It has been long since a number of non-government

organizations are working for the welfare of poor communities

living in urban areas. But as it is very difficult to define and

categorize who and which community is poor, so is difficult

to assert which community is a slum.

Adequate and quality data and information about status

of poor, their whereabouts, their existing sources of water,

their willingness to pay for water, etc. are very essential

to develop pro-poor water supply policy. Since it will

only be like beating the bush to do something on for

the slum community without scientifically defining them,

the NGO Forum for Urban Water and Sanitation has

tried to come to a more acceptable definition of slumthrough a “brainstorming” workshop. The given definition here is based on the workshop, held on 9th November

2004, and further studies that followed it.

Defining an area as a slum area is very complex task since there is no any authentic definition or documentation

exists in the country for defining slum. Organization like LUMANTI has developed its own criteria for slum for Nepal

and UN Habitat has its own criteria for defining slum. In the workshop, the Forum invited different government and

non-government organizations, municipalities, professionals, social worker and individuals who have potentiality to

provide valuable inputs in developing such criteria.

Following paragraphs presented useful definitions of slums shared in the session, some important characters of

slums identified by brainstorming, primary list of indicators to be taken into consideration in developing criteria for

defining slums and criteria for defining slums in Nepal.