varanasi city profile

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Varanasi ity

Expanding Contraceptive Use in Urban UP

Varanasi City Profile

Urban Health Initiative (UHI) is implemented by a consortium of partners working together to improve urban healthin India.

Varanasi is one of the oldest cities in continuous habitationn the world, with a history dating back to more than 3000years. It is a major religious, cultural and educational centreof India. Varanasi is also famous for its handicrafts and silkweaving industry.

Fig 1: Varanasi Location Map

Varanasi town lies between the 25o 15’N to 25

o 22’ N

atitudes and 82o 57’E to 83

o 01’E longitudes. The r iver

Ganga only here flows in a south-to-north direction, havinghe world famous ghats on the left bank of the river.

Varanasi is well connected by road, rail and air with otherparts of the country. The distance from the major cities areDelhi-750 km, Lucknow-286 km and 125 km fromAllahabad. There are three national highways and four

state highways with high passenger traffic as these roadsprovide good connectivity to the surrounding areas in U.P.as well as to metropolitan cities like Delhi and Kolkata.Varanasi is also well connected by railways. The city lies onDelhi-Kolkata rail route of North Eastern Railways, which isthe broad gauge. The town also has an airport at a distanceof about 24 km away from the city, with flights operating toseveral major cities in India as well as Kathmandu in Nepal.

Important centres of tourist and religious importance in andaround the city include the Ghats along the Ganga and themany Hindu temples, including the Vishwanath and Sankat

Mochan temples. 10km from the city is Sarnath, the sitewhere Lord Buddha preached his first sermon.

Table 1: District level indicators, Varanasi

Population – District* 3138671 persons

Urban population-District* 1260571 persons

Slum population-District*** 457568 persons

SC & ST* 436314 persons

TV at home** 55.2 %

Mobile Phone ownership** 44.8 %

Indicators based on DLHS-2 and DLHS-31

Indicator DLHS-3Total

DLHS-2Total

Women married <18 yrs 37.9 43.7

Women 20-24 with 2+ births 59.2 52.9

Institutional Births 54.5 34.4

Family planning Use

Any method 57.0 52.5

Any modern method 43.5 41.9

Any non-modern method -

Female sterilization 32.1 32.7

Male sterilization 0.3 0.5

IUD 2.6 1.9

Pill 2.6 1.7

Condom 5.6 5.0

Family Planning Unmet need

Spacing 9.6 9.4

Limiting 8.8 12.3

Total 18.4 21.7Source: * Census of India, 2001** District Level Household Survey-3, 2007-08*** State Urban Development Authority, 2003-04

The climate of the city, as of Northern India on the whole, isof tropical nature with extremes of temperature, varyingfrom a minimum of 5°C in winter to a maximum of 45°C in

1 DLHS data are district-wide, and have a rural bias.

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summer. The annual rainfall varies from 680 mm to 1500mm, with a large proportion occurring during the monsoonseason, in the months of July to September.

City Institutional StructureThe Varanasi urban agglomeration covers an area of

12.26 sq km and consists of seven urban sub-units – Varanasi Municipal Corporation, Varanasi CantonmentBoard, Maruadih Railway Settlement, Census Towns ofSheodaspur and Phulwaria, Ramnagar Municipal Board

and Notified Town Area of Benares Hindu University. Thepresent area under Municipal Corporation of VaranasiMCV) jurisdiction is 79.79 sq km. The Varanasi

Development Authority is responsible for the masterplanning of the city. Water supply and sewage system ismaintained by UP Jal Nigam. Varanasi Jal Sansthan is thenodal agency for water supply. Power supply is by the UttarPradesh Power Corporation Limited. The state PublicWorks Department is responsible for roads and other publicnfrastructure in the city. The city had 40 municipal wards in991, which have now been increased to 91. The

population density in these wards varies significantly.

The city can be divided into three distinct zones - the OldCity of the Ghat area including Chowk, Kotwali, Adampura,etc., the Central City comprising of the area beyond the oldcity and bound by NH-2 along the western and northernedge and the Peripheral area comprising of the trans-Varuna area. The Old city has a high density core area withnarrow, inorganic street patterns. It has a concentration ofeligious structures, bazaars and old buildings withraditional architecture.

Fig 2: Varanasi City Map

The Central city is the area of newer development and isess dense than the old city, with relatively wider roads andesser encroachments. The zone has immense growthpressure, which is affecting efficiency of publicnfrastructure and transport facilities. The peripheral areas

comprise the newest growth, with upcoming residentialareas. Faced with high demand, the growth of peripheral

areas is likely to be much higher in comparison to otherparts of the city.

The institutional responsibility for slum improvement vestswith the State Urban Development Authority (SUDA), theapex policy making and monitoring agency for urban areasin the state. It executes various government schemes forurban renewal like – Balmiki Ambedkar Awas Yojana,Integrated Urban Slum Sewerage Plan, National SlumDevelopment Program, and Golden Jubilee Urban

Employment Scheme etc. SUDA executes all its programsusing beneficiaries for prioritization of needs and executionof schemes.

