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Slum rehabilitation and sustainable feminine health practices: A case study from an urban slum in India
Journal of Urban Regeneration and Renewal,
18
(2),
180-193
(2024)
Abstract
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) aspire to halve the proportion of slum dwellers by 2030, which prompted the launch of the ‘Slum Rehabilitation Mission’ in India. Rapid urbanisation has been a major challenge due to the proliferation of urban slums, characterised by inadequate sanitation facilities. Females in such informal settlements are particularly vulnerable due to lack of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure. In response, the Government of India undertook an urban slum redevelopment mission in 2011, whereby Dhanas emerged as the largest rehabilitation colony in Chandigarh. Our research reveals laudable efforts by the local administration to provide ample access to sanitation amenities and adequate rubbish disposal setups within the colony, making Dhanas an exemplar case. Stigma, embarrassment and shyness surrounding menstruation, however, was prevalent across all age groups. So, despite provisions of physical infrastructure, socio-cultural transformation requires efforts in the forms of community-level initiatives, marketing campaigns, media involvement and corporate social responsibility. This study makes a significant contribution, being the first survey of a slum rehabilitation colony – in Dhanas, Chandigarh – delving into practical civic aspects such as sanitation for girls in school, comfort in the workplace and access to absorbents, among others. Most importantly, this is the first primary study in India to highlight the success of its Slum Rehabilitation Mission at Dhanas, which should be emulated in accordance with Goal 3 of the SDGs.
Keywords: WASH infrastructure; menstrual hygiene; stigma; slum rehabilitation; India
The full article is available to subscribers to the journal.
Author's Biography
Muskan Verma is a PhD student in the School of Community and Regional Planning at the University of British Columbia in Canada. She completed her Masters in economics with urban development as her specialisation at the Symbiosis School of Economics.
Niharika Singh Dr Niharika Singh is Assistant Professor at the Symbiosis School of Economics. Her research interests include gender studies, labour economics and economic policy. She is a member of several forums for women, including the Association of Women in Development, Women in Science and Engineering and the Indian Society for Labour Economics. She has worked on funded research projects for World Bank, the Government of Maharashtra, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) among others.
Sudipa Majumdar Dr Sudipa Majumdar is the Director of a leading independent policy research institution that specialises in various research areas concerned with climate change, environment, sustainable development and gender equality. Earlier, Sudipa was the Deputy Director and Professor at Symbiosis School of Economics. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in the UK. She completed her PhD in economics from IGIDR Mumbai. Sudipa also holds a PG Certificate in Advanced Statistical Learning from Stanford University, USA. Her research interests include applied econometrics, gender and social studies, and banking and finance. She has been featured extensively in books, journals and at conferences where she has won multiple awards. She has worked on funded research projects for the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation, Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange and Wharton Business School, among others.
