Editorial
Urban slum dwellers
Take pragmatic steps to reverse rural-urban migration
WE are alarmed at the study report that by 2020 the slum dwelling population in urban areas of the country will reach the staggering figure of three crore. With Dhaka being the capital city and the hub of all developmental activities, it is most likely to be hit harder when the number of slum dwellers will swell beyond comprehension. Other towns and cities of the country will also have their equal share of slum population. Some of these facts were presented by speakers in a meeting organised by Gazipur Municipality and an international development organisation named Practical Action in the city on Wednesday.
Country's demographic chart shows that already about 30 percent of the total population live in urban areas, of which 33 percent, around 1.6 crore, live in the slums. Dhaka and the peripheries are burdened with most of the slums where living conditions are extremely unhealthy and unsafe. With poverty and unemployment in the rural areas rising in tandem, more and more people are drifting towards the towns and cities in search of work. Once in the urban areas, it is only obvious that these people with marginal income will find cheap living accommodation in the slums.
The research findings that speak of further rise in the slum dwelling population in the urban areas including the capital city and its suburbs, has to be given utmost importance. Dhaka is already faced with numerous problems with a population of over one crore. Further rise in number of people, especially in the slums, will create severe health, water, transportation and law and order situation for the future administrators. Therefore, with only a decade to go, we believe we have got to do something now on an urgent basis so that we may contain the flow and even reverse the trend.
The daunting predicament demands immediate attention of all the stakeholders. One measure that would go a long way in creating jobs and generating income for the rural population is ensuring more public and private investments in the rural areas. The possibilities of extending bank loans for setting up small enterprises, providing training on farming and handicraft etc., might also be explored by the competent authorities. Export diversification and extension of IT network will again create income generating sources for the rural unemployed youths. Side by side, the ongoing population programme has to be revitalised through popularising modern birth control and birth spacing methods to keep the population growth under control.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments