Abstract

This paper estimates poverty and vulnerability among rural slums in India using NSSO 69th Round data. It examines indicators related to drinking water, sanitation, hygiene, housing conditions and socio-economic characteristics. The study finds that vulnerability is generally higher than poverty among rural slum households. Among the selected states, poverty and vulnerability are lowest in Delhi and highest in Chhattisgarh. The study also examines differences according to religion, social class, gender of the household head, family type and land holdings. Scheduled Tribe households show the highest poverty and vulnerability, followed by Scheduled Castes, while households with larger land holdings have lower poverty and vulnerability. The findings demonstrate the importance of socio-economic conditions and external shocks in determining household vulnerability.