Attempts and Reattempts of Redefining Indian Slums…. The Indian Saga.

Do we really know what slums are? Do we understand how they work? And the biggest question I ask is how much we as architects can really play a role in all this or can we at all?

I would like to talk about Asia's largest slum, Dharavi, which lies on prime property right in the middle of India's financial capital, Mumbai (Bombay). It is home to more than a million people. Many are second-generation residents, whose parents moved in years ago. Today’s Dharavi bears no resemblance to the fishing village it once was. A city within a city, it is one unending stretch of narrow dirty lanes, open sewers and cramped huts. In a city where house rents are among the highest in the world, Dharavi provides a cheap and affordable option to those who move to Mumbai to earn their living. Rents here can be as low as 185 rupees ($4) per month. As Dharavi is located between Mumbai's two main suburban rail lines, most people find it convenient for work. Even in the smallest of rooms, there is usually a cooking gas stove and continuous electricity. Many residents have a small color television with a cable connection that ensures they can catch up with their favorite soaps. Dharavi also has a large number of thriving small-scale industries that produce embroidered garments, export quality leather goods, pottery and plastic. Most of these products are made in tiny manufacturing units spread across the slum and are sold in domestic as well as international markets. The annual turnover of business here is estimated to be more than $650m a year.

The state government has plans to redevelop Dharavi and transform it into a modern township, complete with proper housing and shopping complexes, hospitals and schools. The project is called the Dharavi Project. There have been numerous competitions and proposals. Some started implementing but got stopped. If we look deep into this there have been much bigger issues such as politics and more which play a major role in taking these steps. There have been many bigger firs and people who have invested parts of their lives trying to understand this scenario and provide solutions. One of them was even displayed in MOMA [https://nextcity.org/daily/entry/urbz-dharavi-slum-redevelopment].

Having said all this I as a citizen of this country and an Architect exposed to all this scenarios still feel powerless and frustrated with this conversation. I do not wish to undermine the effort and thought process that has gone into this by many learned people but I still ask this question again. How long till these studies and efforts step out from exhibits and become reality?