QUALITY OF LIFE (QOL) IN URBAN SLUMS: A GEOGRAPHICAL APPRAISAL FROM PURULIA MUNICIPALITY, WEST BENGAL, INDIA

The development of slums in the urban area is one of the major issues for the urban local bodies (ULB's). The definition of ‘slum' varies from country to country. The Census of India define ‘slums' as ‘a compact area of at least 300 in population or about 60-70 households of poorly built, congested tenements in a unhygienic environment usually within adequate infrastructure and lacking proper sanitary and drinking water facility'. Basically, slums are the shadow zones of urban existence where poverty, crime, aesthetic population apart from other types of population, disease, and deprivation co-exist. The social problem, disparities, well being and quality of life are the new domains of geographic study in this post-modern era. This study is based on the primary survey of 690 households of different of slums located under 23 wards in Purulia city, West Bengal. This paper tries to assess the quality of life statistically in the slums of Purulia city. For determining the quality of life in the slums composite index and standard deviation have been done. To calculate the composite index 10 variables were chosen to determine the quality of life (QOL). Lastly, some suggestions were given for inclusive development and improve quality of life among the slum dwellers of Purulia city.