Assessing Differential Health Vulnerability of the Slums in Chandigarh, India

Abstract

Rapid population growth, high population density, poverty, differential access to housing, public services, and poor sanitation have led to increasing vulnerability in India's urban centers. Globalization and climatic change have further undermined the resilience and coping capacities of the poor and vulnerable communities. In this paper, twelve slums in Chandigarh have been selected as examples. Chandigarh is one of the planned cities of post-independent India, yet it has more than a 30 percent slum population. This paper proposes a differential health vulnerability index that takes into consideration biophysical, socio-economic and institutional indicators related to health vulnerability in a local context. The twelve slums were categorized in three groups: highly, moderately and lightly (low) vulnerable. The indicators of individual slums were analyzed through participant observation and in-depth discussion with community representatives. The difference between highly and less vulnerable slums can be determined on the basis of their lack of basic infrastructural facilities and of individual "quality of life". The study concludes that there is a need for multi-sectoral efforts in addressing health issues within slums. These efforts must differentiate as regards the "vulnerability" of slums.