Published Paper Details:

Abstract: The concept, perception and definition of slums vary across the states, depending on their socio-economic conditions but their physical characteristics are almost similar. Slums are usually a cluster of hutments with dilapidated and infirm structures having common toilet facilities, suffering from lack of basic amenities, inadequate arrangements for drainage and for disposal of solid waste and garbage. The Kanchrapara Municipality has been selected for the present study as it has an age old history as railway workshop. The central query for the present study is to assess the current livelihood status of slum and non slum communities in Kanchrapara municipality. In course of time a marked growth of population has been observed and at the same time slum population has also been increased. As slums have a tendency to concentrate in the peripheral region of the Towns, Kanchrapara Town has also got a large number of Slum population an almost all wards and some have dominant areas covered by slum population. So economic, social and cultural disparity are distinguishing the status of the slum and non-slum areas. Finally socio-economic diversification are noted in this respect.