Vulnerability Assessment of Urban Marginalized Communities: A Pilot Study in Bhubaneswar Slum Areas, Odisha

The study addresses an improved understanding on the vulnerability of the people living in urban slums and objects to helping in prioritisation of efforts and optimal utilisation of limited resources for better health outcome. The study was conducted in the city of “Bhubaneswar” the state capital of Odisha in India. Focused Group Discussions were conducted in 75 slums of the city followed by a detailed analysis of the data collected. The predominant vulnerability of people living in the slums under the study is water logging and unhygienic locality. This has direct impacts on the general health particularly of children who are prone to allergies resulting in colds, asthma etc. The study also revealed that no slum falling in the category of the most vulnerable while 24 slums falling in least vulnerable and rest of 51 slums are moderately vulnerable out of 75 slums assessed. The study has important implications for the planners, program managers and policy makers of urban health especially for better for the people living in urban slums