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Across several weeks, coercive phone calls persisted. Initially, allegedly from a retired cop and an ex-military commander, later from law enforcement directly. Ultimately, one resident claims he was summoned to the local precinct and warned explicitly: keep quiet or face serious consequences.

Shaikh is among those fighting a multimillion-dollar redevelopment plan where one of India's largest slums – one of India’s largest and most storied slums – will be demolished and modernized by a multinational conglomerate.

"The culture of Dharavi is unparalleled in the world," states Shaikh. "But their intention is to dismantle our way of life and stop us speaking out."

Contrasting Realities

The cramped lanes of this community present a dramatic difference to the high-rise structures and Bollywood penthouses that overshadow the area. Residences are built haphazardly and often without proper sanitation, unregulated industries produce dangerous fumes and the atmosphere is filled with the unpleasant stench of open sewers.

For certain residents, the vision of the slum's redevelopment into a modern district of premium apartments, neat parks, contemporary malls and homes with multiple bathrooms is an optimistic future achieved.

"We lack adequate medical facilities, proper streets or sewage systems and there's nowhere for kids to enjoy," states a tea vendor, in his fifties, who moved from southern India in the early eighties. "The only way is to clear the area and build us new homes."

Local Protest

Yet certain residents, including the leather artisan, are fighting against the project.

All recognize that the slum, long neglected as an illegal encroachment, is urgently needing financial support and improvement. Yet they fear that this plan – lacking community input – might transform valuable urban land into an elite enclave, forcing out the marginalized, migrant communities who have lived there since the late 1800s.

These were these shunned, migrant workers who developed the vacant wetlands into a frequently examined example of self-reliance and commercial output, whose economic value is worth between $1m and a substantial sum per year, making it one of the world's largest unofficial markets.

Resettlement Issues

Of the roughly 1 million people living in the dense 2.2 square kilometer zone, a minority will be able for replacement housing in the project, which is estimated to take a significant period to accomplish. The remainder will be moved to barren areas and salt plains on the distant periphery of the city, risking fragment a long-established social network. Some will be denied housing at all.

People eligible to remain in the neighborhood will be provided apartments in high-rise buildings, a major break from the organic, collective approach of living and working that has supported this area for generations.

Businesses from garment work to ceramic crafts and material recovery are expected to reduce in scale and be transferred to a specific "commercial zone" far from homes.

Survival Challenge

In the case of the leather artisan, a craftsman and third generation of his family to reside in this community, the project presents an existential threat. His makeshift, multi-level workshop produces garments – tailored coats, suede trenches, studded bomber jackets – distributed in luxury boutiques in upscale neighborhoods and overseas.

Relatives resides in the accommodations underneath and his workers and tailors – laborers from north India – also sleep in the same building, permitting him to sustain operations. Away from this community, housing costs are frequently tenfold costlier for a single room.

Threats and Warning

Within the government offices close by, a conceptual model of the Dharavi project depicts an alternative vision for the future. Well-groomed people mill about on two-wheelers and e-vehicles, acquiring international baked goods and breakfast items and enlisting beverages on a patio outside a coffee shop and treat station. This represents a stark contrast from the affordable idli sambar breakfast and budget beverage that supports local residents.

"This represents no improvement for our community," states the protester. "This constitutes an enormous land development that will price people out for residents to remain."

Additionally, there exists distrust of the business conglomerate. Managed by a prominent businessman – a leading figure and an associate of the government head – the business group has faced accusations of crony capitalism and ethical concerns, which it rejects.

Although administrative bodies describes it as a partnership, the business group contributed $950m for its controlling interest. A lawsuit claiming that the project was questionably assigned to the developer is under review in the top court.

Continued Intimidation

Since they began to vocally oppose the redevelopment, protesters and community members claim they have been experienced ongoing efforts of coercion and warning – involving messages, clear intimidation and suggestions that criticizing the initiative was comparable with anti-national sentiment – by figures they assert work for the developer.

Part of the group suspected of delivering warnings is {a retired police officer|a former law enforcement official|an ex-c