Falguni DEY, Calcutta University, India
Kannya Kumari MAJUMDER, Calcutta University, India
The paper attempts to explain the unequal distribution of housing and basic amenities in the districts of rural West Bengal. Basic household amenities include source of drinking water, source of lighting, latrine facility etc. whereas roof type, floor and wall material, number of rooms, household assets etc. clarifies the housing status of the family. A ‘household’ is usually a group of persons who normally live together and take their meals from a common kitchen unless the exigencies of work prevent any of them from doing so. However, if a group of unrelated persons live in a census house but do not take their meals from the common kitchen, then they are not constituent of a common household. Each such person is treated as a separate household (Census of India, 2011). Result shows that the economic background of the household affects both consumption of housing and the access to basic amenities. Social background of the household also matters in most of the cases. Moreover, there is no major change in determinants of access to basic amenities in the districts of West Bengal. Socio-economic background of the household continues to play important role in determining access to drinking water electricity and latrine facility. Since access to these facilities is necessary to lead a healthy life, policies are required to improve the access to these sections of society.
Mots clés : Drinking water|Electricity connection|Latrine facility|Deprivation index|Sustainable development
A105628FD