# Research Proposal

## Title
Employment structure of slum dwellers of Pabna Municipality, Pabna,
Bangladesh
## Introduction
Slums are informal and unplanned settlements that house a large number of
urban poor people who lack access to basic services and amenities. Slums are
often characterized by overcrowding, substandard housing, poor sanitation,
insecurity and vulnerability. According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics
(BBS), there were about 13,751 slums in Bangladesh in 2014, covering an
area of 8,046 hectares and accommodating about 2.23 million households.
Pabna is one of the districts of Rajshahi division in Bangladesh, with a
population of about 2.5 million people. Pabna district has 9 upazilas (sub-
districts), 93 unions, 1,558 villages and 8 municipalities. According to the
BBS, there were 144 slums in Pabna district in 2014, covering an area of 54
hectares and accommodating about 15,841 households. The slum population
of Pabna district was estimated at about 63,364 people, which was about 2.5%
of the total population of the district. Pabna Municipality is the administrative
center and the largest urban area of Pabna district. It has a population of about
144,000 people and covers an area of 20.5 square kilometers. According to a
report by Slum Development Master Plan (SDMP), there are 22 slums in
Pabna Municipality, covering an area of 32 hectares and accommodating
about 10,000 households. The slum population of Pabna Municipality was
estimated at about 40,000 people, which was about 28% of the total
population of the municipality. The employment structure of slum dwellers is
an important indicator of their livelihood conditions and economic
opportunities. Employment structure refers to the distribution of workers
across different sectors, occupations and income levels. Employment structure
can reveal the extent of poverty, inequality, informality and vulnerability
among slum dwellers. Employment structure can also reflect the potential for
economic growth, development and diversification in a region. The aim of this
study is to analyze the employment structure of slum dwellers in Pabna
Municipality in Bangladesh and compare it with the employment structure of
the non-slum population in the same municipality. The study will also explore
the factors that influence the employment choices and outcomes of slum
dwellers and identify the challenges and opportunities for improving their
employment conditions and prospects.

## Research Objective
The main objective of this study is:
- To assess the differences and similarities between the employment structure
of slum dwellers and non-slum population in Pabna Municipality.
The specific objectives are:
- To describe the main sectors, occupations and income levels of slum
dwellers in Pabna Municipality.
- To examine the main determinants of employment structure among slum
dwellers in Pabna Municipality.
- To evaluate the main challenges and opportunities for enhancing the
employment opportunities and outcomes of slum dwellers in Pabna
Municipality.

## Theoretical Framework
The theoretical framework for this study is based on the concept of
livelihoods and the sustainable livelihoods approach (SLA). A livelihood
comprises the capabilities, assets, and activities required for a means of living
( Chambers and Conway, 1992 ). A livelihood is sustainable when it can cope
with and recover from stresses and shocks, maintain or enhance its capabilities
and assets, and provide sustainable livelihood opportunities for the next
generation ( Scoones, 1998 ). The SLA is a holistic and participatory
framework that aims to understand and enhance the livelihoods of poor people
by analyzing their access to and control over different types of capital assets
(natural, physical, human, social, financial), the vulnerability context (shocks,
trends, seasonality), the institutional structures and processes (policies, laws,
organizations), and the livelihood strategies and outcomes (income, food
security, well-being) ( DFID, 1999 ). The SLA can be applied to analyze the
employment structure of slum dwellers by examining how they use their
different assets to pursue various livelihood strategies in different sectors and
occupations, how they are affected by the vulnerability context and
institutional structures and processes, and how they achieve different
livelihood outcomes such as income levels, poverty status, and employment
security. The SLA can also help to identify the gaps, constraints, and
opportunities for improving the employment conditions and prospects of slum
dwellers by enhancing their asset base, reducing their vulnerability,
strengthening their institutional support, and diversifying their livelihood
options.

## Literature Review
A brief review of some relevant studies on slums and employment structure in
Bangladesh and other countries is presented below. - Majale (2008) examined
the employment creation through participatory urban planning and slum
upgrading in Kitale, Kenya. The study used a case study approach to evaluate
a project implemented by Practical Action (formerly ITDG) that aimed to
improve the living conditions and livelihoods of slum dwellers through
community mobilization, infrastructure provision, housing improvement, and
enterprise development.
The study found that the project had positive impacts on employment creation
both directly and indirectly by enhancing the physical, social, and economic
capital of slum dwellers.
The study also found that participatory planning and partnership building were
key factors for ensuring sustainability and replicability of the project
outcomes. - Bapari et al. (2016) assessed the impacts of unplanned
urbanization on the socio-economic conditions and environment of Pabna
Municipality, Bangladesh.
The study used primary data collected through questionnaire survey,
interview, and observation from 150 respondents in three selected wards of
Pabna Municipality. The study also used secondary data from various sources
such as BBS publications, journal articles, books, and reports.
The study found that unplanned urbanization had resulted in various problems
such as overpopulation, haphazard housing service, health burdens, urban
poverty, crime, child labor, erratic education system, mismanagement of
waste, deforestation, air, water, sound and soil pollutions, carbon emission,
environmental hazards, traffic jam, misand unemployment, improper drainage
system, inadequate entertainment facilities, drug abuse, vulnerable ecosystem,
medley lifestyle and culture etc.
The study suggested some effective measures to overcome these problems
such as proper urban planning, land use zoning, infrastructure development,
waste management, afforestation, pollution control, traffic management,
employment generation, education promotion, entertainment provision etc.. -
Islam et al. (2019) analyzed the regional economic development of Pabna
district in Bangladesh using a shift-share approach.
The study used secondary data from BBS to calculate the shift-share
components for nine upazilas of Pabna district for he period 2001-2011.
The study found that Pabna district had a positive regional share component
but a negative national share component and a negative industrial mix
component.
The study also found that there was a significant variation in regional
economic development among different upazilas of Pabna district.
The study suggested some policy implications such as promoting
industrialization, diversification, infrastructure development and human
capital formation for enhancing regional economic development in Pabna
district. - Hossain et al. (2020) investigated the socio-economic characteristics
of slum dwellers in Pabna Municipality.
The study used primary data collected through questionnaire survey from 120
respondents in four selected slums of Pabna Municipality.
The study found that most of slum dwellers were young, illiterate or low
educated, migrants from rural areas, engaged in low skilled or informal sector
jobs, earning low income, living in rented or squatted houses with poor
facilities, facing various health problems, lacking social security and
empowerment etc.
The study recommended some interventions such as providing legal
recognition, ensuring basic services, creating employment opportunities and
enhancing social awareness for improving the situation of slum dwellers.

