Baseline survey at the slum 

SALAMATI 9.0 demonstrates how community-driven documentation and rights awareness can create sustainable solutions for informal settlements by empowering residents with knowledge and access to critical services.

We believe a sustainable solution for urban poverty starts with truly understanding the people who live in these settlements. SALAMATI 9.0 brought together architects, surveyors, and community workers to document living conditions, assess needs, and empower dwellers with knowledge about their rights. Through our baseline survey, we examined households, demographics, housing conditions, essential services, water, sanitation and hygiene and legal identities to ascertain their needs and help in coming up with solutions within the settlement. Architects also carried out their household survey and analysis by visiting the various homes, sketching, documenting and understanding their history, living conditions, space management, housing techniques, drainage systems and growth. In fact, around 50 construction workers of all gender types and 25 households were benefited from the labour registration, health aid camp and baseline survey. This article explores our BASELINE SURVEY and documentation process, rights initiatives, and community-driven proposals for better living.

•  Community-led documentation provides bargaining power - Baseline surveys of households, demographics, and services give residents quantifiable data to demand better living conditions from authorities.

•  Construction worker registration unlocks significant benefits - BOCW welfare schemes provide medical assistance up to Rs 20,000, Rs 50,000 for childbirth, and Rs 3,000 monthly pension after age 60.

•  Health camps bridge critical healthcare gaps - Free consultations, tests, and medicines address urgent needs where hospitals remain distant or unaffordable for settlement residents.

•  Documentation barriers prevent 20% of benefit access - Facilitating applications for essential documents like caste certificates and ration cards is crucial for accessing welfare schemes.

•  Residents prioritize Pucca housing with safety measures - Community proposals focus on permanent structures with proper ventilation, daylight, fire safety, and improved water access ratios.

 When communities understand their rights and participate in documenting their needs, they transform from passive recipients to active partners in creating lasting change within their settlements.

A majority of residents do not currently engage in multiple space usage.

Here is the reasoning behind this inference based on the data: 

Quantitative Breakdown: Out of a total no. of residents (derived from 1 and 2), only (33.3%) has a "Need," implying they do use or require multiple spaces.

 Dominant Group: The remaining residents (66.7%) constitute the "No" category, indicating that more than two-thirds of the current usage patterns do not involve multiple spaces.

Significance: While the sample size is very small, the distribution shows a clear 2-to-1 ratio against multiple space usage, forming the primary inference.

A substantial and overwhelming majority of houses use bricks and cement as the primary building materials.

Quantitative Dominance: The "Bricks and cement" category has an overwhelming presence, with a total of 15 out of 16 responses, which translates to a massive 93.8% of the total.

Marginal Categories: Other materials, such as "Earth/ Mud," "Temporary metal structure," and "Old mud house," make up a very small fraction, each only representing 6.3% of the total, indicating they are minor and less common options.

Total Sample Size: The graph indicates a small sample size with a total of exactly 16 responses, emphasizing the clear and strong pattern in the choice of materials.

Basic household amenities like cooking gas and electricity are prevalent and mostly functional, but there is a distinct lack of sufficient storage space in the homes surveyed.

Quantitative Trends: Key amenities show high availability and functionality: "Cooking Gas" is the most prevalent at 91.7%, followed by "Electricity" at 75%. "Plumbing" is also present in a majority of cases (58.3%).

A Notable Deficiency: In sharp contrast to essential utilities, "Sufficient storage" is reported in very few cases, standing at just 16.7%. This indicates it is the most significant deficiency among the listed amenities.

Overall Observation: While the survey highlights a good foundation of basic, working utilities, a major challenge is a shortage of storage space. This data likely reflects a developing, possibly rural or semi-urban community, characterized by small-to- medium nuclear families and a prevailing, unbalanced gender ratio heavily skewed towards males.

Community Structure (Chart 1 - Family Members): The vast majority (75%) of families have 3 to 5 members. This size is typical of nuclear families. When combined with the high percentage of families with multiple children (discussed next), this suggests nuclear family structures are the norm rather than larger, multi-generational joint families, which would more commonly have >5 members (only 12.5% here).

Significant Demographic and Social Concern (Chart 2 - Male and Female Ratio): The male and female ratio data is the most stark and suggests significant social challenges. While half of the community (50%) has a balanced 50:50 ratio, a large segment shows extreme imbalances. A striking 31.3% of the surveyed households have a "30 - 70" ratio, meaning there are 7 males to every 3 females in these homes. This is more than 1.5 times the size of the only category favouring females ("70 - 30" at 18.8%). In a community of predominantly nuclear families with multiple children, this high concentration of extreme male-bias raises serious concerns about strong son preference, gender-based discrimination, or other factors severely impacting female representation, which is a common issue in many developing communities.

