Exploration of living conditions of a marginalized community: A case study on Harijan Community Settlement, Kastoghar Sweeper’s Colony, Sylhet

Ali, Syed Mohsin and Akther, Salina (2025) Exploration of living conditions of a marginalized community: A case study on Harijan Community Settlement, Kastoghar Sweeper’s Colony, Sylhet. International Journal of Science and Research Archive, 14 (3). pp. 862-870. ISSN 2582-8185

Although sweepers play a crucial role in our society, they are frequently subjected to disregard and contempt in the social paradigm of Bangladesh. Their occupation includes the removal and disposal of human waste and other forms of garbage, so indisputably enhancing the cleanliness and hygiene of our living environments. Regrettably, the economic and lifestyle conditions in this town are highly unsatisfactory. In Bangladesh, where the Muslim population is the majority, the Hindu minority is further segregated into many castes. Sweepers are the most marginalized and deprived group. They are deemed "unclean" and reside in segregated communities, distinct from the "clean" factions. Nevertheless, it is imperative that we acknowledge their valuable contribution to society and furnish them with the essential provisions they need in order to sustain themselves. The goals of this study were to uncover the genuine levels of housing contentment among the inhabitants of the Harijan sweeper colony, Sylhet, to acquire useful knowledge about the needs and experiences of the residents and to utilize this information to provide recommendations to enhance the living conditions of the community. The methodology involved physical survey, interview to collect primary data along analyzing relevant secondary data from diverse sources. The findings indicate that the households are deficient in socio-economic and civic amenities, such as education and healthcare services. Both the government and private sector should proactively enhance their means of subsistence by enhancing their living conditions and guaranteeing universal access to all rights and amenities available to the public