides some guidelines for solving the problems.

1.9.8 Chapter Eight Contains

Chapter five titled as ‘Conclusion’ contains the conclusion of the study.