Journal of Global Resources

Volume 2

January 2016 Page 145-152
ISSN: 2395-3160 (Print), 2455-2445 (Online)

19
QUALITY OF URBAN INDOOR ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITION IN
AZAMGARH CITY: A CASE STUDY OF AZAMGARH CITY, UTTAR PRADESH
Tasneem Shazli* and Abdul Munir**Research Scholar* and Professor**
Department of Geography, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh (UP), India
Email: tasneemshazli7@gmail.com
Abstract: Housing is one of the basic requirements for the survival of human beings. The
economic security and social status of a family can be easily understood by watching physicalattributes of their housing. Proper urban indoor environment is an indicator of healthy life aswell as it also reveals the quality of life and standard of living of the family. Urban indoor
environment is strongly related to socio-economic condition. The socio-economic conditionshows the level of wellbeing of people of an area. Socio-economically poor households are
generally attributed to many housing problems, like congestion, poor sanitation, household
garbage and solid waste issue and indoor air pollution. Thus urban indoor environment clearly
reveals an image of socio-economic condition of any region. The objective of this paper is toassess the quality of urban indoor environment and socio economic condition in Azamgarh
city. The study is based on primary sources of data, collected through a detailed
questionnaire. Result shows that the socio-economic condition is better in developed housing
areas.
Keywords: Housing Status, Urban Indoor Environment, Socio-Economic Condition
Introduction
Every structure, shelter, used for residential or non residential purpose or both or might bevacant terms as house. Housing is a basic requirement of human well-being. Along with therequirement of shelter, other facilities in the micro environment of housing such as type ofdwelling unit, drinking water, sanitation, drainage, etc., constitute housing condition of thepeople that forms a vital component of their overall quality of life (NSS Report). The WHOunderstanding of ‘housing’ is based on a four layer model of housing, taking into consideration
the physical structure of the dwelling as well as the meaning of home (for a family and eachindividual), and the external dimension of the immediate housing environment, and thecommunity with all neighbors adequate housing. If this requirement is accomplished, housing
provides human beings with satisfaction of physical and mental health needs. Therefore, it isclear that housing condition plays a relevant role for the socio-economic development of any
region (Bonnefoy, 2007).
A house encompasses not just a physical structure, but the social and naturalenvironment in which it is situated (Krieger and Higgins, 2002). During the Second HABITAT
Conference in Istanbul (1996), United Nations Member States defined housing as; Adequate
Shelter means more than a roof over one’s head, as well as adequate space, physicalaccessibility, adequate security, structural stability and durability, good ventilation, basic
infrastructure etc. To live somewhere means to develop a special relationship to space, time,
self and others. A house, in its concrete reality, brings support to certain aspects of individual
psychological structuring- it is the central reference point of human existence (Relph, 1976).
145

