Dharavi, often described as the largest slum in Asia, is a 427 acre triangular stretch of land in central Mumbai, housing more than 600,000 slum dwellers; the unofficial number can go near a million. It is a conglomeration of continuous settlements, separated by a small road or sometimes a wall - constructed hastily at times of conflict. Dharavi is literally sandwiched between the Western and Central suburban railway lines with Mahim and Bandra to its west, Mithi River to the north and Sion and Matunga to its east and south respectively. Mahim, Matunga and Sion railway stations mark its three corners.
Dharavi has had settlements since the beginning of the 18th century, which comprised Kolis or the fisher folk, who lived at the edge of the creek that came in from the Arabian Sea. The Gazetteer of Bombay City and Island in 1909 had mentioned Dharavi as one of the 'six great Koliwadas of Bombay'. It is thought that the present day Dharavi also includes the land obtained by the accidental drying up of the creek that happened over a period of time.
Dharavi has had settlements since the beginning of the 18th century, which comprised Kolis or the fisher folk, who lived at the edge of the creek that came in from the Arabian Sea. The Gazetteer of Bombay City and Island in 1909 had mentioned Dharavi as one of the 'six great Koliwadas of Bombay'. It is thought that the present day Dharavi also includes the land obtained by the accidental drying up of the creek that happened over a period of time.
Of the 10 million people living in the mega city Mumbai, 6 million (60%) are living in the slums, many of them living in Dharavi itself.
The Government:
The government of Mumbai are trying to clear the slums but the problem is slum dwellers like where they are, and don’t want to move. For many of them, they haven’t known any other home, it’s what they are used, what they think home is. They don’t want to move because they have communities they don’t want to leave.
The government are offering land developers free land on a deal. If they can offer the slum dwellers living on the land somewhere to call home they can do what they like with the slums. However this is a difficult thing to do because of the slum dwellers who won’t move out.
- The first settlers in Dharavi came there over 300 years ago, and turned marshland into liveable land; today Dharavi is home to over 500,000 people of all religions, castes and economic strata, not just the 'poor'.
- Almost none of the people who live in Dharavi own the land, but a great many own their homes and businesses (some of which they rent out); many houses have electricity which they pay for, and some have running water.
- Nevertheless, infrastructure is poor: few residents have toilets in their homes; open sewer lines spread disease and are a health hazard in the monsoon.
- Home to thousands of industries, including leather, pottery, textiles, food production and now a major hub of recycling, there is over US $600 million of turnover; unfortunately some of these industries pollute the environment and are unsafe for workers.
- The current redevelopment plan will give slum dwellers who own their structure a new 300 sq ft flat in Dharavi for free; those who rent will have to go elsewhere. Business owners will receive 250 sq ft, and will have to pay for anything more than that.
- The redevelopment has been divided into five sectors, which developers will bid for in a competitive process. Developers need to build housing for slum residents, and they will alsobe able to build more lucrative residential buildings and commercial properties.
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