Viviane Dalles

- INDIA: For Sale: Dharavi, one of the largest slum in Asia

Mumbai (Bombay), June 2007

Dharavi is one of the largest slum in Asia. At the heart of the Indian business capital, the Maharashtra government has put its largest slum in up for sale for 2.3 billion dollars.

Stretched out over 214 hectares, it presents a prime real estate opportunity in a town where house prices are among the highest in the world. The government plans to build offices, skyscrapers as well as appartment complexes, schools, hospitals and sports facilities for the middle classes. The local and foreign developers that will benefit from the 'opprtunity of the millenium,' as the advertising campaign puts it, will have 7 years to complete this colossal project.

The first stage will be to raze the existing dwellings and slowly rehouse more than 300,000 people (57,000 families). But it seems to be a huge project.

The local population and associations do not share the developers' excitement for this ambitious project. This will put an end to Dharavi's small businesses that have been here for more than three genations. In Dharavi, a self-sufficiant microcosm, people find everything that they need. The people live mainly from the leather trade, pottery and recycling of all kinds. They are not prepared to give up the fight.

An endless labyrinth, electric cables like black spaghetti, televisions showing the latest videos, squares of blue sky traced out by rusty roofs… Even if they earn a reasonable living, people here can live in extremely cramped conditions, sometimes as little as 3 square metres. Families work together from home.

Jockin Arputham, president of the National Slum Dwellers' Association (NSDA), has two major concerns: Seeing the developers come in through the back door and the problem of rehousing. Arputham is worried that a large number of the population will not benefit from government rehousing plans and, pennyless, will be forced into other slums. A town within a town, Dharavi descends flags flying into the streets of Mumbai in protest.

HQ of Munna Bhai. This company has employed five or six people for the last 15 years. Most of their business is with the US. Their annual turnover is 5-6 lakhs a year. ‘If we are forced to leave Dharavi, our business would fold,’ says the company’s director.
  
The president of the National Slum Dwellers’ Association, Arputham Jockin by a map of Dharavi.
  
These solid buildings are the fruit of generations of work and saving. People came to Mumbai from the differents states in search of jobs. At the beginning they made shelters from plastic tarpaulins. Over time they turned them into ‘permanent’ dwellings. These spaces are dark and cramped
     
  
With the birth of Kazim, the Abdul family now has six members. They live in this 4 sq. metres.
  
Pottery community. Usman Gani, was born in Dharavi. He does not know about the government’s plans to sell the slum. His main focus is his work. He is married with two young sons. He earns 5,000 rupees (88 euros) a month.
  
Nani and her granddaughter. Everyone calls her Nani, which means grandmother in Maharashtri. Nani has been a widow for seven years. She opened this small shop to earn a little money. Before losing her husband she says she was a ‘good wife’ and didn’t work. She earns 150 rupees (2.60 euros) a day.
     
  
At the hairdresser’s.
  
Gym.
  
Dyeing workshop.
     
  
Recycling point. In Dharavi, ‘Nothing is lost, (...) it is all transformed, plastic, old furniture, bottle tops, casettes, telephones, shoes, material, plastic bags…’
   
Recycling point. In Dharavi, ‘Nothing is lost, (...) it is all transformed, plastic, old furniture, bottle tops, casettes, telephones, shoes, material, plastic bags…’
   
Recycling point. In Dharavi, ‘Nothing is lost, (...) it is all transformed, plastic, old furniture, bottle tops, casettes, telephones, shoes, material, plastic bags…’
     
  
It is not uncommon that the children in Dharavi start working young (from the age of 3). They often go to school but rarely finish primary education. Most work full-time in order to earn money for the family.
   
Tannery.
  
Dharavi by night.
     
  
Samir and Muskain at home.