Indian Journal of Economics and Development

This paper examines whether caste, religion and education explain household differences in income and expenditure in the slums. Based on data collected from the selected slum households in the Faridabad the study exhibited the difference in household income and expenditure are not explained by caste, religion and education. The study investigates whether income and expenditure undergo changes with passage of time in the selected slums of different ages and find that slums differed significantly in income and expenditure by their age but these differences are explained by intensity of work efforts and not by caste, religion, and education. With passage of time housing, sanitation, hygiene, education, and citizen services improve in slums but it does not guarantee better income and consumption standards.