Living and Working in Dharavi Slums
Mumbai's Ghetto is at the Heart of its Small-Scale Industries
Apr 9, 2009
At the center of India's financial capital sits Dharavi. The ghetto spans over 1.75 square kilometers and includes an estimated 600,000 to 1 million people.
It is here, among the chaotic swirl of noise and activity, that a locally-based travel company provides a unique look into the realities of living in one of the world’s most infamous slums.
Dharavi's Marshland and Koli Fishermen
In the mid 1800s, Dharavi was a marshland largely inhabited by Koli fisherman. Over the years it was built up by the accumulation of natural debris and human waste.
Today residents who are descendants of these initial Koli settlers are still living in the community.
Wide Ethnic Diversity and Religious Tolerance
One of the most striking aspects of Dharavi is its ethnic diversity and its relatively harmonious mix of religions.
Over the years this community has attracted a diverse range of people, including a large population of Kumbhars from Gujurat and Tamils from the southern state of Tamil Nadu.
From a rooftop perspective, Dharavi's landscape is sea of tin-roofed homes and factories interspersed with a dotted assortment of minarets, crosses and temples.
According to our guide Dharavi residents are 40% Muslim, 55% Hindu and 5% other denominations. With over 80 nagars, or neighborhoods, Dharavi is considered one of the most diverse places in India.
It is not uncommon to find religious festivals, like Diwali or Eid-ul-Adha, celebrated by everyone regardless of faith.
Improving Sanitation and Providing 'Free' Housing
Since 1995, a rehabilitation scheme has been in the works to build four and five-story apartment buildings on Dharavi’s land.
There are presently only six toilets for every 1,200 people. There are also thousands who continue to live in cramped homes where over a dozen people may share two bedrooms.
According to our guide the ‘free’ housing initiative is projected to give 65,000 families improved living conditions. By providing more space, an estimated 20 square meters each, and better sanitation facilities, the scheme hopes to address Dharavi’s severe density problems.
Rising Rental Prices and Utility Availability
In recent years a lag in funding and suspicions of corruption have slowed building progress.
Rent prices, meanwhile, have continued to escalate. Monthly rates now start at 1,500 rupees ($30) and go as high as 4,000 rupees ($80).
Meanwhile electricity, water and plumbing have been made available to all Dharavi residents. There is 24-electricity, but the daily allocation of water is restricted to three hours. This is the same amount for all Mumbaikers.
Factories and Small Scale Industries
Behind all the facts and history of Dharavi is the real pulse of this community. It can be found in any one of the bustling factories and small-scale industries that are integral to Mumbai’s industrial sector.
There is leather dying, garment embroidery, recycling centers, bakeries, soap-making and clay-pot manufacturing to name but a few.
The leather tanning and dyeing factories currently produce material for big name brands such as Gucci.
Garment workers sell their wears more locally and make around 4-5 rupees/ piece. At the bakeries they make a daily delivery of over 500 kilograms of ‘khari’, the popular puff pastry typically eaten at breakfast.
At the recycling factories, employees melt down pellets of plastic, sort through aluminum canisters, crush bits of small-machinery and make sheets of reconstituted metal parts. Here workers can spend 10-12 hours a day and earn around 120-150 rupees (US $2.40-$3.00).
The annual turnover from Dharavi’s small-scale industry output is estimated to be US $665.
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