Date: September 28, 2022
Time: 1630 - 1800 hrs.
Venue: CTARA Conference Room No.2, S-17
Topic: Access to Water to Slum Residents: Understanding Water Service Modalities in Slums of Mumbai and Raipur
Guide: Prof. Subodh Wagle
RPC Members: Prof. N.C. Narayanan, Prof. Pranjal Deekshit
Abstract:
Millions of slum residents in India face the issue of lack of access to water. This research tries to understand the lack of access to water to slum residents through complex and diverse water service modalities shaped by multiple factors. The research adopts a multi-case study research strategy with two cases namely, Mumbai and Raipur with various slum sites as sub-cases.
This Annual Progress Seminar (APS) covers a specific and focused literature review on the power aspects of Social Practice Theory, which was introduced in the previous APS. This is followed by an introduction to Access Theory. The research adopts the conceptual frameworks based on Social Practice Theory and Access Theory to understand how water service modalities are shaped in slum areas of Mumbai and Raipur.
The work in this APS also includes explicitly articulating the research paradigm and provides a rationale and justification for the adoption of a Critical Realist philosophical worldview and a mixed research strategy. The rationale is formulated based on the relevance and utility of Critical Realism and a mixed research strategy in addressing the research questions.
This APS also explains in detail the conceptual framework based on the Access Theory and the specific and detailed research questions formulated based on it.
Based on the preliminary analysis of field data, the two conceptual frameworks, and the data display method by Miles, Huberman, and Saldana, detailed analysis protocols were developed. These analytical protocols which are currently being used for data analysis are discussed in detail in this APS.
Based on the Access Theory and analysis of the data collected from Mumbai slums, attempts towards formulating specific arguments relevant to academic debates around water access in Mumbai slums have been discussed briefly.
A tentative structure and a broad outline for the thesis along with a work plan and timeline have been discussed towards the end.