District Urban Development Authority (DUDA) has beenconstituted for effective execution of the SUDAundertakings in all the districts of the state. It is primarilyresponsible for works relating to community development, inthe respective districts of the state, which includesdevelopment of slum communities, construction ofcommunity toilets, assistance in construction of householdlatrines, creation of awareness etc. DUDA also works forprovision of sewers, tube-wells etc in slum localities. DUDA

has also taken up a series of activities for infrastructureimprovement in slums. DUDA coordinates with CDSs forcommunity participation in various initiatives undertaken byDUDA in these communities.

Pollution of River Ganga due to intense load of tourist andreligious activities is a major problem in the city. Varanasi isone of the five cities where the Ganga Action Plan, a projectfor cleaning up the river, was launched.

Demographic & Social ProfileThe total population of Varanasi urban agglomeration is 1.2million; whereas the city population is about 1.09 million.

Owing to its rich tourism potential, the estimated daily flowof tourists and pilgrims to the city is 25,000. Varanasi showsa constant increase in the population with varying rate ofincrease from decade to decade. In last seven decades thepopulation has grown almost six folds, with increase inpopulation from 207,650 in 1931 to 1,202,443 in year 2001.

The decennial growth rate of Varanasi city (1991-2001) is17.6%. The population density of the city is considerablyhigh at 15,070 persons per sq km (i.e. 150 persons/ha).These data indicate the immensely overcrowded habitatconditions in the city. As per 2001 census, the sex ratio ofthe city is 891 females per 1000 males (Indian average is

933). The literacy rate of the city is 77.1%.

As per census 2001, average household size for Varanasicity is 7.3, which is higher compared to the state average of6.3 and national average of 5. In slum areas, averagehousehold is 10, which is much higher compared to overalltown, state and is double as compared to national average.

The city of Varanasi has a uniquely different growthcharacter, complemented by the movement of people fromsurrounding areas for occupational reasons, tourist traffic asa result of its heritage value, and special events of spiritualimportance of the Ganga at Varanasi.







Vulnerable PopulationThe total population of slums is concentrated mainly incentral city and peripheral development. 50% of total slumsare located in central city while 37% in peripheral area. Thenumber of BPL families comprises nearly 20% of the totalslum population while the number of Economically WeakerSection (EWS) households is more in central city thanperipheral areas. The total number of slum households isnearly 57,202 covering approximately 1372.6 hectares ofand (approximately 17%) in the city. The average gross

density in slum areas is approximately 330 persons/ha inhe city area. The average household size in slums isapproximately 8 as compared to the city’s average of 7.3,which is comparatively high. The average income of a slumhousehold ranges from Rs.100- 150 per day. Table 2provides the overview of slums in Varanasi.

Table 2: Urban Slums in Varanasi: At A Glance

ndicators Numbers

Total Slum Population (Census 2001) 457,613

Average Household Size (Census 2001) 8

Total Number of Households (Census 2001) 57,202

Total BPL Population (SUDA) 96,344

Total Number of BPL Households (SUDA) 12,043

Source: Census 2001; SUDA, Varanasi

Varanasi has 227 slums spread all over the city, both ongovernment and private lands. Total population in slums isabout 457,613, which is about 38% of the total population.These 227 slums have formulated 21 CommunityDevelopment Centres (CDCs), which are responsible forhe overall development of the slums along with SUDA.

Population in the slums varies from 200 to almost 9,000people with varied densities. Rapid growth of slums inVaranasi has put a lot of pressure on the existing landesources and infrastructure and has led to deterioration ofts physical environment. Factors that have contributed toslum development in Varanasi include migration of peoplen search of jobs, availability of cheap living alternativessuch as outside temples where they get food from theofferings of the pilgrim or tourists. The existing tourism baseof the city creates opportunities for employment generation,especially for unskilled labour

Majority of slums have very poor water supply and

sanitation facilities; most are either un-sewered or partiallysewered, with disposal of household wastewater and solidwastes taking place directly into open nallas. Thisphenomenon has adversely affected drainage system inhese areas and led to extensive water logging. The poor

environmental conditions within the slum areas haveadversely affected the health of the residents. Financialconstraints on the part of civic authorities and unauthorizednature of the slums have also contributed to non-delivery orpartial delivery of basic amenities.

Most slum dwellers in the city are employed with the MCVas Safai Karamcharis. Handloom industry labour account

or the second highest concentration followed by rickshawpullers, who account for nearly 10 to 15% of the slum

population. A significant portion of the weavers working inthe small scale-manufacturing units, especially handlooms,live in slums near the workplace. Concentration of slums is,therefore, more in areas which have small scalemanufacturing units like: Madanpura, Adampura, etc.

