Living condition and life style of Mankhurd slum dwellers

A Mankhurd study conducted among 229 slum households of Mumbai indicated that average age of slum dwellers was 26 years. One third was illiterate; fifty two percent had age at marriage 15-19 years and average household size 5.4 persons. Fifty percent men were daily wage workers while women were housemaids. Due to scanty water supply a 20 litre vessel cost them Rs. 5. Ladies used public/common toilet while men/ children preferred open air defecation. They maintained connectivity with their kin at native place and sent remittances. The logistic regression indicated that rich went out for entertainment. Women went less for entertainment. They moved to Mumbai with the help of their relatives/friends and found living arrangement better here. Fifty percent fell sick during last six months mostly from viral infection/fever/malaria. Half of them smoked Bidi/cigarettes while three fourth consumed pan/khaini/gutka and one fourth consumed alcohol. They did so by 20 years of age. Older, primary and above educated, scheduled castes/ tribes, non Hindus and rich consumed more alcohols. The logistic regression indicated that slum dwellers having larger family and Muslims suffered more from any illness but the rich suffered less. Wealth quintiles, caste and religion were significant predi