Population Growth and Demographics (Chart 3 - How Many Children): There is a strong pattern of multi-child families. Over three- quarters of the surveyed families (75% when combining '1 to 2' and '2 to 3' categories) have children. Specifically, 37.5% have 1-2, and 37.5% have 2-3 children. Only a small minority (25%) have no children. The prevalence of 2-3 children is high, indicative of potentially high or replacement-level fertility rates within the community. This data is highly characteristic of an established, indigenous, or multi-generational semi-urban community with a prevailing pattern of local migration and small, self-built housing.

Prevailing Local Migration and Regional Identity (Chart 1 - Nagpur): An overwhelming 81.3% of the residents identify as "local" to Nagpur. This strongly identifies the geographic focus. Given that a significant number of these residents also live in houses built by their ancestors, it suggests that even "migration" is often intra-regional (e.g., from a nearby rural area to a specific locality within Nagpur). Only a small fraction (18.8%) is "inter-state." The combined data point to a remarkably stable population base in terms of its regional and family roots.

Established and Generational Community (Chart 2 - Parent/Ancestors): An overwhelming majority (60%) of the houses were "set up" by parent/ancestors. This is a very strong indicator of a long-established community where multiple generations continue to reside in the same physical space. The fact that a significant other portion (40%) was "Built by own" suggests that even for newer houses, the builder is likely an established member of the community rather than an outside developer, pointing toward self-reliance.

Specific Socio-Economic Status (Chart 3 - 100 to 500 sq ft): The vast majority (87.5%) of household sizes fall within the "100 to 500 sq ft" range. This size is typically associated with small, dense, or informal housing units, contrasting sharply with larger, modern commercial developments. Only a tiny minority (12.5%) has a space greater than "500 sq ft." This suggests the community is not affluent and likely comprises small nuclear or tightly packed multi-generational households. This data is highly characteristic of an established, yet socio-economically disadvantaged or informal urban/semi-urban community, where a prevailing pattern of home ownership coexists with severe basic service and housing structure deficiencies.

Prevailing Basic Service Deficiencies (Chart 1 - Basic Essential Services): Access to services aligns with the low-quality housing data. The most common service is "Water" (50%), which likely means shared or community taps rather than private connections, considering the other metrics. Access to "Street light" (42.9%) is lower than 50%, and access to proper "Road" (7.1%) is extremely rare. These are very low numbers for any standard, permanent settlement, emphasizing the community's disadvantaged position relative to municipal infrastructure.

Significant Socio-Economic Challenges (Chart 2 - Type of Housing): Paradoxically to the high home ownership, the housing quality is very low. A dominant majority (62.5%) of houses are "Kutcha" (made of temporary or less-durable materials). Combined, "Kutcha" and "Semi Pucca" (which might be partially upgraded or temporary) make up 81.3% of the total, with "Pucca" (standard permanent structures) being a distinct minority (18.8%). This points toward a population with very limited financial resources for building standard housing.

Established and Generational Community (Chart 3 - Tenure Status): An overwhelming majority (93.8%) of the residents are "Own" their homes. This is a very strong indicator of an established community where multiple generations continue to reside. The tiny fraction (6.2%) of "Rented" properties further solidifies the view of a long-term, non-transient resident base, suggesting that even if newly formed, the household structure is likely generational. A prevailing pattern of multi-functional space utilization coexists with severe basic service and infrastructure deficiencies.

Significant Socio-Economic Challenges (Chart 1 - Separate Rooms): Access to private separate rooms is very low. Combined, "No" and "Separate rooms for various activities" make up 44.4% of the total, with "Yes" being a distinct minority (55.6%). Considering the other low-quality service data, the "Yes" likely points to multi-purpose common areas rather than dedicated personal rooms (like separate bedrooms or dining areas), as found in more established, developed settings.

Established and Generational Community (Chart 2 - Basic Essential Services): An overwhelming majority (58.3%) of the residents do not have access to private basic essential services. This is a very strong indicator of an older, established community where municipal services have either been delayed or are incomplete. Combined with the high percentage of shared spaces (discussed next), this suggests generational residency patterns within a fixed community footprint.

Prevailing Comfort and Liveability Deficiencies (Chart 3 - Comfort & Lighting): Only a tiny minority (41.7%) of residents report their house to be "comfortable during extreme climatic conditions," and a very low 42.9% feel they have "Sufficient natural light and air." These are extremely low numbers for any permanent settlement, emphasizing the community's disadvantaged position relative to private comfort and safety. These factors reinforce the perception of a low-quality, established but under-developed community.

