SPATIAL DIMENSION OF SOCIAL EXCLUSION. AN IMPERIAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE RELATIONSHIP OF HOUSING AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION IN THE SLUMS OF DHAKA CITY

Slums are perceived to be heavily populated urban areas characterized by inadequate access to safe water, hygienic sanitation, urban roads, legitimate power supply, poor structural quality of housing and insecure residential status. From that perspective, slums are the clear manifestation of urban poverty. This article emphasize that slums are not just simple expression of poverty but there is a causal process that leads to poverty and inequality. It is not a mere static state describing the inequality rather it is an outcome of structural process causing a chain of disadvantages and deprivations of the community living in the slums. In view of this, this article commences by outlining the key elements of housing in slums and through empirical findings summarises how each of these elements relate to the processes and outcomes involved in social exclusion. Findings from questionnaire interview and in-depth discussion with slum dwellers tend to lend credence to the drawing of a spatial margin of social exclusion. It is understood that slum dwellers’ socio-economic deprivation is closely related with housing elements that further leads to their segregation in social and economic life - thus invigorating a vicious cycle. The systematic exploitation, material deprivation leads to social and economic marginalization of the poor people and results in greater vulnerability of this marginalized group.Social Exclusion, spatial dimension, slums, Dhaka, Housing.

Commodifying multicultures: urban regeneration and the politics of space in Spitalfields

PhDSpitalfields, within close distance to the City of London. has been subject to intense regeneration and gentrification in recent years. This thesis investigates the use of culture in promoting urban regeneration. This thesis analyses the role of multiculturally based regeneration in Spitalfields and assesses the possibilities for civic engagement in a number of recent regeneration initiatives. I argue that regeneration in Spitalfields has taken a cultural turn, and that a new set of discourses is present in regeneration practices. These new forms of regeneration practices demand a different kind of interpretation. This distinctiveness in policy consists of the use and mobilisation of 'culture' and 'multicultural capital' as tools for regeneration. Most notably the study's timing during a phase of intense change sets it apart as one of the few studies undertaken of the complex relationship between the new cultural industries, multicultural capital and the practice of selling places. The study's theoretical framework draws from a range of inter-disciplinary literature on urban space. cultural politics and feminist theory. In capturing a series of moments that took place between 2000 and 2003,1 analyse a range of regeneration initiatives but focus closely on three case studies: the construction of Banglatown in Brick Lane, the Rich Mix Centre for London, and the annual street festivals/melas that took place in 2001 and 2002. I focused on two sets of respondents - young people and young Muslim women whose experiences of regeneration raise unsettling questions of inclusion and exclusion in/through space. Cumulatively these sites are key examples of Spitalfields' multi-cultural spaces. They extend a sense of promise to all its residents in the hope of a cosmopolitan future or progressive city politics. The tensions from these cultural strategies pose challenges for thinking about the place of citizenship in urban multicultures. The research findings point to a sophisticated understanding of the relationship of ethnicity, gender, commerce and public space

Improving access to housing for low-income communities in Dhaka: From rhetoric to reality in community participation

The research explores how community participation can address affordable housing problems of the poor in Dhaka. The research, based on extensive interviews, community focus groups and household surveys in different Dhaka slums, identifies the limiting factors to promote community participation in affordable housing creation. In Dhaka housing options for poor are currently limited to affordable shelters in informal settlements. Public housing programs have failed to reach the poor and meet affordability levels due to a number of factors including lack of beneficiary participation. Beneficiary participation, though widely recognized for success in housing initiatives, often deteriorates in process of implementation into mere involvement, not reflecting community needs and aspirations and thus failing to meet its core objectives. This research identified the most significant impediments as well as opportunities to advance participation in their own housing provisions in Dhaka city

Oil palm smallholders and its sustainability practices in Malaysia

The demand for Palm oil has increasing over the several decades and it has led to criticisms and question about sustainability on biodiversity loss, water pollution and deforestation.This study aims to explore the sustainability of oil palm smallholders in Malaysia based on environmental, social and economic perspectives.The aim of the study is to examine the sustainability of smallholding scheme in Malaysia.A questionnaire survey was conducted with 50 smallholders in Terengganu state under the Federal Land Development Authority of Malaysia (FELDA).It’s revealed that most of the smallholders have sufficient knowledge of sustainability consistent with Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and other local agricultural laws practices. The study also indicates that on social aspect, the smallholders have better quality of life through the provision of basic facilities.The study concludes that there is a high degree of sustainability amongst oil palm smallholders under the management of FELDA

