News India 68 million Indians living in slums: census

68 million Indians living in slums: census

New Delhi, Mar 22 : Approximately 68 million Indians are living in slums, according to a government census.Releasing the first such census report on slum households prepared by the Registrar General of India, Union Housing

68 million indians living in slums census 68 million indians living in slums census
New Delhi, Mar 22 : Approximately 68 million Indians are living in slums, according to a government census.



Releasing the first such census report on slum households prepared by the Registrar General of India, Union Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister Ajay Maken on Thursday said that majority of them were located in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

Presenting the highlights of the report, Census Commissioner C Chandramouli said, "In all 1.73 crore census houses have been reported in houselisting blocks, categorised as slums in India, comprising 1.37 crore slum households."

He also noted that in 19 cities with million-plus population, 25 per cent of households live in slums.

"A majority-71 per cent- of these are located in six states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, west Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh," Chandramouli said.

90 per cent of slum households use electricity, 70 per cent slum households have television, 72.7 per cent have telephone facility while 10.4 per cent households have computer or laptop in their house.

Maken said, "In 2001, there were 23.5 per cent of households in urban areas which were living in slums. It has now come down to 17.4 per cent. But there are still 17.35 million slum houses, 13.74 million slum households and we have 68 million people living in the slum areas as 2011 census."

The slum household census report says that 74 per cent of these households use tap as the main source of drinking water followed by hand pump ortube which is used by 20.3 per cent.

66 per cent households have toilet facility within the premises, but 18.9 per cent slum households defecate in open and 15.1 per cent use public facilities, according to the report on 'Housing Stock, Amenities And Assets in Slums Based on House Listing And Housing Census'.

Ten places in the country also claimed to be 'all-slum towns'.

Interestingly, 90 per cent of slum households use electricity as the main source of lighting and 8.2 per cent used Kerosene. Only 0.5 per cent households have no lighting in the slum areas.

Also, 70 per cent slum households have television in their houses for entertainment while 18.7 per cent possess radio and transistors.

Also 10.4 per cent households have computer or laptop in their house, out of which 3.3 per cent have internet connection as against 9.3 per cent in non-slum areas.

Telephone facilities are availed by 72.7 per cent slum households, out of which 4.4 per cent have land line connection, 63.5 per cent mobile and 4.8 per cent have both. In non-slum areas this percentage is 83.9.

10 places in the country also claimed to be 'all-slum towns', out of which five exist in Jammu and Kashmir. These towns with a population of around 4000-5000 are Magam, Berwah, Hajan, Quimoh and Frisal in J&K.

UP has reported to have three all-slum towns at Ugu, Safipur and Nyotine. West Bengal and Sikkim have claimed to have one all-slum towns.

Chandramouli also said that the data has been prepared by the RGI on a survey conducted in the Statutory Towns only having a municipial corporation or a similar body.

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