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India - News
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Something to think about - September 2005
This report on Dharavi was submitted to PM’s Office in 2003-04.
There is very little information with regards to nutrition status and food frequency in Indian urban slums. A Pilot Study of the Nutritional Status of Children Living in Dharavi in July 2000, indicated that the urban slum population might be nutritionally worse off than the average rural Indian. As migration to urban areas continues to rise, the numbers living in slums will also continue to increase. This will have many implications for health policy planners to ensure the needs of vulnerable groups are addressed. Urgent attention needs to be paid to the nutritional health of children living in Dharavi.
Semi-quantitative food frequency data was collected on all participating families. The daily eaten foods for the majority of children were cereals and pulses. Tea was also consumed daily. Non-nutritional liquids (e.g., rice and vegetable water) were rarely consumed.
Fruit and vegetables were consumed 3-5 times a week by most children in each type of family and were rarely eaten by approximately a fifth of children in each type of family. Anecdotal evidence suggested that there was little variety in the fruit and vegetables consumed. Most children in both types of families consumed meat, fish and dairy products infrequently, about once a week. Children in families with disability more rarely consumed these items than children in families without disability. The lack of dairy products consumed, in particular yoghurt was unexpected. Anecdotal evidence suggested yoghurt was too expensive and not easily available.
The anthropometry results show children to be malnourished at levels comparable to the overall prevalence rates of underweight for India. The present study identified more than half the population as anemic which is similar to the prevalence across India.
Demographics of Dharavi
Dharavi means:
‘Loose mud’ in Tamil, named so by the early Tamil Muslim settlers who were
tannery owners a. Basic FactsØ Dharavi is first an industrial estate and then a residential slum! Ø Dharavi is enterprise personified – it forces people to survive, due to lack of a safety net Ø 80%+ residents of Dharavi, work in Dharavi itself. Ø Majority of residents of Dharavi are Dalits Ø Dharavi is a reserved SC constituency.
b. Quick facts: Ø 85 percent of households own a television set, 75 percent own a pressure cooker and a mixer, 56 percent own a gas stove, and 21 percent have telephones. Ø Dharavi has 28 temples, 11 mosques and 24 madarassas, 6 churches Ø Oldest mosque – Badi Masjid (constructed 1887) Ø Oldest temple – Ganesh Mandir (constructed 1913) – very important for Adi Dravidas Ø Khamba Deo Temple (constructed 200 years back) Ø Kala Killa (constructed 1737) Ø Cross at Koliwada (1853). But as Jacob Patil, the gaonpatil or mayor of Koliwada says, the cross itself was erected in 1960. “I put that cross up in 1960, but I knew that a new cross would be knocked down by the police when they came to know of it. So I put the date 1853 on it, and pretended it had always been there, unnoticed. Now it’s in the history books! Ø Subash Nagar is 80 years old. Ø Opposite Mahim creek, Naik Nagar, Ambedkar Nagar and Rajiv Nagar have the worst living conditions, was built on swamp after concrete waste dumping.
c. Area
435 hectares (Other sources say 175 or 375 hectares). Population density is 17,000 per sq. km (18,000 people per acre?)
d. Housing (Average Living space and Average family size)
Typically - Cramped 150 sq. ft. house with no natural light or ventilation, without running water or sanitation.
e. (1986-87 NSDF/ SPARC survey)
86,000 structures housing 106,000 families at an average of 6.2 people per house (total about 6 lakhs population); 62 pongals are like dorms which can accommodate 30-100 men to sleep. Pongals were constructed by Adi Dravidas. Government survey counted 3 lakh people.
f. VotersSix (municipal corporations) wards each with a voters numbering 30,000 - 45,000.
g. The important roads are: Ø Dharavi Main Road Ø 90 feet road Ø 60 feet road Ø Dharavi cross road Ø Sion-Mahim link road
h. Children and Schools
1993 data for BMC “G North” ward Municipal Primary Schools 60 Municipal Secondary Schools 4 Municipal School Buildings 47 Rented Municipal School Bldgs 13
Four BMC schools are: Ø Sant Kakaiya Ø Kala Killa Ø Rajeshree Shahu Ø Transit Camp
Main private schools are: Ø Ambedkar school is an important Englsh medium school started by Andhra-Kannnada Dalit Vargh Sangh. Ø The four Tamil schools are till Std VII and then Kamaraj High school is a very good option for locals for further studies. Ø Shivaji Maharaj school Ø Ganesh Vidyamandir
i. Hospitals and Doctors
1993 data for BMC “G North” ward Municipal Hospitals 1 Municipal Maternity Homes 1 Municipal Dispensaries 10 Dental Clinics 24 Other Hospitals 5
j. Water/ Sanitation and drainage
Dharavi has 162 taps for water and 842 toilets. There is one toilet here for every 150 people - but with little running water, even these are usually blocked. In the heat, the stench is overpowering.
PTI (26/7/03) reported that Dharavi, described as the largest slum in Asia, lacked not only proper housing but toilet facilities as a result of which it was prone to various health problems. Dharavi also faces transportation, drinking water, drainage and sewerage problems.
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