Abstract
The study focuses on the construction of a normative deprivation index for Dhanmondi which in the traditions of Townsend (1979), Mack and Lansley (1985, 1992), Halleröd (1994) and Gordon et al (2000), underscores items the lack of which would constitute poverty. However, unlike these studies, the present study does not measure the head count ratio but explores the dynamics of this normative construction of deprivation in terms of demographic and socioeconomic variables. The data for this study come from a sample survey of 61 respondents, 29 males and 32 females, from Dhanmondi in 2008. The normative deprivation index for Dhanmondi in 2008 shows that 18 items out of 23 appear significant at the level of à=.01 in inter-item total correlation and more than 50 per cent of respondents perceive their absence as constituting poverty. More than 90 per cent respondents agree on the importance of 8 items: (i) three meals a day, (ii) Meatfish or vegetarian equivalent at least once a day , (in) Warm/properly fitted shoes; (iv) All required school uniform, (v) Sufficient baby milk (0-10), (vi) Toys (0-10) and (vii) At least 4 pairs of trousers (11-17) viii) Play with peer group at least once a week.