Sociologists, economists, environmentalists and town planners have perceived slum and problems of slum dwellers from their own point of view. But there is no denying the fact that the slum have become an integral part of the phenomenon of urbanization and are in a way, manifestation of overall socio-economic policies and planning in the states and in the country. But this should not discount the fact that the slum dwellers have been contributing significantly to the economy of the city by being a source of affordable labor supply for production both in the formal and informal sectors of economy. Comprehensive information on the slum is essential for formulation of an effective and co-ordinate policy for their improvement/Rehabilitation as they have not received due attention in urban planning and have remained an area of neglect. Piecemeal efforts in the past have brought about some improvement in the lives of the slum dwellers but this is not enough. A lot more is required to be done to improve the quality of life in slum.

It is in this background that in the 2001 census, an innovative attempt was made to collect detailed demographic data on slum areas across the country, particularly in cities and towns having population of 50000 or above in 1991. Census has made it possible to compile and prepare special tables for slum. Some of the tables on slum population based on 2001 Census are presented in this bulletin.

Size

There were about 42.5 million slum dwellers in urban areas in 2001. The percentage of slum population varies from 27.2 percent in Maharashtra to less than one percent in Kerala (See Table 1) the National Capital Territory of Delhi has 15.7 percent of population living in slum area.

Work Participation Rate (WPR)

Nearly one third of the slum dwellers are workers which is quite near to the urban WPR of 32.2 percent. Slum of Chandigarh have recorded highest WPR for total (39.6%). On the other hand, slum of Bihar have returned the lowest WPR (25.8%).

One of most striking features of the slum population is the preponderance of main workers in slum areas similar to the urban areas of the country. The main workers in slum from 90.0 percent of the total workers. Slum areas of Chandigarh seem to be economically more vibrant with 96.2 percent main workers followed by Andaman & Nicobar Islands 95. 3 percent. Conversely, Goa has the highest marginal workers (28.5%) followed by Jharkhand (16.4%).

Literacy

The literacy rate among slum population was 73.1 percent for all slum dwellers, 80.7 percent for males and 64.4 per cent for females. The gender inequality in the level of literacy is well noticed with comparatively higher literacy rate for males. Overall the literacy rate in slum areas of the 26 states/union territories, which have reported slums, varies from a low of 54.8 percent in Chandigarh to 88.3 per cent in Meghalaya. In all the 26 out of 27 states/union territories, which have reported slums, literacy rate among the slum dwellers is lower as compared to the urban literacy rates of their respective states/union territories, Meghalaya being the only exception. In the slums of Chandigarh male literacy rate is only 64.9 percent which is the lowest among 26 states/union territories. As far as females are concerned, only 3 states, viz., Meghalaya

(85.5%), Tripura (81.0%) and Kerala (80.2%) have reported literacy rate above 80 percent among slum dwellers. It would be worth analyzing the male-female gap in literacy that prevails in the slums at the states/union territories. The table clearly reveals the wide gender gaps in literacy levels in slum areas.