This document analyzes the spatial distribution and socio-economic aspects of slum dwellers in Neyyattinkara Town, Kerala, India using GIS. There are 13 slums housing 2.8% of the town's population. The study aims to map slum locations, analyze household social conditions, economic conditions, and identify problems/solutions. Key findings include the majority of slum households belonging to scheduled castes, most slums having high proportions of Hindu and Muslim families, over half of households being migrants, main occupations being coolie and petty trading, and most homes having thatched roofs and mud walls/floors. Literacy rates are lower than the town's overall rate. The study concludes sl

1. An Analysis of Spatial Distribution and the
Socio-Economic Aspects of Slum Dwellers
Using GIS: A Study in Neyyattinkara Town of
Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala
An Analysis of Spatial Distribution and the
Socio-Economic Aspects of Slum Dwellers
Using GIS: A Study in Neyyattinkara Town of
Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala
Shaji J*, R. Thulaseedharan Pillai#
, B. K Jayaprasad^
, Dr. R. Anilkumar#
*Assistant Professor, #
Associate Professor, Dept. of Geography, University College,
Trivandrum, ^
Scientist-B, Centre for Earth Science Studies, Trivandrum

2. INTRODUCTION
•A slum is a contiguous settlement where the inhabitants are
characterized as having inadequate housing and basic services’
(UN-HABITAT 2003c, p. 6).
•The phenomenon of slums has come to be regarded as a
major problem of urbanization.
•About 31.6 % of world’s urban population are now living
under unacceptable conditions.
•The urban population of India as per 2001 census is 285
million persons and ranks second in the world.
• Kerala has a slum population of 64556 persons which
constitute 0.78% of the urban population.

3. STUDY AREA
• Neyyattinkara, a Class II town of
Thiruvananthapuram district of
Kerala state.
• Location: Latitudes 80
21’
53.593”
North to 80
27’
26.799 ”
North and770
3’
3.727”
East to 770
7’ 27.301” East
longitudes.
• Area: 28.78 sq.km
• Population: 69,467 persons
• Neyyattinkara, a Class II town of
Thiruvananthapuram district of
Kerala state.
• Location: Latitudes 80
21’
53.593”
North to 80
27’
26.799 ”
North and770
3’
3.727”
East to 770
7’ 27.301” East
longitudes.
• Area: 28.78 sq.km
• Population: 69,467 persons

4. DRAINAGE, POPULATION AND LANDUSE OF NEYYYATTINKARA TOWN
The 7.02km of Neyyar River is
passing through the town .
The population density
of the town is 2414
persons per sq.km.
53.13 % area is coconut
mixed crop, 14.06 % is
mixed crop 9.5% is mixed
built up, 9.055 % is
coconut, 7.75 percent is
residential and 6.5% as
other landuse categories,

5. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The following are the aims and objectives of the
present study.
1) To generate a spatial database of slums and its
location.
2) To analyze the social conditions of the slum dwellers at
the household level.
3) To analyze the economic conditions of the slum
dwellers at the household level.
4) To analyze the problems and provide suitable
suggestions for improvement of slums in the study area.

6. METHODOLOGY
•The methodology of the study involves the preparation of a series of
thematic maps by analyzing the required primary data set collected from the
study area through an intensive field work and questionnaire data collection.
• The spatial location of each slum has been delineated in the Cartosat Image
through Arc GIS software (9.2) using the geographic co-ordinates collected
through Magellan Explorist 600 hand held GPS, with an accuracy of + 7m.
•A detailed interview were conducted all the dwelling units as per the
questionnaire designed for the purpose. The data were consolidated and a
detailed .dbf file generated using Micro Soft Excel and has input into GIS
through Add XY menu of Arc GIS 9.2 Software by giving unique ID so as to
get different attribute fields for generating relevant thematic maps.
•On the basis of the spatial analysis of slum data valid conclusions are
arrived .

