Conditions of Slum Population of Major Sub-urban Wards of Mumbai in Maharashtra

This paper analyzes slum dwellers access to basic amenities and the ways in which they gain access. Mumbai city is a city of the haves and a city of the have-nots. Among these two, one is grimy (slum) and other one is neat (non-slum). They are two distinct but inter-dependent and give Mumbai a part of its character. As per 2011 census the total population of Mumbai was 12.48 Millions. The city has experienced substantial growth rate during last five decades due to high level of industrial development and growth in the suburban areas of greater Mumbai jurisdiction. According to the 2001 census, Mumbai slum population was 54.5%. Provisional data from the 2011 census shows that nearly 41.3% of the city’s population lives in slums. Dharavi is a part of G north ward and its population is 5.82 lakh with nearly 60% slums. Dharavi is no longer Asia’s largest slum. It’s now rivalled and dwarfed by four slum clusters in Mumbai itself, some of the major slumdweller’s pockets in Mumbai & suburbs are Kurla-Ghatkopar belt (70%-80% slum population), Dindoshi belt (80% slum population), Bhandup belt (70% slum population), Mankhurd-Govandi belt (95% slum population). This paper focuses more on the living environment of households and the population of major wards such as Kurla (L), Chembur (M), and Ghatkopar (N) of Mumbai city in Maharashtra. It is understood from the primary survey that around 82% people are living in one room, having drinking water facility through common connection (says 65% people) but which is not available regularly and in sufficient quantity, 84% slum population is depending on public toilets . The drainage system in slum area is open (says 85% people). On the other hand it is also observed that 82% households have mobiles and 87% households have Television sets. This paper concludes with magnitude of problems of slum population in Mumbai & provides an overview of policy options through which governments can assist in providing adequate shelter for the growing number of poor households expected to be living in cities in the future.