The slums has become an identity of our country, something we can’t boast of. This dark side of our country, if not improved, will only double in years to come.
The life in Indian slums has not been hidden, but a little revision is required to awaken ourselves of the triumphs and dilapidated condition of those residing in the slums.
16. Earn Meagre
Those living in slums have to make a living working as rikshawallas, house servants, rag pickers and road side vendors for a meagre sum starting from Rs. 150 to Rs. 3000.
15. Child Labor
These financially unstable families put everyone at work for survival. The kids as young as five years start working as sewage cleaners or house help to feed their family.
14. A Few Sq Mts.
The reconstruction of slum houses allows an occupant residing since 2000 to live in a redeveloped home of about 269 sq. mts in that area.
13. Unrecognized
Did you know that the census has classified slums in three categories — notified, recognized and identified, of which identified slums (have the largest slum population) are legally not given the status of a slum. So, basically a third of major slum population remains unrecognized.
12. Crowded Home
Sharing a small house with not one but six to seven members is a common scene of the slums. Most of these households have one room or is being shared with another family.
11. Toilet Deficit
The houses of slums are devoid of an indoor toilet which happens to be one-third of the slum homes. The ones that do have a toilet are not connected with proper sewerage systems.
10. Water Scarcity
In slums such as Dharavi, water supply comes once a day and that too for few hours. There is queue to take water which often results in brawls. Bet the scene is same in other slum areas as well.
9. Contaminated Water
With no proper sanitation medium and open sewerages, the slum residents are exposed to contaminated water, which is a major reason for many health problems that emerges as a result.
8. Communal Bathrooms
The lack of in-house toilets makes them compelled to use the unhygienic communal bathrooms which have no proper sewerage to dispose off the waste.
7. World’s Largest Slum
Being at top would never have been more shameful, as Dharavi in Mumbai falls in the top 5 slums of the world.
6. Major Cities Have Slums
The metropolitans offer more than job prospects, it offers a life long Struggle to sustain oneself. Not a surprise but the major cities of our country offer opportunity in form of slums. Cities namely, Lucknow, Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata etc.
5. Woman Safety, Sanitation And Security
Where we fear crime at every step, for a girl residing in slum, her safety is much at stake being surrounded by uneducated drunkards. Not only that, being devoid of proper sanitation makes women prone to many diseases and allergies.
4. Centre For Goods
Despite the negativities, the slums happen to be the hub for recycling and production of goods. From the plastic covers of cellphone to vegetable oil cans, they do it all, but in vain.
3. Once Upon A Time In Mumbai
The now populated Dharavi slum was once a fishing village. The face of development is astounding.
2. Inspired Enough
The slums have inspired the making of the Oscar winner movie “Slumdog Millionaire” and the bestselling book “Behind the Beautiful Forevers” Are we missing something here? When is the government going to be inspired enough to eradicate this evil.
1. What Is A Slum
Nothing can be more heartbreaking than the definition of slum, which according to the census is ‘A residential area where dwellings are unfit for human habitation by reasons of dilapidation, overcrowding … lack of ventilation, light or sanitation facility.