Urban indoor environment has been acknowledging one of the main settings that affect humanhealth. Living and housing conditions are the basis of many factors influencing residential
health (Jackson, 2003). Environment is a matter of great importance in the present rapidly
urbanizing world. Realization has dawned upon man too late that proper environment of
human habitats is as necessary as conserving nature. Concern with the environmental
degradation in towns and cities in the western world has resulted in the emergence of new
approaches and research tradition to study quality of environment (Mushir, et al,2007). The
growing population has increased the pressure on urban lands resulting into congested cities.
Poor indoor environment has been proved to be extremely harmful especially for the females
and children who live most of the time within the house.
The goal of socio-economic study is to bring about socio-economic development interms of understanding the present condition of a particular area (Khan,et al, 2013). Housing
status is one of the main indicators revealing socio-economic condition of the region.
Ownership of a house provides significant economic security and social status for a citizen in
the society. Stable, affordable and accessible housing is directly and indirectly linked to humanwell-being. One can easily understand the socio-economic status of a family just by watching
physical attributes of their housing. Good housing and its surroundings indicate the standard ofliving of the family and provides facilities for education, recreation and many other facets oflife. A person deprived of this basic need faces all odds of life and remains discriminated andmarginalized in the society (LARRDIS, 2013). Azamgarh is a town of medium size but in theprocess of fast growth. The town faces host of problems such as those created by recurring
floods, growth of slums, increasing congestion, inadequacy of transport and dearth of civic
amenities and utilities (Siddique and Alam, 1978). The present study is designed to provide a
coherent assessment of quality of indoor environment by identifying the socio-economic
condition of the region.
Objectives
The main objectives of this paper are:
• To analyze the Quality of urban indoor environment in Azamgarh city.
• To examine the housing status, its morphological aspect and the socio-economic
condition with respect to housing status in Azamgarh city.
• To find out the problems of the housing in the city and some remedial measures for its
betterment.
Study Area
The area under investigation is the headquarter of the district Azamgarh. The city lies between
26° 4 North latitude and 83° 1 East longitude. It comprises 25 wards. It is located on alluvial
tract of land in Ganga plain of India with an average elevation of 64 meters. The city issurrounded by the river Tons on three sides and by the seasonal Dharmu nala on the northand north-eastern sides. Azamgarh city experiences a humid sub-tropical climate with 22 to 46°C its summer temperature and 8 to 24 °C winter temperature. The average annual rainfall is
1,110 mm. The total population of Azamgarh city is 1, 10,892 (2011 Census), out of which
52.3 percent are males and 47.7 percent are females.

146

Figure 1: Locational Map of Azamgarh City in Uttar Pradesh

Source: Census of India 2011 and Municipality, Azamgarh.
Data Base and Methodology
The present study is based on the primary sources of information collected by the author in2014 through well prepared questionnaire, taking in to account of all the variables related tothe housing and socio-economic condition of the study area. Azamgarh city has 10,000
households out of which 300 households have been sampled for analysis. Random samplinghas been applied in data collection for all the 25 wards. Care was also taken in the selection ofhouseholds that they should be truly representative of their wards. After collection of data, data
were converted into the tabular form. After analyzing these tables and diagrams, inferences
have been made pertaining to the various housing and socio-economic conditions of the study
area.
Results and Analysis
The data has been collected for analyzing housing status and socio-economic condition in
Azamgarh city. General Profile of respondents is shown in Table 1, As regards the Age-wise
distribution of respondents, 20 percent and 2 percent respondents falls in the >60 and < 20
age groups. These two age groups together constitute one Forth of the total respondents, areunproductive, i.e dependent. 18.7 percent and 28 percent respondents belong to 40-50 and
50-60 years of age group. The table also shows that 55.7 percent population belongs to Hindu
community while 41.3 percent are Muslims. The data of caste and marital status of
respondents reveals that 54.7 percent respondents are O.B.C while 38.3 percent and 7
percent belongs to General and SC/ST, respectively.

147

Table 1: Distribution of sampled households population in Azamgarh City, 2014
Age Wise Distribution Religion Wise Distribution
Distribution of Marital Status
Age
Percentage
Religion
Percentage
Marital Status
Percentage
GroupsGroups
< 20
2
Hindu
55.7
Married
76.7
20-30
12.3
Muslim41.3
Un-married
14
30-40
19
Sikh
1.3
Widow/Widower
6.3
40-50
18.7
Christian
0.7
Divorced
3
Total
100
50-60
28
Other
1
Total
100
>60
20
Total
100
Sex-Wise Distribution
Caste Wise Distribution
SexPercentage
Caste
Percentage
Group
Male
61
General38.3
Female
39
O.B.C
54.7
Total
100
Sc/ST
7
Total
100

