Development of gender sensitive vulnerability index for urban Indian slums

Abstract

By using large-scale secondary data collected from 69th round of NSSO, the present study has developed a gender sensitive vulnerability index for the population living in urban slums. A total 21 rational indicators are chosen which cover socio-economic status, demographic settlements, access to basic amenities and access to government health facilities. The study finding reveals that female- headed households have least access to basic amenities and living under extreme poverty and health sensitive settlements. The results also highlight that female-headed households are highly vulnerable in the economic backward states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam and Madhya Pradesh. Hence, it is recommended that resources including health infrastructure, slum up-gradation should be mobilized by addressing demographical settlements of slums.