In squatter settlements such as Dharavi, it is important to note that the social situation is often not the most pressing issue that needs to be addressed.\u00a0 Many times, particularly in settlements that have existed for long periods of time, there is a strong sense of community that is not always present in affluent areas.\u00a0 In Dharavi, people are employed, have a community with similar histories surrounding them, and are proud of how they have improved their own and their family\u2019s situation.<\/p>\n
Dharavi has roots going back over one hundred years, and thus has had time to establish itself, its businesses and its neighborhoods, as well as assert its importance within the city.\u00a0 As it has become more centrally located within Mumbai between two major train routes, Dharavi has become a focus for the city, particularly the politicians.\u00a0 Multiple redevelopments have been attempted, however, the only truly successful ones included community involvement (Sharma xviii).\u00a0 A sense of belonging to a group is part of what sets Dharavi apart from many densely populated areas of the world.\u00a0 People can connect over their common struggle to move upward in society as well as over cultural similarities.<\/p>\n
Inhabitants of slums in Mumbai, like the dabbawalas, often live with a group from their home town.\u00a0 This strengthens the sense of community, and promotes a peaceful environment, not a violent one as many people assume.\u00a0 For much of its existence Dharavi has been a relatively peaceful place to live. There have been religious riots in recent years, but previous to that, there were seemingly few problems.\u00a0 This indicates that even in an area of such density containing an enormous variety of people, governmental control is not necessarily the only solution.<\/p>\n
Most importantly, while much of the world is in a state of economic distress, Dharavi has avoided many of the problems that come with government involvement in the economy.\u00a0 As a result, \u201calmost everyone seems to be employed in some kind of work. And many have prospered through a mixture of hard work, some luck and a great deal of ingenuity\u201d (Sharma xxxv).\u00a0 This is not to say that the working conditions are safe or healthy, quite the contrary, they certainly need to be addressed, but at least many of the residents of Dharavi are employed (Sharma xviii).\u00a0 The availability of jobs also allows for social mobility, giving many the hope for a rags to riches story of their own.\u00a0 This is a promising\u00a0 aspect of the extra-governmental society that has formed within Mumbai, which proves that even without government control, economies can flourish.<\/p>\n
Many people consider squatter settlements to be disorganized in every way solely because they often appear so in their physical layout.\u00a0 With a closer look at Dharavi, it is made clear that just because it do not follow government standards, that does not mean that it is a disorganized place.\u00a0 In fact, the complex network of dabbawalas that Percot describes illustrates that intense focus on detail and planning.\u00a0 Without each person being in exactly the correct place at the correct time, the system would fall apart.<\/p>\n
The dabbawalas are the perfect example of the successes of informal settlements.\u00a0 They function as a single organized entity with a complex set of rules that govern their jobs.\u00a0 They have created a system of symbols that when paired with their extensive route planning allows them to have an efficient system of deliveries throughout Mumbai (Percot 8).\u00a0 These men all belong to a single community, from a single area of India, so they have a strong sense of solidarity, as well as social control within their group (Percot 4).\u00a0 Stories like those of the dabbawalas are what make Dharavi such a unique settlement with incredible potential.\u00a0 They express the highly organized social and economic system that has grown within an \u2018illegal\u2019 community.<\/p>\n
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Burdett, Richard, and Deyan Sudjic. \u201cThe Static and the Kinetic.\u201d\u00a0Living in the Endless City: The Urban Age Project by the London School of Economics and Deutsche Bank\u2019s Alfred Herrhausen Society. London: Phaidon, 2011.<\/p>\n
Percot, Marie. \u201cDabbawalas, Tiffin Carriers of Mumbai: Answering a Need for Specific Catering.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sharma, Kalpana.\u00a0Rediscovering Dharavi: Stories from Asia\u2019s Largest Slum<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In squatter settlements such as Dharavi, it is important to note that the social situation is often not the most pressing issue that needs to be addressed.\u00a0 Many times, particularly in settlements that have existed for long periods of time, … Continue reading