Mumbai Slums - Longing Forwards to a Better Tomorrow

The Human Development Report of 2009 carries priceless information and data on Mumbai slums. In the introduction to the report, Kumari Selja, the Indian Minister for Housing and Poverty alleviation has stated: “Studies have indicated that in certain slums of Mumbai there is an average of 81 persons to each toilet seat to be had. And only 31% of Mumbai’s slum dwellers are likely to accomplish 10 years of schooling. In brief, the quality of life in Mumbai leaves much to be desired….”
Mumbai earlier known as Bombay is categorized as the Megatropolis of India. Mumbai is also usually referred to as the Island city and it is administered by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)

Out of Mumbai’s total population of 11 million, about 55% constitutes slum population, occupying about 12.85 % of the city’s total land area. A bigger part of these lands on which slums are located were up to that time uninhabitable. The slum dwellers were solely responsible for making them habitable. The first place for any migrant population to settle down is in the slums due to the high cost of housing in the megatropolis and of coarse their poverty stricken standing.
Slums are the main distressing countenance of every city in India. Crime, alcoholism, drug abuse and diseases are prevalent in every slum and the worst victims are the women and children. With less or at times no civic amenities, educational and employment opportunities available to them, the slum dwellers have remained profoundly mired in social and economic problems.
A ray of hope can be seen in the studies that have acknowledged the potential significance of slums as incubators of upward social and economic mobility. To this end, a a small number of welfare organizations are active in the slums and we mention some of the more prominent ones here.
The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) started a cleanliness scheme in 2001 in those slum areas where cleanliness services were not provided by the MCGM. The scheme is generally known as Slum Adoption Scheme i.e. (Dattak Vasti Yojna).
Slum Rehabilitation Society (SRS) is an organization dedicated to the development of the economically weaker section of the society in Mumbai. SRS responds to the growing issue of habitation for inhabitants living in slums irrespective of social status, caste, creed or community, by way of their project: Slum to Noslum They are working towards the following objectives:
· Lobbying central and local government for policies which guarantee the prevention of slums through pragmatic and sympathetic concern for the poor.
· Promoting the perception of self-reliance, savings and self-building amongst slum dwellers.
· Acting as facilitator for slum dwellers who strive for better homes and better opportunity.
· To work for the upliftment of hutment dwellers and other low income groups of Grater Mumbai.
· To provide accommodation with sanitation for hutment dwellers and other low income groups in Greater Mumbai.
Sulabh Slum Children’s Welfare Program has launched a self-development course for the children of the slums. Its main thrust is towards education, personal hygiene and environmental awareness. The children are brought to the Sulabh School and given schooling in a variety of job skills.
Concern India Foundation financially supports education oriented organizations that are working for the disadvantaged.

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2009 Human Development report.This article is sponsored by Peachtree Ink, the best place online for Printer inkjet cartridges

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