City dislikes its jhuggies

A large majority of 57 per cent of Delhiites wants jhuggi-jhonpris completely eliminated from the city.

You can’t get away from slums and beggars in Delhi. The HT-CSDS Survey asked Delhiites what they would do about these integral parts of Capital living if they could.

There is very little tolerance for jhuggi-jhonpris. A large majority of 57 per cent of Delhiites wants them completely eliminated from the city. Thirty-nine per cent of people are against such a drastic step. A small 4 per cent does not have an opinion on the issue.

Tolerance levels for slums vary from one group of Delhiites to another. By and large, more BJP voters (64 per cent) are in favour of eliminating jhuggis than Congress voters (54 per cent). Perhaps there is an explanation here for the fact that more jhuggi-dwellers seem to prefer the Congress over the BJP.

Expectedly, a larger proportion of the rich than the poor want jhuggis wiped out. Tolerance increases as one goes down the economic scale. Among the very poor, 67 per cent are against the elimination of slums.

By and large, the higher the levels of education, lesser is the tolerance for slums. Among the uneducated, only 37 per cent want jhuggis eliminated; among people educated up to the primary level, the figure is 44 per cent; among matriculates, it is 56 per cent, and among those educated up to higher levels, the figure is as high as 70 per cent. Around 70 per cent of the people living in group housing societies, DDA flats and government accommodation want Delhi rid of slums.

Yes, feels 67 per cent of Delhi. Twenty-six per cent are more sympathetic; 7 per cent do not have an opinion on the matter.

Again, the wealthier Delhiites are more intolerant. A whopping 79 per cent of the very rich feel the police should crack down on them; for the rich and middle class, the figures are 74 per cent and 71 per cent.

Interestingly, however, tolerance levels are not very high among even the poor and very poor — 60 per cent and 44 per cent want the cops to be tougher.