The methodology comprises with site selection for the
study, sample size determination, survey
instruments/protocol developments, process of data collection with the selected
sample and
analysis. For analysis, a structured and pre-coded questionnaire with
comprehensive guideline
(Both qualitative and quantitative) is develop for questionnaire survey format.
Data collection is
done by GPS survey method. About 96 cluster slums in 33 Wards of RpCC were
physically
surveyed and were digitized using GIS techniques. GIS database of physical
feature, Water
Supply point, Sanitation Point, others utility services of the slums of project
areas were
collected from GPS survey. The aim of preparing base map was to produce an
accurate and
well-illustrated map which can be used for slum area mapping during the survey.
HRDF & PASS had
mobilize a core study team for the survey as well as for the processing of
survey data and
mapping for each slum settlements in Rangpur City Corporation. The team had
collected
data for each slum by using a pre-designed Questionnaire. For household survey,
the sample were drawn from all the 33 wards. A mix of large, medium, and small
slums were
selected for data collection. A total of 11503 families were surveyed and 11
FGD sessions were
conducted. An easy-to-understand GIS based map of the existing WaSH service
delivery points in the all ward of RpCC with slum location, slum map indicating
slum/low settlement areas and combined map of Rangpur city indicating slum/low
settlement areas were prepared.
In this study majority of slum people are from low income
group. Average family size in the low
income settlement surveyed is 3.65 people, which is lower than the average
family size (4.47
persons) of urban area of Rangpur. This implies that population growth rate is still
high in low income settlements/slums as compare to other areas of Rangpur city.
About 43 percent families have 4-5 members in their families. About 8.32% of
the population of Rangpur city living in the urban slum areas in Rangpur.
Analysis shows that about one third families are still hardcore poor, living
below lower poverty line (taka <5000 per person/month) and living in a very
vulnerable condition. Prevalence of under five children who are most prone to
water related diseases often linked to WaSH behavior are rather high in the low-income
settlements of Rangpur city. This clearly implies that slums in Rangpur city are
still under the poverty hotspot. In this study, adult members of the surveyed
households in low income settlements/slums of Rangpur city are engaged in a
great diversity of occupations. Primary occupation of main earning member of 27.3
percent families is rickshaw/van pulling and about 23 percent are engaged as
day laborer. Other occupations include day labor worker, shop keeper, own
business etc. Education level of the slum dwellers are very low, which is
attributed to poor human resource building and thus to the engagement of poorly
paid jobs. A wide array of building types was identified where low-income
people live in Rangpur. Most common types of dwelling units include- very old
dilapidated building, tinshed (CI sheet) with brick wall (no plaster), tinshed
with wood wall, tinshed with bamboo wall. Dwelling units are arranged in a row
type arrangement. Common facilities include- a hand tube well/water
point, facilities for sun-drying of cloths, sometimes waste bin. These low-income
settlements are
often called slum, colony or bosti. Location of slum/colony is an important
factor of rent of
dwelling units of slum/colony. Apart from the location of slum, rent of a
tenant will y depend
on the size of dwelling unit, electric appliances, water connection, types of
toilets/bathroom facilities etc. Almost all dwelling units in all the slums
have electricity connection. GIS survey findings suggests that around 76
percent water points are functional, and the remaining 24 percent are
non-functional irrespective of legal or illegal connections. Slum dwellers are
not aware about their water connection whether it is legal or illegal. However,
they have to pay for it along with the house rent to the
landlord/slum owners. The average payment for water is 120 Taka per month. From this study it has been found that about 84 percent population have access to safe water supply. Around 0.36% of the surveyed slum dwellers get drinking water from piped water tap often located inside the slum/colony boundary. Due to intermittent nature of supply from RpCC, the slum/colony dwellers have to collect and store/preserve water routinely. While collecting water particularly in the morning they have to wait for longtime; some case even more than 15-30 minutes.
In most cases male and female co-residents share the same
toilets. Only in 24 percent cases separate toilets for male and female are
observed in Rangpur cities. A shared toilet is used by
a minimum of 4 families and maximum of 10 families. With the increase of number
of shared
toilet in a slum/colony the rent of the dwelling unit increases as well.
Therefore, the poor slum
dwellers often do not want to have better toilet facilities. In 63.78 percent
cases the unsanitary
toilets are linked with surface water system, which has serious implication for
public
health. In 39 percent cases the respondents have acknowledged that their
children used to do
open defecation during their infant stage of
The
RpCC encounter numerous challenges to offers WaSH services to low income
settlements
and slums in Rangpur city. The first challenge is with the institutional
mandate and
willingness/capacity to invest for the slum population. The RpCC heavily rely
on central
government budget for its operation and projects. The RpCC currently does not
have any plan for
resettlements of or upgradation of slums in Rangpur city. Often budget and
coordination
among departments cause poor service delivery regarding WaSH. The challenges of
RpCC to provide WASH services to low income settlements and slums are of two
types. The first one is the structural challenge which prohibit it to give poor
slum residents legal access to RpCC pipe water system, though recently RpCC
adopted new procedures that allow it to give legal connection for slums
residents. The second challenge is the business challenge, as the slum people
are often considering mobile and having low purchasing power they are often
excluded. Moreover, sustained supply requires sustained capacity to pay. NGO interventions
focusing the poor and the marginalized slum residents in Rangpur city took an active
part in the management of safe water, environment-friendly sanitation, and
hygiene
practices. However, sustainability is a big concern there. RpCC might develop
their WaSH strategy in line with the SDG goals 6.1 (sustained access to safe
water) and 6.2 (sustained access to improved sanitation and hygiene). Such strategy
must have a target to being certain percent of slum population each year under
the coverage of safe water and safe sanitation to achieve relevant SDGs by
2030. The CCC being the
lead and coordinating agency has a major role in overall development of WASH
situation in
Rangpur city.
To get full paper contact with planner.motaleb.rpcc@gmail.com
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