Pressure, Anxiety and Aspiration as Mumbai Slum Dwellers Confront Demolition

For months, intimidating messages recurred. Initially, supposedly from a former police officer and a former defense officer, later from the police themselves. Finally, a local artisan claims he was summoned to law enforcement headquarters and warned explicitly: stop speaking out or experience severe repercussions.

This third-generation resident is part of a group opposing a high-value initiative where one of India's largest slums – an iconic Mumbai neighborhood – will be demolished and modernized by a corporate giant.

"The culture of this area is exceptional in the world," says the protester. "Yet their intention is to destroy our social fabric and silence our voices."

Contrasting Realities

The narrow alleys of this community sit in stark contrast to the high-rise structures and luxury apartments that loom over the neighborhood. Residences are constructed informally and often without proper sanitation, informal businesses emit toxic smoke and the atmosphere is saturated with the unpleasant stench of uncovered waste channels.

Among some individuals, the promise of Dharavi transformed into a developed area of high-end towers, neat parks, shiny shopping centers and residences with multiple bathrooms is an optimistic future realized.

"We lack adequate medical facilities, proper streets or water management and we have no places for children to play," explains A Selvin Nadar, in his fifties, who relocated from his home state in 1982. "The single option is to tear it all down and construct proper housing."

Local Protest

But others, like this protester, are opposing the project.

All recognize that this community, historically ignored as an illegal encroachment, is urgently needing investment and development. Yet they fear that this initiative – lacking resident participation – is one that will transform a piece of prime Mumbai real estate into a playground for the rich, displacing the marginalized, working-class residents who have been there since the late 1800s.

It was these marginalized, migrant workers who built up the empty marshland into a frequently examined example of self-reliance and economic productivity, whose output is valued at between a significant amount and two million dollars annually, making it a major unofficial markets.

Displacement Concerns

Of the roughly one million residents living in the packed sprawling area, fewer than half will be able for new homes in the development, which is estimated to take an extended timeframe to finish. Additional residents will be transferred to wastelands and coastal regions on the distant periphery of Mumbai, potentially break up a long-established community. Some will receive no homes at all.

Those allowed to continue living in the area will be allocated flats in multi-story structures, a significant rupture from the natural, collective approach of dwelling and laboring that has sustained this area for so long.

Businesses from clothing production to ceramic crafts and recycling are expected to reduce in scale and be transferred to a designated "commercial zone" separated from residential areas.

Livelihood Crisis

For those such as the leather artisan, a craftsman and multi-generational resident to call home Dharavi, the plan presents a survival challenge. His makeshift, three-storey operation makes garments – sharp blazers, luxury coats, studded bomber jackets – distributed in luxury boutiques in upscale neighborhoods and internationally.

Household members resides in the accommodations underneath and employees and garment workers – laborers from different regions – also sleep in the same building, allowing him to sustain operations. Outside this community, Mumbai rents are typically tenfold costlier for a single room.

Harassment and Intimidation

At the government offices nearby, a conceptual model of the Dharavi project illustrates an alternative outlook. Fashionable people move around on bicycles and electric vehicles, buying international baguettes and pastries and having coffee on an outdoor area near Dharavi Cafe and dessert parlor. It is a complete departure from the inexpensive idli sambar morning meal and 5-rupee chai that supports the neighborhood.

"This represents no progress for us," states the artisan. "It represents a massive land development that will render it impossible for our community to continue."

Additionally, there exists concern of the development company. Run by a prominent businessman – a leading figure and an associate of the government head – the business group has been subject to claims of preferential treatment and ethical concerns, which it rejects.

While the state government describes it as a joint project, the business group invested $950m for its majority share. A case stating that the redevelopment was questionably assigned to the developer is being considered in the top court.

Sustained Harassment

After they started to actively protest the development, protesters and community members assert they have been subjected to a long-running campaign of harassment and intimidation – including communications, explicit warnings and implications that opposing the initiative was comparable with speaking against the country – by individuals they allege work for the business conglomerate.

Included in these accused of issuing the threats is {a retired police officer|a former law enforcement official|an ex-c