Written By Shoshana Iny

Edited By Nora Malhi

“Poor Little Rich Slum”. 

In 2012, Indian writer Rashmi Bansal published a book with this title, described as an ode to the success stories of Dharavi’s civilians. Located in Mumbai, India, Dharavi was one of the largest slums in the world. Here, the buzz of lively economic activity juxtaposed children’s cries out for food – having no choice but to skip meals due to food insecurity. Poor Little Rich Slum sparked conversation about the dichotomy between cultural success and extreme poverty in Dharavi (Bansal & Gandhi, 2012). The sanitation challenges in Dharavi could not have been understated; gaping holes in stalls made privacy unimaginable in toilets, and only one toilet existed for every 1,400 residents (Gardner Ross, 2021). Water contamination and flooding was commonplace, and overcrowding forced children to play on railroad tracks (Foster+Partners, n.d.). Despite impoverished conditions, Dharavi was a hub of informal economic activity for thousands of its inhabitants. From the slapping of clay on pottery wheels, to the crunch of plastic as it metamorphosed during recycling processes, women thrived as participants in Dharavi’s artisanal economic activity. Dharavi possessed an unofficial title as the “heart of Mumbai” (Plummer, 2017, para. 1). Not only did the region resemble a heart shape when viewed from above, but it was renowned for its lively energy and communal buzz (Plummer, 2017). The dual-reality of thriving community sensations and unimaginable poverty made the evolving future of Dharavi a challenging endeavor for all stakeholders involved. 

Dharavi is a densely populated urban area located in the center of Mumbai, India. While exact numbers vary, it is estimated that approximately one million people resided in Dharavi in 2023 (Grey, 2023). Up until recently, the urban area was home to commercial and residential activities; most families ran small shops on the ground floor of their home, whilst they cooked and slept on the upper floor (Chandran, 2016). The vast majority of Dharavi’s inhabitants participated in the informal economy, consisting of economic activities that were not regulated by the government. Dharavi residents participated in the informal economy as it was a way for them to generate income without needing a formal education – which many residents lacked due to poverty (Gardner Ross, 2021). In Dharavi, the informal economy generated approximately $1 billion in annual revenue (Chandran, 2016). Women were key players in economic activity in Dharavi; they held the dual-responsibility of contributing to small business production activities and taking care of children. Some of the common production activities that women partook in included pottery, weaving, soap making, and working in Dharavi’s enormous recycling industry (Chandran, 2016). The informal economy was essential to the livelihoods of Dharavi’s women and residents; it provided employment for individuals regardless of educational attainment, businesses were family-operated, and women were able to earn an income (Gardner Ross, 2021). 

While economic activity thrived in Dharavi, the urban area has been characterized by poor living conditions since its founding in 1884 (Rongmei, 2023). Extreme poverty and lack of adequate sanitation systems were exacerbated by Dharavi’s geographical location that made it even more susceptible to sanitation challenges. In India, open defecation is a critical issue that contributes to health problems for its inhabitants. These health problems are only worsened in dense areas like Dharavi (The Economist, 2014). The open sewers across India drain into Mahim Creek, a river where many Dharavi residents urinated and defecated, leading to the spread of various diseases (Jacobson, 2007). Cultural rituals have further propelled this crisis. For example, the “Law of Manu”, a Hindu text, encourages followers to defecate in public in order to avoid ritual impurity. In Dharavi, the lack of access to toilets, combined with cultural practices led to high rates of water contamination and health challenges amongst its residents (The Economist, 2014). Various scholars pointed out that increasing access to toilets is only one factor that needed to be addressed in terms of Dharavi’s compromised sanitation systems. Up until recently, there was a complete absence of government intervention regarding the lack of sanitation for Dharavi residents (Jacobson, 2007). Dharavi deeply struggled with a lack of adequate sanitation systems, leading to health challenges for its inhabitants. 

The government’s solution to socio-economic challenges faced by Dharavi’s residents is the Dharavi Redevelopment Plan. The land on which Dharavi resides is highly desirable due to its close proximity to Mumbai’s central business district, incentivizing developers to clear the slum and build condominiums (Gardner Ross, 2021). Dharavi’s redevelopment plan is highly significant; set to begin by March 2025 (Hindustan Times, 2024), it will be one of the world’s largest urban regeneration projects, with approximately one million people set to be rehabilitated and resettled (Adani, n.d.). The proposed slum redevelopment process is said to be a “win-win scenario for all the involved stakeholders: the government, the private sector, and the slum dweller” (Sunikka-Blank et al., 2019, para. 5). Dharavi’s slum dwellers will supposedly benefit, as the plan promises that they will receive ownership of a permanent housing unit at no cost (Sunikka-Blank et al., 2019). The private sector will also benefit, receiving exclusive access to a “real estate gold mine in the heart of Mumbai” (Grey, 2023, para. 2). Furthermore, the redevelopment plan allows the government to fulfill its mission of providing adequate housing to all citizens (Sunikka-Blank et al., 2019).

While it appears as though slum dwellers will face improved socio-economic conditions as a result of Dharavi’s redevelopment, there are numerous concerns associated with the plan. One of the most significant – yet under-researched – impacts will be that on women.  (Sunikka-Blank et al., 2019). Women are expected to carry a disproportionate burden of the negative impacts of the redevelopment plan as they are often responsible for domestic chores, childcare, and aiding production activities for small business (Sunikka-Blank et al., 2019). 