Slum locations are spread all over the city but majorconcentrations can be found in the old city area near theghats, areas near small scale industries (as a highpercentage of slum dwellers are weavers working in

Handloom industry) as well as in the Rajghat area. Themain factor attributing to this concentration is proximity towork place. In case of the old city area, the employmentgeneration due to religious and tourist traffic and in case ofRajghat area, the availability of open land has led toindiscriminate squatting. The slum concentration in theseareas has not only led to poor living conditions for the slumdwellers but is also responsible for the general deteriorationof the living environment of the city. A significant portion ofthe waste dumps and untreated sewage discharge in theriver comes from the slum concentration in the old city area.Large and expanding slum areas are creating tremendouspressure on the city infrastructure and resources.

Health System and Infrastructure

Public sector health services in Varanasi include facilities ofthe state Department of Medical, Health and Family Welfareand Varanasi Municipal Corporation, besides CentralGovernment, ESI, railway and Cantonment facilities. Thereare many private sector facilities (hospitals, nursing homes,and clinics). In addition, there are few charitable hospitals,which provide subsidized health services to the poor.

Table 3: Distribution of Health FacilitiesType of Facilities Number

Government Health Facilities

First Tier (Primary Health Care Facilities)

Urban Health Post 21

Medical Care Unit 1

ESI Dispensary 6

Second Tier Facilities

District / Joint Hospital 19

Medical College 1

Railway 2

Defence 1

Private Health Facilities

Private for Profit

Health Post/Clinics 21

Maternity /Nursing Homes 83

Abortion clinics 4

Registered Providers 1077

NSV/DMPA Providers 56

Source: Department of Health and Family Welfare 2009; MunicipalCorporation 2009; Office of Chief Medical Officer







Health IndicatorsAs per the recent District Level Household and FacilitySurvey (DLHS-3) 2007 – 2008, 57% of currently marriedwomen are using a modern method of contraception. TheDLHS 3 estimates unmet Family Planning need in Varanasiat 18.4, comprised of 9.6% unmet need for spacingmethods and 8.8% unmet need for limiting methods.

Economic BaseOut of total inhabitants of 1,202,443 (in 2001) in Varanasi

UA, only 26.64% was recorded as employed, in which only0.72% was engaged as industrial and manufacturing

workers. Varanasi has several small cottage industries,ncluding Silk sari making, the production of textiles such ashand-woven carpets, and handicrafts. Banarasi paan (beteleaf) and khoa (a milk product) are popular, and the relatedsmall-scale industries employ many people. Earlier the cityhad attracted the artisans, potters, and weavers whonitiated the household industrial establishments like ivorywork and making of idols, silken brocades, utensil andzarda. Even at present the people engaged in householdndustries (i.e. spinning and weaving) here constitute a veryhigh share of workers (51%) which is more than that of

Kanpur, the industrial hub of Uttar Pradesh. Metal andmanufacturing (15%), printing and publishing (6%), andelectricity-machinery (5%) are the other important sectors.

The small scale and household industrial industries mostlynclude spinning and weaving, followed with textiles,hosiery, chemicals and soap, food, printing and publishing,utensil, fencing net, tobacco, golden and silver foil making.Spinning and weaving is the oldest and most importanthousehold industry employing more than half of thendustrial workers. During post-independence periodseveral large scale factories have been developed in andaround the city.

With the establishment of Diesel Locomotive WorksD.L.W.) by Indian Railways during 1961 in the western part

of the city, another industrial landscape has emerged. Theactory manufactures diesel locomotives and employs morehan 10,000 workers.

An Industrial Estate has been developed to the west of thecity at Lohta where small-scale industries have sprung up.These incorporate manufacturing of chemicals, plasticgoods, iron bars and metal equipments, etc. The city hasecently developed a specialised industrial wing of bead

and carpet manufacturing. Precisely, no industrial zone is

dentifiable. The city has grown haphazardly in a naturalprocess.

References

1. Registrar General of India; Census of India (2001)2. International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS). National Family

Health Survey (NFHS-3), Uttar Pradesh, 2005-06. Mumbai: IIPS;2007.

3. International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS). District LevelHousehold Survey (DLHS-2), Varanasi, 2002-04. Mumbai: IIPS;2002.

4. International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS). District LevelHousehold Survey (DLHS-3), Varanasi, 2007-08. Mumbai: IIPS;2008.

5. District Urban Development Agency (DUDA, 2006) “ List of MalinBasti (Slums)”

6. Office of Municipal Corporation of Varanasi,( 2001) “ List of Slumswith Population of Varanasi District”

7. Office of Municipal Corporation of Varanasi,( 2001) “Ward-wisePopulation of Varanasi”

8. Office of Chief Medical Officer (2009) “Availability of Health Facilities”

Contributors: Amrita Mathew, Manjula Singh

Layout and formatting: Rajesh Kumar Mishra

The Varanasi City Profile would not have been possible without thesignificant contribution of Family Health International.

Urban Health Initiative is supported by the Bill and Melinda GatesFoundation, and implemented by Family Health International, incollaboration with a large number of partners. This particular paper wouldnot have been possible without the significant contributions of (name(s) ofthe organization(s)). The content of this paper does not necessarily reflectthe views and policies of Urban Health Initiative, Family HealthInternational, or Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.




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