Source: Based on Field Survey by the Researcher, 2014.
Housing Conditions
Proper housing and adequate shelter is a must for healthy life as it enhances the performanceof the residents in their domestic and economic duties (Rahman, 2007). While considering the
housing conditions of the respondents the variables which are taken into account were thestatus of house, use of house, Construction material used, total number of floors in the houseand total number of rooms in the house. An overview of Table 2 explains the distribution of thesampled households according to the status of house in Azamgarh city. As regards the status
of house 82 percent respondents has their own house while 14 percent and 2 percent
respondents live in rented and Government house respectively. The table shows that 53
percent respondent resides in bricks house while 28 percent and 11 percent of them lives insemi brick and semi wood/jhuggi houses. 8 percent of them reside in pure jhuggi type ofhouses. The data related to use of house reveals that 69.7 percent respondents use theirhouse for both residential and commercial purpose. As regards numbers of floors and roomsin the house, it has been analyzed that 57 percent respondents reside in single storey houses;
remaining 43 percent respondents have multi storey houses. The multi story houses are toocongested. 42.7 percent respondents have 2-3 rooms in their house while 33 percent 10
percent and 14.3 percent respondents have 3 -5, 1 and >5 rooms respectively.
Urban Indoor Environment
The urban indoor housing environmental concern should be largely focused as it affects ourlives or activities some way or the other. The notion, ‘indoor’ housing pollution is more harmful
than the ‘outdoor’ one. Infants, old people and women who remain mostly inside the house,particularly during winters are more susceptible to indoor pollution.

148

Table 2: Distribution of housing status of respondents in Azamgarh city, 2014
Status of HousestatusPercentage
Own
82
Rented14
Government
2
Other
2

Type of House
Type of House
Percentage
Bricks/Concretes
53
Semi-Bricks
28
Semi-wood/Jhuggi
11
Wood/Jhuggi
8

Use of House
Use of House
Percentage
Resedential
69.7
Res. + Com.
26.3
Res. + Industrial
1
Res. + Com.+
3
Ind.
100
Total
100
Number of Floors
No. of Floors
Percentage
Single
57

Total
100
Total
Number of rooms in the House
No. of rooms
Percentage
1
10
2--3
42.7
3--5
33
>5
14.3
Total
100

Multiple

43

Total

100

Source: Based on Field Survey by the Researcher (2014).
Table 3 is representing the indoor housing environment in the total 300 sampled
households. While considering the indoor housing environment in the sampled households thevariables which were considered are place of cooking food, drinking water availability, type ofToilet, and proper ventilation. As regards the type of kitchen, 46 percent respondents haveseparate kitchen, while 39 percent and 15 percent respondents use their verandah and open
spaces as kitchen respectively. The table shows that 33.4 percent respondents has handpumps while 66.1 percent availing water by municipal tap. Proper ventilation in the house is a
pre-requisite for the dwelling. For a healthy life better cross ventilation is system is must. The
ventilation is not proper according to 57 percent respondents as the houses are compact andcongested causing indoor air pollution, 43 percent respondents said it proper. The table also
shows the type of toilet, which reveals that 72 percent respondents have private toilet facility
while 19 percent respondents have flush toilet.
Table:3 Distribution of indoor housing environment in Azamgarh city, 2014
Place of Cooking food
Kitchen Type

Percentage

Separate Kitchen
VarandahOpen Space
Total

46
39
15
100

Type of Toilet
Type of Toilet
Flush
Field
PublicPrivate
Total

Percentage
19
5
4
72
100

Drinking Water facilities
Type of water
availability
Well
Handpump
Municipal Tap
Total

0.5
33.4
66.1
100

Proper Ventilation
Proper Ventilation
Yes
No
Total

Percentage
43
57
100

Source: Based on Field Survey by the Researcher, 2014.

