6. Dharavi Flashcards
What are squatter settlements?
A squatter settlement / shanty town / slum comprises of improvised housing, called shanties or shacks, made of plywood, corrugated metal, sheets of plastic and cardboard boxes, etc.
These settlements are found in unoccupied land, usually found on the periphery of cities, in public parks or near railroad tracks etc.
A typical shanty town often lacks proper sanitation, safe water supply, electricity, hygienic streets or other basic human necessities.
What are the problems with squatter settlements?
- Densely packed and crowded housing allows disease to spread easily
- Occupied land is often dangerous due to landslides, illness from polluted areas or even trains etc through the middle.
- Large distance from formal employment opportunities reduces earnings as residents turn to the lower-paid informal economy.
- No organised waste collection increases land, air and water pollution, pests and disease.
- Limited safe water sources leads to disease outbreaks
- Poor materials used for building are often highly flammable - rapid spread of fires.
- No right to land means no government investment to improve amenities in the area.
- No electricity supply leads to dangerous tapping of overhead lines.
What are the difficulties of managing sqatter settlements?
- Rate of growth and change is rapid, overwhelming limited financial resources and service provision from local governments.
- Illegal settlements aren’t recognised for government spending, and eviction is a threat
- Some live there to avoid being managed or taxed - used as a base for illegal activites
- Some slum dwellers are hostile to authorities as they feel powerless
When was Dharavi slum founded?
Founded in 1883 during British colonial era due to movement of factories and workers out of the CBD, as enforced by the colonial government, leaving land open for migration of poor rural Indians into urban Mumbai.
How large is Dharavi, and what does it contain?
- Dharavi currently covers about 5.35 acres
- Highly multi-religious, multi-ethnic and diverse settlement.
- Has a population density of 869,565 people per square mile.
- Recycling is the main industry here, attracting low-income migrants looking for work.
Where is Dharavi located?
- Centre of Mumbai, India - overcrowded and noisy
- Located on low land next to Mithi river - potential to flood.
- Located between Western and Central railways, as well as being adjacent to Mumbai airport.
- Unbuilt areas in the slum are used for waste disposal, lowering quality of life but providing building materials.
- Slum built on large water pipes often tapped for illegal water access.
What problems face the slum of Dharavi?
Raw sewage flows and stagnates next to water pipes
- High levels of contaminated water and resultant diseases e.g. Diphtheria, Tuberculosis and Typhoid
- Doctors deal with 4,000 cases a day of sickness from poor sanitation
Limited access to sanitation facilities
- 500 people per toilet (open defecation common)
- Water to area is rationed - 2hrs from 5:30AM
Highly flammable materials & improvised cooking equipment
- Fires in 2013 and 2023
Floods in 2005 following heavy monsoon rain.
How prevalent is the informal economy in Dharavi?
10,000 people in Dharavi depend on income from the Kumbharwada pottery district in the slum.
What is the definition of a ‘top-down’ approach?
A top-down approach consists of management strategies that involve planning and investment at the authority level, such as by city authorities, councils, local / national government.
These often aim to solve larger-scale issues with a more efficient use of resources.
What are the pros & cons of top-down approaches generally?
- [+] Can tackle a wide range of issues
- [+/-] Larger scale impact (but requires greater funding
- [-] May benefit private investors and developers more than slumdwellers
- [-] May lead to the loss of communities or local businesses.
What is the definition of a ‘bottom-up’ approach?
A bottom-up approach consists of managment strategies carried out by local communities (grass-roots approaches).
There may be some support from NGOs but generally, authorities are not directly involved
What are the pros & cons of bottom-up approaches generally?
- [+] Uses local skills and expertise
- [+] Empowers local people
- [+] More suitable to income levels of local people
- [+] Decision-making involves views of local communities
- [-] Small-scale and limited impact
- [-] Often limited by income
What is Suvidha (hygiene) Centre?
A 6000sq ft. two-storey community hygiene centre building with 111 toilets and shower amenities e.g. shower rooms, washing machines and sanitary napkin vending machines.
Funded by Hindustan Unilever Ltd. (HUL) and HSBC (bank)
How successful is Suvidha (hygiene) Centre?
Aim: To address the lack of suitable sanitation, toilets, sewage disposal and clean water for washing.
- Directly targets needs of the local community.
- Toilets and surrounding area are well lit (safe for women) and cleaned regularly (sanitary)
- Many preexisting toilet facilities were in major disrepair
- At least 100 families have been provided with an entry pass/
- Water treatment and reuse will save 35 million litres of water annually.
Some think that the money spent on washing machines could be used on community space instead.
What are the limitations of Suvidha (hygiene) Centre?
- Government opposed to external investments and developments such as hygiene centres as they legitimise slums
- However, this is countered by Mumbai’s push to become an ODF-free city (open defecating) - to do this, slumdwellers need access to toilets. Although Mumbai claimed ODF-free status for itself in 2017, this title is contested.
- Open sewers still remain in Dharavi
