Susanne Thorbek. Gender and Slum Culture in Urban Asia. New Delhi: Sage Publications. 1994.233 pages. Hardbound: Indian Rs 225.00.

The process of urbanisation is fed by the migration of peoplefrom the rural to the urban areas. Among the several reasons why peoplemove to cities, the following are considered to be the most important:modernisation in agriculture and the resultant labour displacement,rapid industrial development, and concentration of land in a few hands;also the lack of non-agricultural jobs in the rural areas and theincrease in population. The immigrants face a different environment inthe cities and generally find it difficult to adjust to the setting witha new set of social relations. The poor unskilled labour coming from therural areas to settle in the cities at any cost finds its way to thesqualor of the slum areas. The resultant population pressure forces thepeople of these areas to face severe problems not only in terms ofinadequate wages and incomes but also in terms of their relations withtheir spouses, children, friends, relatives, and neighbours. In the slumareas thus growing, it is not possible for the planning and developmentauthorities, despite their extensive efforts, to provide to all theinhabitants such social services and amenities as education and healthfacilities, parks, playgrounds, and safe drinkingwater. Left without theamenities of developed urban areas, these inhabitants struggle forsurvival.