149

Percentage

Table:4 Distribution of social condition of respondents in Azamgarh city, 2014
Family Type
Family Type
SingleNuclear
Joint
Total

Percentage
5.7
32.3
62
100

Family Size
Family Size
<3
3—5
5—7
7--10
>10
Total

Percentage
2
9.7
15.3
39
34
100

Educational Status
Educational Level
Primary
MiddleHigh School
Intermediate

Percentage
19
9
10
23

Health Status
Diseases
Fever
Cold
Malaria
T.B
DiabetesJaundice
Diarrhoea
Heart Problem
AsthmaTyphoid
Gastro-ent
Joint Pain
Alsar
Total

Percentage
18
21
7
0.6
6.3
1.3
6.3
2.8
1
3
11
21.06
0.64
100

Educational Level
DegreePG/OtherNot educated
Total

Percentage
19
15
5
100

Source: Based on Field Survey by the Researcher, 2014.
Social Condition
For analysis of social condition in the sampled households the variables which have been
selected are family type, family size, education and health. An overview of Table 4 shows thesocial condition of Azamgarh city. As regards the family type and family size, 62 percent
respondents live in joint family, remaining 32.3 percent and 5.7 percent lives in nuclear family
and as single, respectively. 39 percent respondents have 7-10 person/house while 34 percent
have >10 person/house, remaining 15.3 percent, 9.7 percent and 2 percent respondents have
5-7, 3-5 and < 3 person/ house. The table also reveals educational level of the town. 19
percent respondents are having primary education while 9 percent, 10 percent, 23 percent ofthem educated up to Middle school level; High School and Inter mediate level respectively. 19
percent respondents are graduate while 15 percent of them are educated up to Post Graduatelevel; remaining 5 percent respondents were uneducated. As regards the health condition of
the respondents frequently suffer by various types of diseases. 18 percent, 21 percent and 7
percent respondents suffered from fever, cold and malaria respectively, while 0.6 percent, 0.64
percent, 1 percent and 1.3 percent respondents have been gone through T.B, Alsar, Asthma
and jaundice respectively. Mostly women and old respondents (21.06 percent) suffer from joint
pain. Remaining 6.3 percent, 6.3 percent, 2.8 percent, 3 percent, and 11 percent respondents
are suffered by diabetes, diarrhea, heart problem, and typhoid and gastro enteritis
respectively.

150

Table: 5 Distribution of economic condition of respondents in Azamgarh city, 2014
Occupational Structure

