The process of urbanization, as a necessity for societal change, is always thought as a prerequisite for increasing the levels of national production and per capita GDP. But the recurring fact remains that in developing and least developed nations, poverty in terms of income, living conditions and the ever-growing demands to house these immigrants are not being met and is still a persistent feature in this 21st century (Kundu, 2003). The two main objectives of the study are to analyze/ ascertain the socio-economic conditions of pavement dwellers living in squatter settlements, focusing on their education, occupation, income, hygiene and sanitation issues; secondly, and studying the status of women pavement dwellers living in squatter settlements regarding their decision-making power, financial security and how they cope with the constraints they face during bearing and rearing children in their mundane lives. A study was conducted on a sample of 30 pavement dwellers (both men and women) living in squatter settlements in Kamarhati municipality area of Kolkata. The collected data and the available secondary literature were used for analysis. The data revealed that majority of the pavement dwellers, living in squatter settlements, have primary education, temporary labour work with average monthly income of Rs.1500 for men and job of maid servants with average monthly income of Rs.2000 for women. For drinking, bathing and washing clothes and utensils, they utilize road-side taps and/or nearby ponds; and for sanitary usage temporary make-shift toilets on top of high-drains were used. Moreover data highlighted that, most working females who work, contributed to the family, although most of the family decisions were taken by male members. Daily constraints which women face during pregnancy and socialization of children are helped out by other nearby women pavement dwellers living in squatter settlements and this was considered as normal condition for them.