7. DISTRIBUTION OF SLUMS IN NEYYATTINKARA
There are 13 slums in the Neyyattinkara Town which
together constitute 2.8% of the total population.
SI.
No
Name of the Slum Latitude
(North)
Longitude
(East)
1
Pavithranandapuram
Colony
8o
24’44.719”N 77o
4’54.297”E
2 Kaniyamkulam Colony 8o
24’18.341”N 77o
4’33.302”E
3 Vadakethaithottam 8o
25’7.687”N 77o
4’56.988”E
4 Melekalam 8o
23’25.495”N 77o
5’13.732”E
5 Karithalikal 8o
23’48.553”N 77o
6’11.098”E
6
Cheriyakonam
Channalkara
8o
24’58.675”N 77o
3’31.015”E
7 Kadavankode 8o
25’42.329”N 77o
4’52.455”E
8 Thovottukonam 8o
24’35.567”N 77o
6’49.319”E
9
Muttakkad Leksham
Veedu Colony
8o
26’10.21”N 77o
4’53.189”E
10 Melekonam Colony 8o
26’8.376”N 77o
5’36.11”E
11 Theechakuzhy Colony 8o
24’4.344”N 77o
6’6.791”E
12 Kavalakulam Colony 8o
23’32.044”N 77o
4’51.246”E
13 Thottinkara Colony 8o
24’26.595”N 77o
4’47.119”E
Neyyattinkara Town-Spatial Database of the Slums

8. SOCIAL ASPECTS OF THE SLUM DWELLERS
•Caste
•Religion
•Size of the Family
•Migration
•Reasons for migration
•Sources of migration
•Sex composition
•Age structure - Male Age Structure & Female Age Structure in Slums
•Literacy
•Level of Education
•Caste
•Religion
•Size of the Family
•Migration
•Reasons for migration
•Sources of migration
•Sex composition
•Age structure - Male Age Structure & Female Age Structure in Slums
•Literacy
•Level of Education
Slums are areas of segregation of socially down redden people.

9. DISTRIBUTION OF SLUM HOUSEHOLDS BY CASTE
The majority of slums in Neyyattinkara
has scheduled caste households and their
share is higher in Pavithranandapuram,
Melekalam and Kadavankode colony.
Cheriyakonam Channelkara Colony near
Aralumud Masjid has 92 percent backward
class households.

10. DISTRIBUTION OF SLUM HOUSEHOLDS BY RELIGION
Out of the 13 slums 53 percent of the
slums have more than 70 percent Hindu
families. Christians are present in all slums
except Thottinkara, Cheriakonam
Channelkara colony and Melekalam
colony. Cheriakonam Channelkara colony
near Aralumood Masjid and Thottinkara
colony have 80 percent Muslim
households.

11. DISTRIBUTION OF SLUM HOUSEHOLDS BY SIZE OF THE FAMILY, MIGRATION
Family with less than four persons - Small Size
Family with four to six persons - Medium Size
Family with more than six persons - Big Size.
In the slums, 62 percent of them have
majority of households with a family size of 4
to 6 persons.
Migrant population accounts for 58.9 percents or
more of households in slums. Cheriyakonam,
Melekonam and Thottinkara colony have only
migrant households. Pavithranandapuram
colony located near the core of the town have a
migrant household population of more than 90%.

12. DISTRIBUTION OF SLUM HOUSEHOLDS BY REASONS FOR MIGRATION
The main reason for migration to slums is ‘other
reasons’ category like landlessness or
availability of free land.

13. DISTRIBUTION OF SLUM POPULATION BY SEX & AGE STRUCTURE
Out of 13 slums, 69 percent have female
dominance and 31 percent slums have
male dominance. Sex ratio among the
slum population very high in
Neyyattinkara town which is 1089
females per 1000 males.
Majority of the male population falls in the
age group of 35-59 years. This pattern is
found in 69.23 percent of the slums.
76.92 percent of slums have a
dominance of female population
which falls in the productive age
group of 14 to 34 years.

