Multidimensional Poverty in Slums of Varanasi City: Decomposing MPI by Zones and Indicators

By : Darshan Kumar Jha , Vinod Kumar Tripathi

Page No: 327-343

Abstract
Traditionally, urban poverty was often seen through a narrow lens, primarily focusing on income or consumption levels. However, it is now recognised as a multifaceted issue, encompassing various dimensions of deprivation, and the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) is now a preferred tool for assessing poverty in urban areas. The paper challenges the concept of slum populations being a uniformly impoverished group in urban centres. It aims to calculate the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) specific to slum dwellers in Varanasi City, along the lines of the global MPI. Through inter-zonal and intra-zonal analyses, the study uncovers disparities in deprivation levels among different geographical zones and within various slums. Additionally, it validates MPI results by breaking them down into indicators and zones. The article also presents the relative importance of indicators in multiple deprivation measurements, which will be helpful for policymakers and planners.

Authors
Darshan Kumar Jha: Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, Jagat Taran Girls’ Degree College, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj, U.P.,
Vinod Kumar Tripathi: Professor and Head, Department of Geography, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, U.P.
 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/ATNAGI.2025.45.02.6