The Dharavi slumThe Dharavi slumMumbai, IndiaMumbai, India

Mustafa Ozcan 10A

LocationLocation

Located in the suburbs Located in the suburbs of Mumbai, between of Mumbai, between Mahim in the west Mahim in the west and Sion in the eastand Sion in the east

HistoryHistory In the 18th century, Dharavi was an island. In the 18th century, Dharavi was an island. Was taken over by an Indian warlord, Chimnaji Appa in Was taken over by an Indian warlord, Chimnaji Appa in

1739.1739. Before the 19Before the 19thth Century Dharavi was a swamp, with Century Dharavi was a swamp, with

fishermen living in.fishermen living in. Population growth in Dharavi was very high, with merchants Population growth in Dharavi was very high, with merchants

coming in from different parts of India.coming in from different parts of India. First school was constructed for use in Dharavi in 1924.First school was constructed for use in Dharavi in 1924. In the 1960’s Dharavi’s Co-operative Housing Society took In the 1960’s Dharavi’s Co-operative Housing Society took

action to uplift the lives of people living in the slum by action to uplift the lives of people living in the slum by building 338 flats and 97 shops.building 338 flats and 97 shops.

Living conditionsLiving conditions

Living conditions in the shanty settlement of Living conditions in the shanty settlement of Dharavi, is obviously terrible mainly due to the Dharavi, is obviously terrible mainly due to the lack of amenities, sewers and fresh water. The lack of amenities, sewers and fresh water. The streets are polluted with dirt and mud. The streets are polluted with dirt and mud. The shelters are covered with random material, shelters are covered with random material,

Here are some pictures:Here are some pictures:

Social problemsSocial problems

The slum environment can be the perfect place to The slum environment can be the perfect place to have social problems. High unemployment is one of have social problems. High unemployment is one of the major problems. the major problems. Cramped conditions mean Cramped conditions mean that there is nowhere to go when tensions that there is nowhere to go when tensions rise, a factor that regularly leads to rise, a factor that regularly leads to domestic violence. Sometimes the situation domestic violence. Sometimes the situation goes to the other extreme, where people goes to the other extreme, where people abandon their homes, lured by the prospect abandon their homes, lured by the prospect of oblivion through alcohol or drug abuse. of oblivion through alcohol or drug abuse. Once people develop such problems the Once people develop such problems the prospects of finding work diminish. They fall prospects of finding work diminish. They fall deeper into poverty and the cycle continues.deeper into poverty and the cycle continues.

Child laborChild laborMany children in the slums start work at a very Many children in the slums start work at a very

early age with no prospect of getting any early age with no prospect of getting any education. They make money by rag picking education. They make money by rag picking (trawling through rubbish dumps to retrieve (trawling through rubbish dumps to retrieve anything that can be sold), selling newspapers in anything that can be sold), selling newspapers in traffic jams, peddling drugs or begging. They are traffic jams, peddling drugs or begging. They are at risk of exploitation as well as all the health at risk of exploitation as well as all the health problems that accompany their lifestyles. Incest problems that accompany their lifestyles. Incest and abuse can occur and child marriages are still and abuse can occur and child marriages are still encouraged in some areas. encouraged in some areas.

Gender inequalityGender inequality

Female babies could face discrimination, since they Female babies could face discrimination, since they are thought to be useless for a family.are thought to be useless for a family.

Male children are seen as a blessing in most parts Male children are seen as a blessing in most parts of India, especially in the slums. They are more of India, especially in the slums. They are more likely to be sent to school and have a better way likely to be sent to school and have a better way of life than the female population.of life than the female population.

Internal and external corruptionInternal and external corruption

Some people manage to achieve a high status within Some people manage to achieve a high status within slums and establish themselves as slumlords. They slums and establish themselves as slumlords. They are often allies of certain politicians and gain are often allies of certain politicians and gain control of sizeable chunks of the community land. control of sizeable chunks of the community land. By renting out the land, they make huge financial By renting out the land, they make huge financial gains while everyone living in the slum struggles to gains while everyone living in the slum struggles to survive on their meager earnings. The slumlords survive on their meager earnings. The slumlords form elaborate links with local politicians, form elaborate links with local politicians, government officials and the police, and slum government officials and the police, and slum dwellers become dependent on them for the dwellers become dependent on them for the smallest of amenities. They have little empathy smallest of amenities. They have little empathy with the slum residents and exploit them by with the slum residents and exploit them by charging highly inflated prices for illegal electricity charging highly inflated prices for illegal electricity and water supplies or for constructing huts. and water supplies or for constructing huts.

SolutionsSolutions

Government can develop strategies to avoid Government can develop strategies to avoid another slum being built and should include another slum being built and should include affordable land, reasonably priced materials, affordable land, reasonably priced materials, employment opportunities and social services.employment opportunities and social services.

The shanty settlements could be improved with The shanty settlements could be improved with the support of the government and the public. the support of the government and the public. Improvements can be better housing, water, Improvements can be better housing, water, sanitation, medical services, energy and urban sanitation, medical services, energy and urban services, such as garbage disposal.services, such as garbage disposal.