Overview
This lecture explores Mumbai's dual identity as both a city of dreams and stark inequality, focusing on the economic activities, living conditions, and redevelopment of its slum areas, especially Dharavi.
Mumbai: City of Dreams and Contrasts
- Mumbai is known as the "City of Dreams," largely due to Bollywood, which produces nearly 2,000 films annually.
- Trendy neighborhoods like Bandra are booming, attracting aspiring professionals and entrepreneurs.
- The city is a symbol of the Indian dream, where ambition meets challenging living conditions.
Life in Dharavi Slum
- Dharavi is Asia's largest slum with 1 million people living in under 1 square mile, 20 times denser than Paris.
- Residents have limited access to electricity, water, and basic sanitation.
- Despite poverty, Dharavi is a hub of enterprise with thousands of small businesses and informal industries.
Economic Activities and Upward Mobility
- Plastic recycling is a major industry, employing 12,000 people and sorting 60% of Mumbai's plastic waste.
- Entrepreneurs like Mahesh and Imran have leveraged slum resources to earn incomes far above the national average.
- Slum businesses generate over $800 million annually, and some residents achieve significant upward mobility.
Slum Redevelopment and Real Estate Boom
- Mumbai's lack of space has led to vertical expansion with high-rise developments, some built atop former slum areas.
- Developers like Omkar engage in slum rehabilitation, demolishing slums and relocating residents to new apartments.
- Former slum residents get free but cramped housing; eligibility requires proof of 20 years’ residence in the slum.
Social Impact and Consequences
- Many relocated families move to city outskirts in poor-quality buildings, often losing jobs and community ties.
- Redevelopment pushes poverty from horizontal slums into vertical apartment blocks, worsening living conditions for some.
- Mumbai’s population is expected to grow by 8 million in the next 15 years, intensifying space and housing challenges.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Dharavi — Asia's largest slum, located in Mumbai.
- Slum Rehabilitation — Government and private developer projects to replace slums with apartment complexes, relocating residents.
- Informal Economy — Economic activities not regulated by the government, prevalent in slum areas.
- Verticalization — The shift from horizontal slum settlements to high-rise apartment blocks.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the social and economic impacts of slum redevelopment in Mumbai.
- Read about Bollywood’s influence on Mumbai’s global image.
- Prepare notes on urbanization challenges and solutions for class discussion.