High Level of Individual Access to Core Amenities: The community has a high level of self-sufficiency for two primary needs:

• Water: Over 93% of households have individual "Tap" access for drinking water.

•  Toilet Facilities: Nearly 88% of households have "Individual" toilet access.

•  In both areas, shared resources (Common resources) represent only a tiny portion (6.2% and 6.25% respectively).

Organized, Door-to-Door Waste Collection is Predominant but Incomplete: The community successfully implements an organized, "Door to Door" waste collection system, which is used by three-quarters of the population (75%). However, a significant remaining portion (25%) continues to dispose of waste by "Dumping," indicating that complete coverage is a key area for development.

High but Not Universal Access to Private Toilet Facilities: While individual toilet access is overwhelmingly the norm (nearly 88%), there is a small minority (6.25%) still relying on "Common" facilities and, importantly, another small minority (6.25%) with no facilities at all, indicating a remaining gap in basic hygiene infrastructure.

Profile of an Established, Semi-Urban or Redeveloping Community: The overall portrait is one of a community that has successfully secured high levels of private utility access (water, individual toilets), suggesting an established resident base that has prioritized investment in these areas over time. The presence of common utilities and dumping at these levels is atypical for older, well-developed neighborhoods and instead profiles a newer settlement or an older one in the process of redeveloping, perhaps a semi-urban context on the periphery of a larger city.

Wishes of residents to have extra facilities in the house- 

• Better quality of bedroom spaces , with more no. of rooms

• Open spaces

• Need slabs

• Need more spaces for kids to study and play

Residents wishes of better quality of space and neighborhood 

• Proper construction to live

• Duplex house, sufficient space for the family members

• A new house

• Wide roads and parking spaces

• Notified slum

• Best government school

• Modernized spaces for kids

Higher quality (better materials, ventilation, or lighting) suggests that the occupants are no longer just seeking "shelter," but are investing in "wellness." More rooms appeal to growing families, multi-generational households.

More rooms directly correlate to the segmentation of household activities.

Personal Sovereignty: With more rooms, family members (especially children or multi-generational residents) gain individual privacy, which reduces interpersonal friction. Increasing the room count reduces "spatial density" within a home, lowering stress levels and interpersonal friction among inhabitants.

Functional Specialization: Extra rooms allow for specific uses beyond sleeping, such as a, a guest room, indicating a lifestyle that values organized, dedicated spaces.

The request for "more rooms" combined with "better quality" suggests a move toward specialized zoning. Rather than multipurpose rooms that feel cluttered, the goal is dedicated environments.

Acoustic Separation: By increasing the room count, you allow for "quiet zones" (study) to be physically removed from "active zones" (play).

The "Slab" Requirement: This implies a need for solid, permanent structural horizontal planes—likely for multi-story expansion or creating usable rooftop terraces to gain the "open space" requested without increasing the building's footprint.

The Study-Play Gradient: To satisfy this, the architecture needs to provide high-focus areas with optimized natural light for studying, contrasted with "open spaces" that allow for gross motor movement and physical play.

Visual Connectivity: "Open spaces" often imply that while kids have their own areas, there is still a line of sight for supervision from other parts of the home.

Vertical Zonation Strategy. By utilizing concrete slabs to create multiple levels, we can satisfy the need for "more rooms" without sacrificing the "open spaces" required for play and ventilation.

The core idea is to treat the open spaces as the "lungs" of the house and the additional rooms as private "cells."

Public Zone (Ground Slab): Open-plan living and dining that spills into a perimeter garden or internal courtyard.

Academic Zone (Mid Level): Dedicated, sound-insulated study pods for the kids, positioned away from the television or kitchen noise.

Rest & Play Zone (Upper/Roof Slab): Bedrooms with improved "quality" (larger windows, better airflow) and a reinforced rooftop slab for a safe, open-air play area.

Entry & Veranda: A transition from the street to the home.

Open Living/Dining: A "Great Room" concept with no internal partitions to maximize the sense of space.

Guest/Elderly Room: One of the "more rooms" positioned here for accessibility.

The Courtyard: A central void that brings light into the center of the deep floor plate.

SALAMATI 9.0 demonstrates that sustainable solutions for informal settlements begin with community-driven documentation and rights awareness. Through our baseline surveys, health camps, and BOCW (Building and other construction workers welfare board) registrations, we empowered construction workers and families with access to critical benefits and legal recognition. Significantly, this grassroots approach gives residents the bargaining power they need to demand better living conditions. When communities understand their rights and participate in documenting their needs, they become active partners in creating lasting change within their settlements.

Written by

Mangala Gowri

Chennai