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Study paints grim picture of ‘food security of slums’

BHUBANESWAR: With prices of essential commodities growing at alarming rate, slum dwellers of capital city who have been struggling for access to minimum food needs are further pushed to corner.

A study released by city-based non-government organisation, The Humanity, on “food security of slums” here on Saturday depicted a grim picture about slums in Bhubaneswar.

Based on response from 750 slum dwellers, the study found, “the people mostly consume rice and potatoes with some salt.

Their food basket is largely devoid of any other food items.

Due to their low income, they cannot afford to buy nutritious food, though food is available in the market.”

The per capita cereal consumption was found to be 316 gram per day, sugar 10 gram, pulses 14 gm, vegetables 36 gm and fruits 26 gm per day among the inhabitants of slums, said Pradeep Pradhan, Secretary of The Humanity.

As per Bhubaneswar Municipal Estimation, 190 slums were detected in the city. Of these 131 were declared to be illegal. As per the study, the total slum population would be 1.90 lakh distributed among 38,142 families.

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