Dharavi (The billion Dollar slum)

       Dharavi (The billion Dollar slum)

Dharavi, Asia’s largest slum which attracts much attention around the globe. A slum which also inspires Hollywood directors like Danny Boyle to make an Oscar winning movie.  Today Dharavi generates an estimated economic output of more than a billion dollar per annum. It is also known as India’s China. In Dharavi we can witness numbers of household enterprises. This forms an unorganized part of the economy.

Dharvi Slum was founded in 1882 during the British Colonial era. It is located within Mumbai. As per 2001 census the total population of Dharavi was 6 lakhs. The average density of population per square K.M. is 175000. Dharavi extended at an area of 575 acres of land. Hinduism is the major religion and followed by Islam and Christianity and others. Though people speak Hindi and all but Marathi is the main language of the area.

In spite of religion differences Dharvi maintains an unique communal harmony and it also develops a parallel economy. It has an informal type of economy where number of people engaged in different types of assignments as per their degree of skill. Dharavi engages into mainly small industries or mainly household enterprises. Small retailers, electricians, construction workers, taxi drivers, street vendors, rag pickers, tailors, repairmen, rickshaw pullers, painters, small household manufactures and many more. In country like India such kind of informal economy generates 90% of the employment. Apart from this leather, pottery, garments, snacks & bakeries & recycling are the key business activity of the Dharavi.

Dharavi exports many local products around the world. In global market Dharavi occupies a unique space in terms of leather products. During the festival of Diwali more than half of the Mumbai lights clay lamps made from Dharavi’s potters.

Dharavimarket.com provides a platform in the area of e-commerce. The unique deal between snapdeal.com boosts the growth of Dharvi’s local products in an international arena. Global consumers are recognizing the potential of Indian slum through the revolution of e-commerce. People from Dharavi most of them do not use computers and many of the lack basic internet connectivity. But the majority of people have improved smart phone devices, which links them to the global market reach.

Dharavi the billion dollar slum encounters many problems on a daily basis. The living standard of the population is not up to the mark. There is huge problem of safe drinking water. Illegal connections and leakages are the main reason. As per the census of 2001 there are only 1440 toilets per one person. Diarrhea and malaria floats into the air of Dharavi. The main strength of Dharavi is the supply of skilled and the semi-skilled manpower. Here people are unable to send their children because they need more manpower for the enterprises. Large populations are ready to work on a minimum salary. Government has introduced many rehabilitation program Dharavi is not yet benefited by such programs or projects.

Dharavi is a city within a city which runs on an informal structure of economy which unanimously supports “Make in India” program. Apart from the problems and issues Dharvi is taking India to the world.