Eviction and the challenges of protecting the gains: A case study of slum dwellers in Dhaka city. Shiree Working Paper No. 3

Abstract

Eviction is a constant threat for urban slum dwellers, disrupting overall livelihoods, especially in Dhaka city. Since 2009, DSK has been implementing a project entitled ''Moving from extreme poverty through economic empowerment (capacity building, voice and rights) of extreme poor households.'' In 2010, 2,450 households were evicted from the DSK-shiree project areas of T&T and Sattola slums. Of these, 214 targeted households of the DSK-shiree project were among those evicted. This research explored the effects of the eviction on the livelihoods of those who have returned to the slum and migrated as a result of it. It found that during the eviction, the living spaces of many slum dwellers including houses, latrines, systems of water supply, gas and electricity, and drainage and sewerage facilities were all destroyed. In addition, productive assets and household belongings were lost. Existing and future opportunities for income generation were hampered, as were many of the socio-political connections and support structures upon which households relied as sources of daily survival and livelihoods. The paper finishes with programme and policy recommendations, including a suggested compensation package and the final conclusion that: any eviction should be well planned along with concrete rehabilitation or compensation options