Intimidation, Anxiety and Aspiration as India's financial capital Residents Face Redevelopment

Across several weeks, threatening phone calls continued. At first, allegedly from a former police officer and a former defense officer, subsequently from the police themselves. Finally, a local artisan claims he was ordered to law enforcement headquarters and told clearly: keep quiet or encounter real trouble.

The leather artisan is among those resisting a high-value project where one of India's largest slums – one of India’s largest and most storied slums – will be bulldozed and transformed by a large business group.

"The unique ecosystem of this area is exceptional in the world," states the resident. "However their intention is to destroy our way of life and silence our voices."

Opposing Environments

The cramped lanes of this community stand in sharp opposition to the towering buildings and elite residences that overshadow the settlement. Residences are assembled randomly and frequently missing basic amenities, small-scale operations produce dangerous fumes and the atmosphere is filled with the overpowering odor of exposed drainage.

Among some individuals, the promise of Dharavi transformed into a glistening neighborhood of high-end towers, well-maintained green spaces, modern retail complexes and apartments with two toilets is an aspirational dream come true.

"There's no sufficient health services, proper streets or drainage and there's nowhere for youth to recreate," states A Selvin Nadar, in his fifties, who moved from southern India in the early eighties. "The only way is to clear the area and build us new homes."

Resident Opposition

However, some, such as this protester, are resisting the redevelopment.

All recognize that Dharavi, long neglected as an illegal encroachment, is desperately requiring financial support and improvement. Yet they fear that this initiative – without public consultation – could potentially convert a piece of prime Mumbai real estate into a playground for the rich, forcing out the disadvantaged, immigrant populations who have been there since the late 1800s.

This involved these shunned, displaced people who built up the vacant wetlands into an extensively researched phenomenon of local enterprise and economic productivity, whose economic value is estimated at between $1m and $2m a year, making it one of the world's largest unregulated sectors.

Displacement Concerns

Among approximately one million people living in the dense 220-hectare area, less than 50% will be eligible for alternative accommodation in the redevelopment, which is estimated to take seven years to complete. Others will be moved to barren areas and salt plains on the distant periphery of Mumbai, potentially fragment a historic social network. A portion will not get homes at all.

Those allowed to stay in the area will be allocated apartments in high-rise buildings, a major break from the organic, communal way of residing and operating that has supported this area for many years.

Commercial activities from clothing production to pottery and material recovery are likely to reduce in scale and be moved to a specific "business area" distant from residential areas.

Existential Threat

For residents like the leather artisan, a craftsman and third generation inhabitant to live in this community, the project presents a survival challenge. His informal, three-storey facility creates apparel – sharp blazers, premium outerwear, decorated jackets – marketed in luxury boutiques in upscale neighborhoods and overseas.

His family lives in the accommodations downstairs and his workers and garment workers – laborers from north India – also sleep on-site, allowing him to manage costs. Outside this community, housing costs are frequently significantly more expensive for a single room.

Threats and Warning

In the government offices close by, a visual representation of the Dharavi project illustrates a contrasting outlook. Well-groomed inhabitants gather on two-wheelers and eco-friendly transport, acquiring continental baked goods and pastries and having coffee on a patio adjacent to Dharavi Cafe and treat station. This represents a complete departure from the 20-rupee idli sambar breakfast and budget beverage that sustains local residents.

"This isn't improvement for us," explains Shaikh. "This constitutes a massive property transaction that will make it unaffordable for residents to remain."

Furthermore, there's skepticism of the business conglomerate. Managed by a prominent businessman – one of India's most powerful and an associate of the government head – the business group has faced accusations of preferential treatment and questionable practices, which it denies.

Even as the state government calls it a joint project, the corporation contributed $950m for its controlling interest. Legal proceedings stating that the project was questionably assigned to the corporation is under review in the top court.

Ongoing Pressure

After they started to actively protest the redevelopment, protesters and community members assert they have been experienced ongoing efforts of harassment and intimidation – including messages, explicit warnings and implications that criticizing the project was comparable with speaking against the country – by people they allege are associated with the corporate group.

Part of the group suspected of delivering warnings is {a retired police officer|a former law enforcement official|an ex-c