## Research Methodology
The research methodology for this study will consist of the following steps:
- Data collection: The primary data for this study will be collected through a
household survey using a structured questionnaire. The survey will cover a
sample of 400 households from four selected slums in Pabna Municipality.
The selection criteria for choosing these four slums are: size (large or small),
location (central or peripheral), type (squatter or renter), and diversity
(ethnicity or religion). These criteria will ensure that the sample represents
different types of slums and slum dwellers in Pabna Municipality. The sample
will be selected using a stratified random sampling technique based on gender,
age and occupation criteria. The questionnaire will include questions on
demographic characteristics, employment status, sectoral distribution,
occupational distribution, income level distribution, employment
determinants, employment challenges and opportunities etc.
The secondary data for this study will be collected from various sources such
as BBS publications, journal articles, books and reports.
- Data analysis: The data analysis for this study will involve both descriptive
and inferential statistics using SPSS software. The descriptive statistics will
include frequency distribution, mean, median, mode, standard deviation,
coefficient of variation etc. The inferential statistics will include chi-square
test, t-test, ANOVA, correlation, regression etc.
The data analysis will also involve graphical presentation using charts, tables,
maps etc.
- Data interpretation: The data interpretation for this study will involve
explaining and discussing the findings from data analysis in relation to the
research objective, literature review, and theoretical framework.
The data interpretation will also involve identifying the limitations,
implications, and recommendations for further research and policy.

## Ethical Considerations
The ethical considerations for this study are:
- Informed consent: The respondents will be informed about the purpose,
nature, and benefits of the study and their voluntary participation and right to
withdraw at any time without any consequences.
- Confidentiality: The respondents' personal information and responses will be
kept confidential and anonymous and will not be disclosed to any third party
without their consent.
- Protection: The respondents will be protected from any physical,
psychological, or social harm or discomfort that may arise from the study.
- Respect: The respondents will be treated with respect and dignity and their
opinions and views will be valued and acknowledged.
- Beneficence: The respondents will be informed about the potential benefits
of the study for themselves and their community and how they can access the
results and findings of the study.

## Expected Outcomes
The expected outcomesof this study are:
- To provide a comprehensive picture of the employment structure of slum
dwellers in Pabna Municipality in terms of sectors, occupations, and income
levels.
- To compare and contrast the employment structure of slum dwellers with
that of non-slum population in Pabna Municipality.
- To identify and analyze the factors that influence the employment choices
and outcomes of slum dwellers such as education, skill, gender, age, migration
status etc.
- To evaluate the challenges and opportunities for improving the employment
conditions and prospects of slum dwellers such as access to credit, training,
market, infrastructure etc.
- To contribute to the existing literature on slums and employment structure in
Bangladesh and other developing countries.
- To provide policy suggestions for enhancing the economic empowerment
and social inclusion of slum dwellers.

## References
: BBS (2015). Report on Slum Census 2014: National Volume-I: Analytical
Report. Dhaka: Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
: BBS (2012). Population & Housing Census 2011: Socio-Economic &
Demographic Report: National Volume4. Dhaka: Bangladesh Bureau of
Statistics.
: BBS (2017). Statistical Yearbook of Bangladesh 2016. Dhaka: Bangladesh
Bureau of Statistics.
: SDMP (2018). Slum Development Master Plan of Pabna Municipality:
Report On Socio-Economic Survey And Mapping Of Slums In Municipal
Area Of PABNA MUNICIPALITY Under Urban Governance And
Infrastructure Improvement Project-II (UGIIP-II). Dhaka: Slum Development
Master Plan.
: Majale M (2008). Employment creation through participatory urban planning
and slum upgrading: The case of Kitale, Kenya. Habitat International
32(2):270–282.
: Bapari MH et al. (2016). Impacts of Unplanned Urbanization on the Socio-
Economic Conditions and Environment of Pabna Municipality, Bangladesh.
Available at
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309555861_Impacts_of_Unpla
nned_Urbanization_on_the_SocioEconomic_Conditions_and_Environment_o
f_Pabna_Municipality_Bangladesh
: Islam MA et al. (2019). Regional Economic Development of Pabna District
in Bangladesh: A Shift Share Approach. International Journal of Economics
and Financial Issues 9(6):1–7.
: Hossain MM et al. (2020). Socio-Economic Characteristics of Slum
Dwellers in Pabna Municipality. Journal of Business Studies 41(1): 1- 16.