Today I was fortunate enough to go and visit Dharavi slums, despite being unable to speak to any of the parents I was still able to get lost in eye-opening infomration.
When walking around I found so many small businesses trying to sell me stuff from a suitcases to fruit you can find whatever you want here. When I asked about this Dharavi can contribute a significant amount of Mumbai’s GDP which I found so interesting knowing that this is a slum and that people are uneducated here. These people who are selling products are the locals who are using the money they gain to live off. Dharavi is mainly known for leather goods, textiles, pottery and recycling. I was told that that most of Mumbai is being recycled to allow people to have jobs within the slums.
The population of this area is estimated to be around 1 million people in 2.39 square kilometres, mtlnk bxn led to a very high population density making it one of the most densely populated areas in the world. When I was going on the community walk I saw how tightly populated this area was. But what I found so interesting is that the shops are on the ground level and then the person’s house is on top of the shop, this is because of the lack of space and therefore they need to make room for all of these people. Despite the high population density which is placing pressure on sanitation, health care and infrastructure this close network community work together to tackle these issues which I find so inspiring.
Many of the problems in Dharavi, such as waste management, sanitation, and public health, are addressed through community-based solutions. Residents often work together to improve living conditions, and social organisations within Dharavi play a crucial role in creating initiatives for better healthcare, education, and sanitation. This was a surprise to me as I thought that due to how people are living they would all be fighting against each other, but knowing that people are working together to sort out the issues which Dharavi face is key to getting people out of the slums or even making them nicer place to be.
After I visited the Dharavi community, I thought I would share my view of it. Dharavi is not just a slum; it’s a dynamic and vibrant community that represents both the struggles and successes of urban life in India. From its booming informal economy to its unique cultural diversity, the area is full of lessons in resilience, innovation, and the power of community. Despite its challenges, Dharavi continues to be a beacon of hope and proves that even the most unlikely places can foster tremendous human potential. But this does not mean we can forget about what these children are living as it’s still not ideal for them.
This is the local park in which the children are able to play. Just seeing this make you realise how lucky I was growing up with having a wider selection to play with in a park.
These are poppadoms which are being dried through the use of the sun. Once they have been dried they will be sold to the locals.
This is the issue which Dharavi faced was rubbish, this is what causing rats in the area. But this is what the stray goats eat which I am glade as this is the only food for source. But I don’t like seeing all this rubbish as it is quite smelly.
This is the vibrant part of the Slums, this makes you realise once you compare them how different they are.
This is the area which is struggling within Dharvi which is a complete difference to the area which is so vibrant.
This is an example of the local markets which are found in the community. What I found interesting is that these are the farmers who produced the food.