The redevelopment plan does not take into account how women’s livelihoods will be impacted by the construction of condominiums, which will propel challenges faced by women post-development (Sunikka-Blank et al., 2019). In Dharavi, homes were constructed so that women could perform domestic chores, such as preparing meals, while supervising children and ensuring their well-being. Children would often play outside, which benefited their health and wellness, and allowed them to meet local companions (Sunikka-Blank et al., 2019). Testimonies from Dharavi’s women reveal that the redevelopment project will hinder these practices, shedding insight on how urban planning can impact the daily practices and social connections between individuals. Under the redevelopment plan, the layout of new condominiums will not allow for women to cook in a kitchen while ensuring that their children are safe outdoors (Sunnika-Blank et al., 2019). The plan fails to take into account the multifaceted roles women played in Dharavi as individuals responsible for cooking meals and facilitating childcare. 

Additionally, the redevelopment project will hinder social networks that are vital to female well-being and community safety amongst Dharavi’s inhabitants. Social networks were reported as the main factor of satisfaction amongst slum dwellers, but these connections are already becoming lost with the disassembling of the Dharavi slum in order to prepare for condominium construction (Sunikka-Blank et al., 2019). Dharavi was adored by inhabitants for its rich culture and sense of community (Plummer, 2023), but these social networks will dissipate as a result of the development project (Sunikka-Blank et al., 2019). An interview with a mother who lived in Dharavi revealed that women “used to spend significant amounts of time outside: preparing food for cooking, [and] washing clothes” (Sunikka-Blank et al., 2019, p. 60). As developers relocate Dharavi inhabitants in order to start construction, women “do all [of] these [activities] inside, so [they] not get the opportunity to interact with neighbors” (Sunikka-Blank et al., 2019, p. 60). Evidently, the redevelopment plan is already, and will continue to, impact women’s well-being and the rich sense of culture in Dharavi. Moreover, the alteration of social networks are posing threats to community safety for Dharavi inhabitants. Prior to the relocation of slum inhabitants, residents would work together amidst food and sanitation shortages. As individuals are being relocated in order to prepare for construction, women are reporting high levels of social isolation, contending that their neighbors are unknown and unreliable (Sunikka-Blank et al., 2019). One mother recounted that after she was relocated, she experienced a health emergency with her father-in-law. Much to her surprise, her neighbors were of no help. This evoked feelings of loneliness and helplessness amongst the woman, for in Dharavi, her neighbors were quick to help her family whenever she needed. Sadly, this woman’s experience is one of many; as developers have begun to relocate families, women’s rates of loneliness have skyrocketed, now doubling that of men’s (Sunikka-Blank et al., 2019). This is because women face a unique triple-responsibility of domestic chores, childcare, and tending to small businesses (Sunikka-Blank et al., 2019). The redevelopment project has already impacted women’s social networks and livelihood, and with little research on this topic, challenges faced by women will only become exacerbated. 

Another significant concern related to the redevelopment project is that it will lead to women facing economic setbacks. While the redevelopment plan includes offering free housing to Dharavi’s inhabitants, developers have not included space for families’ businesses, many of which have thrived and sustained Dharavi’s families for generations (Gardner Ross, 2021). The expansive informal economy in Dharavi provided an opportunity for women to earn an income that contributed to their family’s livelihood. Women had strong presences in pottery and textile fields, and their contributions ensured that many families received dual-incomes, which was critical for those living in poverty (Plummer, 2017). The redevelopment project will hinder women’s salary earnings for two reasons: firstly, women will not be able to care for children whilst working, therefore they will be forced to solely look after children, and secondly, women will not be able to participate in the formal economy that will encapsulate the region as condominiums are built. While women could perform low-skill tasks in Dharavi that did not require high-levels of education, women’s lack of educational attainment due to poverty will prevent them from participating in formal economic activities post-development (Gardner Ross, 2021). This issue is one of particular concern for Dharavi inhabitants as families will be forced to shift from two incomes to one. The redevelopment project will hinder women’s abilities to contribute economically to their families, which will be detrimental to poverty-ridden Dharavi inhabitants. 

Since the founding of the Dharavi slum in 1884, there has been a pervasive tension between exuberant community culture and devastating poverty cycles. Rashmi Bansal’s idiosyncratic phrase, “poor little rich slum” truly encapsulated the dual-world of Dharavi, where hard work and entrepreneurship was coupled with child famine and open excretion (Bansal, 2012). The socio-economic challenges faced by Dharavi’s residents for generations were undeniable; there was a severe lack of adequate sanitation systems due to impoverished conditions and a lack of government support (Gardner Ross, 2021). Dharavi’s redevelopment involves supposed socio-economic benefits for its inhabitants, however, developers have failed to acknowledge the disproportionate impacts that the project will have on women. Women that have already been relocated from Dharavi have experienced extreme spikes in social isolation. Female well-being and financial security is becoming increasingly threatened due to the looming redevelopment project, which will hinder women’s abilities to participate in the informal economy (Sunikka-Blank et al., 2019). As more families get relocated out of Dharavi in order for construction to begin, women will continue to face broken social networks and domestic challenges. In order to ease disproportionate gender challenges caused by the redevelopment plan, it is pivotal to collaborate with Dharavi’s women in order to understand their acute needs. 

References

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Gardner Ross, M. 2021. The variety of urban places: Urban poverty, deprivation & informal activity. 

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Sunikka-Blank, M., & Bardhan, R., & Nasra Haque, A. (2019, March). Gender, domestic energy and design of inclusive low-income habitats: A case of slum rehabilitation housing in Mumbai, India. Elsevier, 49, 53-67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2018.10.020 

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