Multidimensionality of urban poverty: an inquiry into the crucial factors affecting well-being of the urban poor in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Although, identification of the nature of poverty in a specific setting is crucial for poverty analysis and designing targeted poverty reducing programs, there is no consensus among researchers, policymakers etc. on the dimensions of poverty, due to the multidimensionality and the universality of the phenomena. Even the criteria for selecting dimensions used in the literature remain controversial. Although, the poverty has been greatly discussed recently in Sri Lanka as in many other developing countries, most of the analysts have focused mainly on the identification of incidence and trends of poverty based on uni-dimensional approach. It is hard to find the methodical attempts which are made to identify the border aspects of well-being and poverty of mankind. The main objective of this paper is to identify the dimensions of urban poverty in the light of conventional methodologies and historical knowledge. Qizilbash’s ‘core poor’ framework was applied in this analysis. Findings revealed that shelter, clean drinking water, children’s education, health service, environmental pollution, addiction to drugs/ alcoholism, uncertainty about the future, sanitation, domestic violence and stability of livelihood are the crucial factors of well-being of urban poor.