Resettling Slum Dwellers

This book is about a pioneering study undertaken with a view to understand the socioeconomic background of the slum dwellers in Chennai who were resettled and their problems at the resettlement colonies. The level of community participation, the role of the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board, the involvement of professionally trained social workers, and NGOs in the process of resettlement has been analysed. The results of the study reveal that there was no significant change with regard to education and occupation after resettlement. The male members were forced to hang on to their old jobs at their original place while majority of the women had lost their jobs due to dislocation. This resulted in the reduction of family incomes. The new infrastructures and services provided to them were not adequate. People remained dissatisfied in all the resettlement colonies except in one. This study was first of its kind when it was carried out for it covered the issue of resettling slum dwellers. This process of resettlement has been carried out via social work methods which can be a guide to future projects. It is a must read for those who are working or studying about people living in slums.