14. The literacy rate in slum population is 77.33 percent, which is lower than the state
average of 90.90 percent and Neyyattinkara town (81.75percent).
LITERACY RATE IN THE SLUMS
Sl.No Name of the slums Literacy Male
Literacy
Female
Literacy
Level of Education
Up to 4 4-7 8-10 10-12 >12
1 Pavithranandapuram 77.03 84.21 69.44 9.65 25.44 55.26 5.26 4.39
2 Kaniyamkulam 74.07 67.69 84.29 20.00 20.00 46.00 13.00 1.00
3 Vadakethaithottam 71.22 78.89 65.23 15.76 22.60 51.37 6.16 4.11
4 Melekalam 88.06 89.66 86.84 11.87 16.95 54.24 5.08 11.86
5 Karithalaikal 71.23 66.67 75.68 12.96 22.22 37.90 19.23 7.69
6 Cheriyakonam 67.16 55.56 67.57 13.33 26.67 55.56 2.22 2.22
7 Kadavankode 79.44 78.75 80.00 13.29 27.98 49.65 3.49 5.59
8 Thovottukonam 77.49 80.00 74.81 11.91 22.38 48.09 10.48 7.14
9 Muttakkad Leksham
Veedu Colony
77.06 81.36 72.00 14.29 26.19 46.43 5.95 7.14
10 Melekonam Colony 78.17 83.33 73.48 14.72 22.10 49.48 9.64 4.06
11 Theechakuzhy
Colony
75.18 75.00 75.32 11.65 22.33 49.51 8.74 7.77
12
Kavalakulam Colony
84.77 89.43 79.85 11.06 20.28 41.94 17.05 9.67
13 Thottinkara Colony 76.47 79.49 72.41 26.92 26.92 42.31 3.85 -
Neyyattinkara Town-Literacy Rate and Level of Education in Slums (in percentage)

15. LEVEL OF EDUCATION IN THE SLUMS
Majority of the literate population is distributed between lower primary, upper
primary and High school level of education

16. ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF THE SLUM DWELLERS
•Workers
•Distribution of workers in terms of sex
•Occupational Structure
•Income
•Nature of the Houses-Number of Rooms-Roof
Materials-Wall Materials-Floor Materials
•Sanitation facility
•Electricity

17. PROPORTION OF WORKERS TO TOTAL SLUM POPULATION
slums have nearly 47.92 percent of the
total population as workers. This rate is
higher than that of Neyyattinkara Town
(24.92 percent). The proportion of workers
varies from 42.33 percent in
Theechakkuzhy colony to 57.22 percent in
Kadavankode colony. The slums located
near the transport routes have the highest
concentration of workers.

18. DISTRIBUTION OF WORKERS IN TERMS OF SEX
Male workers exceed female workers in all the slums.
All the slums have more than 55 percent of male
workers, Theechakkuzhy colony (77.59 %) has the
highest concentration of male workers followed by
Thovottukonam colony (73.28 %). Kadavankode
colony (56.31 %) has the lowest concentration of male
workers Kavalakulam colony and Thottinkara colony
have the same population of male workers (70 %).

19. OCCUPATIONAL STRUCTURE
•Occupational structure is divided into 5
categories, namely coolie, petty traders,
housemaids, Govt. servants and others.
Occupational variation is a peculiar feature
noticed among the slum dwellers.
•Coolies are found in all slums and forms
the majority of workers in 6 slums.
•Petty traders are present in all slums
except Melekalm colony. They constitute
only 6.47 percent of total workers in
slums.
•There are 14 government servants in all
13 Slums.

20. LEVEL OF INCOME
SI.
No
Name of the Slums
Income
Rs. <500
Rs. 500-
1500
Rs.
1500-
3000
Rs.
>3000
1
Pavithranandapuram
Colony
14.29 42.86 20.00 22.85
2
Kaniyamkulam
Colony
12.90 58.06 22.58 6.46
3 Vadakethaithottam 24.53 62.26 7.55 5.66
4 Melekalam 21.43 57.14 7.14 14.29
5 Karithalikal 25.00 43.15 25.00 6.25
6
Cheriyakonam
Channalkara
21.43 64.29 14.28 -
7 Kadavankode 16.33 61.22 14.29 8.16
8 Thovottukonam 11.94 55.22 14.93 17.91
9
Muttakkad Leksham
Veedu Colony
15.15 57.58 12.12 15.15
10 Melekonam Colony 16.90 69.01 9.86 4.23
11
Theechakuzhy
Colony
22.73 50.00 20.46 6.81
12 Kavalakulam Colony 10.29 50.00 29.42 10.29
13 Thottinkara Colony 18.18 36.36 36.36 9.10