Income Status

Occupation

Percentage

Percentage

5.7

Monthly Income(Rupees in thousands)<5

DoctorTeacher

7.7

5--10

24

Engineer3

10--3043

Business

47

30--5020

6Lawyer

1.3

> 50

7

Agriculture

17

Total

100

Abroad8.3

Possession of Durable goods

Other

10

Durable goods

Percentage

Total

Total

TV/Radio

19

Computer

3.7

Fridge15

Nature of Service
Nature of Service

Percentage

Government Service

10

Cycle

20

Private

26

Byke

13

Self employment

56

Mobile24

Unemployment

8

Car

2.7

Total

100

A.C

2.6

Total

100

Source: Based on Field Survey by the Researcher, 2014
Economic Condition
Table 5 is showing the distribution of the sampled households according to the economic
condition of the respondents. After analyzing the occupational structure it is found that 47
percent respondents are businessman while 17 percent practiced agriculture. 8.3 percent
respondents work abroad especially in Saudi Arab, Dubai, Qatar, Kuwait and Iran etc. 5.7
percent, 7.7 percent, 3 percent and 1.3 percent respondents are Doctor, Teacher, Engineer
and Lawyer respectively. Remaining 10 percent perform other jobs. As regards the nature ofservice 56 percent respondents are self employed while 26 percent are doing private jobs.
Only 10 percent respondents are government employees at various grades. Remaining 8
percent are unemployed. The table also reveals the income status of respondents whichshows that 43 percent respondents earn 10-30 thousand rupees/ month while 20 percent and7 percent respondents gets 30-50 and > 50 thousand rupees/ month, respectively.
Problems and Suggestion
Azamgarh town has congested upland area in central part with high degree of compactness. It
includes the mohallas of Ailwal, Paharpur, Takia, Katra, Kot, Bazbahadur and Jalandhri. The
house of this area represents generally the old pattern of houses with medium to high socioeconomic conditions. The low-lying areas include localities of Asifganj, Matbarganj andSitaram in the South. Civil line which a lie south of the town has anglicized pattern and cameinto existence during British period. Modern pattern of houses can be seen on the periphery of
the town. Today the expansion of the town is mostly northwards which is safe from the floods,
while some expansion has also taking place across the Tons towards sidhari in the south. The
town of Azamgarh faces a number of problems. This town is surrounded by the river Tons on
three sides and by the Dharmu Nala, which is seasonal in character, on the north and northeastern side. These two water courses impose some limits on expansion of the town. Thus, astagnant situation has made the town very congested. The roads are also irregular, compact,
winding and crooked; many places still have non-metallic roads. The sanitation system of the151town is also very poor with open surface drainage. The Tons River is the cause of flood inevery monsoon leading to a considerable loss of property and life. It should be controlled byconstruction of embankment etc. One of the most important problems is the low level ofindustrialization. It is need of the hour that the town should be provided some diverse
industries such as agro-based industries, cotton and textile, small scale manufacturingindustries for various employments generation. There is lack of open space in the town which
forbids the activities like recreation, sports, park etc. The fast growing population will makecompact areas more congested with the passage of time. Thus further construction andextension of buildings should be stopped and Government should develop new plannedcolonies in the outer zones.
Conclusion
The study has concluded that housing status of Azamgarh city has highly compact andcongested old pattern in upland central areas. In this region the housing status is average withpoor indoor environment and socio economic condition. Some of the new colonies such as
Rahmt Nagar, Millat Nagar, Hirapatti, sidhari west which are growing towards the periphery
are socio- economically better with high education and income. The housing condition is alsosatisfactory. Some areas in central region like friends colony in Badarka ward, Qila in
Bazbahadur is highly developed. But at the same place all the remaining wards are extremely
congested with poor compact roads and open drainage system, revealing pathetic housing
environment. If there is continued stagnant growth of population it will make a mess. Thus
Government should focus on the housing problems and should take some initiatives for socioeconomic development of the region.
References
1. Bonnefoy X. (2007) Inadequate Housing and Health; an Overview, International
Journal of Environment and Pollution, Vol. 30, pp. 411-428.
2. Census of India (2011).
3. Jackson R.J. (2003) The Impact of the Built Environment on Health; An Emerging
Field. American Journal of Public Health, Vol. 93(9), pp. 1382-1384.
4. Jacobi P.R., (1994) Households and Environment in the city of Sao Paulo; Problems
Perceptions and Solution, Environment and Urbanization, Vol. 6(2), Nottinghum,
London, pp. 87-110.
5. Khan K. and Munir A., (2013) Socio-Economic Environment of Dehradun District: A
Micro Level Study, The Geographer Vol. 60(1), pp.51.
6. Knox P. L., (1974) Social indicators and concept of level of living, Sociological Review,Vol. 22, pp 249-57.
7. Krieger J. and Higgins D. (2002) Housing and Health; Time Again for Public Health
Action, American Journal of Public Health, 92(5), pp. 758-760.
8. Lok Sabha Secretriat Parliament Library and Reference, Research, Documentation
and Information Service (LARRDIS), Rural Housing; Indira Awas Yojana, No.
11/RN/Ref./August/2013.
9. Mushir S., Khan M.F., (2007) Quality of Urban Environment; A Case Study of
Saharanpur City, Idarah-i-Adabiyat-i-Delhi, Delhi, pp- 1-9.
10. NSS Report No. 535: Housing Condition and Amenities in India: July, 2008-June,
2009, pp. 1-5.
11. Rahman A. (2007) Household Environment and Health, B.R. Publishing Corporation,
Delhi, pp. 64.
12. Relph E. (1976) Place and Placelessness. Pion, London. pp. 20.
13. Siddique M. and Alam S. (1978). Azamgarh; A Study in Urban Planning andDevelopment, The Geographer, Vol. 25(1), PP. 36-49.
152