the street people and the slums

ssharonuk

Ive been on here for a few years now and no one has mentioned just how many people there are living in poverty and slums which is very disturbing but more so how do they survive the monsoon weather in there so called ghats ?Ive been to goa and thats bad but what i was looking at on a webpage on yahoo is very disturbing it also says that the place stinks of b o and urine ect ect It says there are 100s of 1000s just living in the streets of mumbia
Also will i be pestered 24/7 by beggers and urchens
concerned
sharon

anindya911

Hi ssharonuk,

Welcome to the real world and we all know its grim.
Its hard for me to even think how those people living on the road or slums carry on with their lives. All I can do is read someones account who have seen such people in close quarter (like Shantaram), 'cause I couldnot muster the courage to do it myself. It is much easier (albeit cowardly) to avert your eye and pretend its not there...

For the beggers and urchins trouble read the very good post made by Beach
The India confusion

Anindya

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skinnylizard

the city has 15million people and thousands arrive everyday looking for jobs. they dont all have places to go.

a great many fortunes were made by people who lived in the same conditions.

its a crappy situation but its a hard knock life.

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kayozz

from what i understand... the community is so close knit, that the problem isn't half as bad as it sounds... yes, it's unpleasant and sometimes disease and illness is rife. But, the community is strong and everybody looks after each other... It's an unpleasant experience (by all accounts) but it's not impossible.

kiwi_razz

City of Joy
by Dominique Lapierre

is a great read about Calcutta slums.

beach

Cities are magnets. They attract people from the villages. Villagers reach the cities knowing very well what is in waiting for them. This 'internal migration' within India is much larger than any of the international migrations in the world. But then this is an internal problem of the country. India is no China. There are no rules or law to prevent this. This is the good thing in one way. One man comes from a far away village to the city. Then he brings another family member. Then the neighbor. Then…..this is the human chain reaction makes the Indian cities explode with people.

There are enough beggars. Don’t think that all those live at the footpath are all beggars or the likes. Somehow people don’t want to ‘waste’ money on rents..Howmuchever small it may.

Then there is the much ambitious NREGA (National Rural Employment Guarantee Act). The idea is to hold the villagers at villages. To prevent them flooding the cities (which has its share of problems to deal with) in search of jobs. It seems this works.

The road constructions alone can give job to the millions of people who doesn’t have any special job skills. For a few decades to come India would be an ‘Under construction’ country. Wherever you go in India, you would see construction works goes on as if it’s an unending process. Cities need (cheap) laborers from the villages.


It’s probably an Indian trait. Give him ample money, he would show you how vulgarly you could display wealth. Kink his money supply, he would show you how to meet the ends with microscopic income!

ssharonuk

your article is great a wonderfull insight of life as a traveller in india
Having been to goa twice now we are going to mumbia then travel along the maharastra .At Mumbia i will be prepared for the culture shock having seen it allready allbeit not in the magnitude im expecting in mumbia but never the less i know how to say no thankyou a 100 times with a smile on my face its like every body wants a little piece of you
99% of indians i have met on our travels are always polite no matter what there back ground maybe and always very helpfull, if some body doesnt understand you then somebody else behind you will just tell them for you They/you are really wonderfull
Now come to the beggers theres only a few scattered around goa mostly children whom i just give sweets to will there be hundreds folling me every step i take ? ive travelled on local buses and trains no problem it was a great experience just chatting to the person next to you as though youve known each other for yrs so the travelling part is what im looking forward to more than anything But Its just Mumbia im cautious about is it safe? and what is this about killers and such ive been told about and warned not to go there kalkland rd ?or something like that .I really want to stay in Mumbia for a total of 4 days 2 at the start and 2 at the end but will it be to much for me
thanks again for a wonderfull write up
sharon

navinkurian2002

why would anyone want to goto Falkland road ? Been in mumbai all my life and never even been to that part of the city.

Mumbai is like any other city in the world . Its the neighbourhood you visit which makes a difference .


Cheers
Navin.

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ssharonuk

sorry i was just saying that i was told on no acount go to falkland rd now i know why lol
im dum sometimes
sharon

aadil

>>>> sorry i was just saying that i was told on no acount go to falkland rd now i know why lol im dum sometimes
sharon

If you go to Chor Bazaar (Thieve's Market or Antiques/Flea Market) from Grant Road, then you may pass from there!!! I am sure you will not want to go there but then sometimes there is no option but to see reality for what it is in life!!!

Aadil.

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ssharonuk

Aadil
Every major city in the world has red light areas Also like mumbia here in london we call our slum place cardboard city where the homeless live in cardboard boxes and a blanket to keep warm at night the salvation army will give them soup and tea In the day they beg for there needs (mostly drugs )i dont need to come to india to see that my friend its every where in the world
sharon

Trika_yogi

Disease and illness.... I beleive India has just surpassed Africa on the amount of HIV cases? If i am wrong please correct me.

Jasmin

yes, that is what I heard too, very disturbing, is it true?

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daeve

Sharon,

my two children (g13/b12) and I had a fantastic time in Mumbai earlier this year.....first trip outside UK for them.....we mostly were there for the cricket, but wandered all around Coloba/Churchgate/Marine Drive/Chowpatty/Tardeo without any kind of real hassle.....very lively and dynamic place, some fabulous restuarants, thrilling taxi rides.....not too much for us, pretty full-on but manageable & excellent entertainment.....gotta love Maximum City I say....

peace & love

daeve

aadil

I did not ask you to come to Mumbai to see the red light area but just mentioned that it was on the way to the Chor Bazaar area that is generally visited by foreigners for the antiques and flea market as it is pretty famous to see and probably find a good bargain too sometimes. So you might have to pass through the red light area to get to Chor Bazaar. Nowhere have I mentioned going there to see the place specifically. Sorry you misunderstood what I wrote probably.

Aadil.