Technology effects - Slum Networking, integrated infrastructure Extract from: htp/Awww: ee group cam.c uklenvdev/CE!_Env_Dev. Proceodings. October 05 pd Development economics and water engineering in low Income coun- tries: links to sanitation and economic development Priti Parikh Department of Engineering Provision of basic infrastructure including access to lean water and sanitation, using appropriate technologies and local material, alleviates poverty faster and at less cost than other methods such 2s direc intervention in health and education. Termed ‘Slum Networking’, this holistic approach, initiated by Himanshu Parikh to providing basic services has been shown to have immediate, sustainable benefits fr the community. A key feature of the concept is giving ownership of the ptoject to the community, which provides the incentive to sustain and invest inthe services. The local {overnment i responsible for maintenance of the projec, and residents pay a small tax to maintain this. ublicprivate partnerships are encouraged and residents contribute fnancialy to the project, which is locally run and implemented. In 1997 one such project cost approximately £127 per famil but the return on the initial investment was large (x24), driven by provision of physical services, improved land security, education provision and better ving conditions. Two case studles were conducted in Ahmedabad city in Gujarat, India, an area with a population cof 4 milion, dominated by the textile industry. Findings from household interviews in Sanjaynagar (an area where Slum Networking has been implemented) were compared with surveys conducted in khokhra (which has no infrastructure or services). The study almed to determine the impact of Slum [Networking on a community and found that in all cases there is an improvement in lving conditions after Slum Networking is implemented. The photographs on the left show two views of the same street, before and after implementation of slum networking. The health benefit ofthe provision of clean water and sanitation in Sanjaynagar were found to be immediate with long-lasting results, showing a decrease in infant mortality, medical expenses and ‘number of work days per month lost toil health, In Khokhra, women typically spend around three to four hours per day collecting and disposing of water forthe household. By contrat, in Sanjaynaga, better community health resulted in more time to invest in education cae of the family and property maintenance. Physical changes in the housing stock are visible, with an increase inthe proportion of pucca brickand-tile houses from the original kutcha mud éwelings with tin rofs. ‘Although dificult to measure, interviews across different age groups showed that increased earning capacity had an immediate effet onthe ability ofa family to educate their children, with more people investing in ending ther children to school and a marked increase in the number of girs attending school. Longer term effects are indicated by changing aspirations and ifestyles through access to television, improved education and better living conditions. et Seminar Proceedings: Land, enironment and development in ow (october 2005,