Dharavi

Dharavi
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Name	Dharavi
Settlement type	Urban slum
Coordinates	19.0144°N 72.8562°E
Country	India
State	Maharashtra
District	Mumbai City district
City	Mumbai
Established	19th century
Population	~700,000–1,000,000 (est.)
Area km2	2.1
Density km2	~300,000

Dharavi is a densely populated informal settlement in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, often cited as one of the largest slums in Asia. Located on reclaimed land between the Mithi River and the Harbour Line of Central Railway, it hosts a complex mix of informal housing, micro-industries, and communal institutions within a compact area. Dharavi has been the focus of urban studies by scholars from London School of Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and University of Oxford, and has been depicted in films like Slumdog Millionaire and documentaries by BBC and National Geographic.

History

The area emerged during the 19th century as part of colonial-era reclamation projects linked to Bombay Presidency initiatives and the expansion of Great Indian Peninsular Railway. Migrant laborers from regions such as Gujarat, Vidarbha, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar settled near industrial hubs like the Cotton Mill District and the Mazagaon Dock. Post-independence industrial decline after events such as the 1982 closure of many mills led to informal economies around leatherwork, pottery, and recycling, attracting entrepreneurs associated with Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (India). Social movements involving organizations like National Slum Dwellers Federation and activists linked to Janata Party-era housing reforms have negotiated tenure and services amid multiple municipal plans by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

Geography and Demographics

Situated on approximately 2.1 km2 of reclaimed marshland adjacent to the Mahim Bay coastline, Dharavi lies between Worli and Sion and near transit nodes such as Dadar and Sion Railway Station. Population estimates vary, with census and NGO surveys showing a range from 300,000 to 1,000,000 residents, representing linguistic communities from Marathi speakers, Gujarati people, Tamil people, Kannada people, and Bengali people. Household structures include multi-generational tenements linked to extended-family networks influenced by caste and kinship ties prominent in regions like Rajasthan and Odisha. Density metrics have been analyzed by specialists from United Nations Human Settlements Programme and World Bank urban teams.

Economy and Industries

The local economy centers on micro-enterprises and informal industries such as leather tanning connected to supply chains serving United States and European Union markets, pottery linked to traders in Bandra, textile recycling feeding markets in Sewri, and small-scale manufacturing that supplies firms in Lower Parel. Informal credit systems interact with institutions like Reserve Bank of India-regulated banks and microfinance NGOs including SPARC and Pratham. Commercial activities extend through wholesale networks to marketplaces like Crawford Market and export intermediaries dealing with clients in United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates. Research by International Labour Organization and Asian Development Bank highlights the role of Dharavi in livelihoods, entrepreneurship, and urban value chains.

Housing and Infrastructure

Housing comprises tightly packed chawls and multi-room structures built with brick, tin, and concrete, often organized along narrow lanes resembling patterns studied in Jane Jacobs-inspired urbanism literature. Tenure arrangements vary from informal occupation to leasehold records involving documents filed with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and litigated in courts including the Bombay High Court. Infrastructure constraints include limited access to piped water, electricity connections regulated by Tata Power and municipal distribution, and evacuation vulnerabilities near the Mithi River floodplain. Civil engineering assessments by teams at Indian Institute of Technology Bombay propose sanitation upgrades and resilient retrofitting.

Public Health and Sanitation

Public health conditions have been the subject of interventions by organizations such as World Health Organization, Indian Council of Medical Research, and local NGOs like Doctors For You and Red Cross Society (India). Epidemiological surveys on communicable diseases, maternal health, and child nutrition have informed vaccination drives coordinated with Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (India). Sanitation challenges stem from limited sewerage coverage and informal waste management linked to recycling sectors; municipal efforts by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation have intersected with initiatives supported by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-funded sanitation projects.

Culture and Community Life

Dharavi hosts a rich cultural tapestry with religious sites including temples, mosques, and churches frequented by devotees from communities tied to Pune, Surat, Chennai, and Hyderabad. Cultural life features festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi, Eid al-Fitr, and Diwali, with community organizations and local arts groups collaborating with institutions like National Centre for the Performing Arts (Mumbai). Informal education centers run by NGOs including Akanksha Foundation and community health programs partner with universities such as University of Mumbai to provide vocational training and arts initiatives showcased at venues like Jehangir Art Gallery.

Urban Development and Redevelopment Plans

Redevelopment proposals have been advanced by private developers, municipal authorities, and state-level entities including the Government of Maharashtra and agencies like Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority. Plans range from slum rehabilitation under legal frameworks influenced by judgments from the Supreme Court of India to high-profile projects involving multinational developers and investors from Singapore and United States. Critics cite displacement risks and debates over affordable housing policy referencing models from Hong Kong and Singapore public housing. Academic assessments from Harvard University and Columbia University emphasize participatory planning and in-situ upgrading, while activist coalitions and resident groups continue to negotiate compensation, relocation, and infrastructure commitments.

Category:Neighbourhoods in Mumbai Category:Slums in India