21. HOUSING CONDITIONS
SI
No
Name of the Slum Roof Wall Floor Number of
Rooms
Thatched Tiles Cement Others Mud Cement Others Mud Cement Others 1 2-3 >3
1
Pavithranandapuram
Colony
28.57 34.29 8.57 28.57 77.14 17.14 5.71 62.86 37.14 - 22.
86
68.57 8.5
7
2 Kaniyamkulam Colony
51.61 16.13 22.58 9.68 70.97 29.03 - 67.74 32.26 - 9.6
8
67.74 22.
58
3 Vadakethaithottam
69.81 7.55 15.09 7.55 81.13 11.32 7.55 83.01 15.09 1.88 58.
49
35.85 5.6
6
4 Melekalam
42.86 14.29 35.71 7.14 71.43 28.57 - 57.14 35.71 7.14 14.
29
71.43 14.
29
5 Karithalikal
37.5 18.75 6.25 18.75 75.00 25.00 - 87.5 12.5 - 6.2
5
87.5 6.2
2
6
Cheriyakonam
Channalkara
100.00 - - - 85.71 - 14.29 92.86 7.14 - 57.
14
42.86 -
7 Kadavankode
44.89 16.33 22.45 16.33 69.39 26.53 4.08 91.84 8.16 - 22.
45
59.18 18.
37
8 Thovottukonam
40.29 19.40 14.93 25.37 71.64 25.37 2.99 68.66 31.34 - 19.
00
53.73 26.
87
9
Muttakkad Leksham
Veedu Colony
33.33 15.15 48.48 3.03 51.52 48.48 - 81.82 15.15 3.03 18.
18
78.78 3.0
3
10 Melekonam Colony
47.89 8.45 15.49 28.17 78.87 18.31 - 76.057 21.13 2.81 22.
54
53.52 23.
94
11 Theechakuzhy Colony
50.00 6.82 22.72 20.45 54.55 40.90 4.55 72.73 22.73 4.55 36.
36
56.82 6.8
2
12 Kavalakulam Colony
22.06 20.59 50.00 7.35 33.82 61.76 4.41 30.88 66.17 2.94 23.
53
54.41 22.
06
13 Thottinkara Colony
100.00 - - - 100.00 - - 100.00 - - 9.1
0
90.90 -

22. HOUSING CONDITIONS

23. SANITATION AND ELECTRICITY
71.74 % of households have
individual latrine facilities.
Only 34 out of 506 houses lack electricity
connection.

24. •Slums like Cheriyakonam Channelkara Colony near Aralumud Masjid, Thottinkara colony, and Karithalaikal
colony faces the problem of inadequate sanitation facilities.
•Slum dwellers are facing electricity connection and street lighting problems in Melekonam, Thovottukonam
and Theechakkuzhy colony.
•Cheriyakonam channelkara colony and Marruthathur thottinkara colony are located in the low lying areas and
are prone to diseases like Malaria, cholera etc.
•Safe drinking water is a major problem in many slums. As the supply from community stand-pipes are erratic
and inadequate, the slum dwellers are forced to depend on well water which is of suspect quality. This is a
major problems in slums like Cheriyakonam Channelkara, Thottinkara colony and Vadake Thaithottam.
•Water logging and inadequate drainage are the major problems in Pavithranandapuram and Kaniyamkulam
colony.
•Road condition is worse in slums like Kaniyamkulam, Thovottukonam and Melekonam colony.
•Melekalam colony of Panangattukari has a community graveyard which lacks a wall and lighting is a serious
problem in that slum.
•Yet another problem in most of the slums are social segregation. The slum dwellers are isolated from rest of
the urban people in many respect.
PROBLEMS

25. SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT
• Action plans are to be prepared to provide sanitation facilities to all
slum dwellers through individual or community latrines.
•Drainage systems should be improved, water logging should be
avoided by providing proper drainage canals.
•Health facilities are to be improved in slum areas and the growth of
mosquitoes should be checked.
•Municipal authorities should implement programmes in proper manner
and also look after the proper maintenance of the services already
provided to the slums under various schemes

26. THANK YOU