The factors of selecting Malaysia as tourist destination

Tourism is an emerging economic sector for Malaysia.The purpose of this study is an attempt to understand the factors that attract tourists to visit Melaka State of Malaysia.The primary data were collected through questionnaire survey on 735 tourists who visited the state of Melaka, Malaysia.This study used descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modelling (SEM) in order to analyze and draw the inferences.Model fit was initially tested using the overall fit and regression paths. Then the hypothesized model was analysed and modified based on the results of the analysis to find a better fit of the data and to more adequately describe the relationships between the factors. The study found that several economic, environmental, cultural and community factors have positive significant influence in attracting tourists to Melaka

Editorial: waste challenges in the context of broad sustainability challenges

https://v2.sherpa.ac.uk/id/publication/26071Editorial on the Research Topic Waste Challenges in the Context of Broad Sustainability Challengesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Productivity improvement and HR costs reduction through HRIS: A survey on banking industry in Bangladesh

As employee productivity improvement and HR costs reduction are two most effective options of being cost leader, the study aims at examining the relationship between human resource information system (HRIS) and employee productivity and total HR costs based on data extracted from total 40 banks (73%) operating in Bangladesh.HRIS index has been developed based on the responses of HR managers from each bank.The impact of one standard deviation variation of HRIS applications on the employee productivity and total HR costs is calculated through the multiple regression analysis while multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) is tested to examine the variation of productivity and HR costs according to the ownership patterns where HRIS is taken as covariant.The study found that HRIS improves banks efficiency through improving employee productivity and reducing total HR costs if other things being constant.In addition, employee productivity does not vary according to the ownership patterns of the bank but the state-owned banks have different HR costs experience than private-owned commercial banks in Bangladesh

Environmental sustainability practices among palm oil millers

Considering the global palm oil production, it can be identified as the second largest vegetable oil. Palm oil is a natural resource that is favorable for the Malaysian climate. In 2017, Malaysia had a total of 454 palm oil mills with a production capacity of approximately 112 million tonnes of fresh fruit bunches. A sustainable environment denotes high income, value addition and zero waste. Nonetheless, palm oil mills are being associated with the discharge of untreated effluent water stream pollution, solid wastes, air pollution, etc. The important objective of this study is to measure the level of sustainable environmental practices parameters and awareness of millers. The primary data were collected through questionnaire survey and interviews from 71 millers in Malaysia. This study used confirmatory factor analysis to describe the relationships between the environmental parameters for measuring environment sustainability. This study found that most of the millers employ positive practices for environmental sustainability, and the highest environment parameter is disposal of solid wastes. However, this study can be implemented in Malaysian palm oil mills for identifying the lowest parameters. This study suggested to the industries that the new national sustainable policies for palm oil mills, especially for small and medium players, may enhance the environmental parameters

Development of Islamic microfinance: a sustainable poverty reduction approach

Purpose – Though microfinance has been working for many years as a tool to eradicate poverty from its root, most of the least developed and developing countries are yet to significantly alleviate it from the society. The purpose of this paper is to focus on Shariah-based microfinance products in the context of sustainable poverty alleviation approach and provide them financial benefits to enhance their livelihoods. Design/methodology/approach – Here, this qualitative study critically analyzes the basics of the sustainable Islamic microfinance to exterminate the level of poverty. Findings – Islamic microfinance is a more ethical practice than the traditional motives of profit maximization, and it encourages extending the time of repayment if the debtors are in hardship. In some case, it suggests to give charity if the creditor has capability. Research limitations/implications – Most importantly, research scholars and experts have already criticized the concept of conventional microfinance on the basis of various points, especially for its high rate of interest. Social implications – Islamic microfinance is provided with a view to fulfill two tools simultaneously, i.e., social and financial inclusion. In this case, credits and Zakah can be given to the extreme poor people for satisfying basic needs. In terms of social responsibility, Islam encourages the people to be soft in case of collecting the lending money. Originality/value – The study discoursed that sustainable Islamic Microfinance (IM) may be a promising future option to draw the attention of the religiously sensitive people toward the Shariah-based microfinance which can, in turn, mitigate the poverty level