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Over an extended period, intimidating phone calls continued. At first, reportedly from a retired cop and a former defense officer, subsequently from the police themselves. In the end, a local artisan claims he was called to the local precinct and warned explicitly: keep quiet or face serious consequences.

This third-generation resident is one of many fighting a multimillion-dollar project where this historic settlement – an iconic Mumbai neighborhood – is scheduled to be demolished and redeveloped by a multinational conglomerate.

"The culture of this area is exceptional in the world," states the protester. "However their intention is to eradicate our community and prevent our protests."

Opposing Environments

The narrow alleys of the slum sit in stark contrast to the soaring skyscrapers and elite residences that loom over the neighborhood. Dwellings are constructed informally and typically without proper sanitation, small-scale operations produce dangerous fumes and the air is saturated with the unpleasant stench of open sewers.

To some, the vision of a renewed Dharavi into a modern district of luxury high-rises, neat parks, shiny shopping centers and homes with two toilets is a hopeful vision come true.

"There's no sufficient health services, roads or sewage systems and there are no spaces for children to play," states A Selvin Nadar, 56, who moved from southern India in that period. "The only way is to demolish everything and build us new homes."

Resident Opposition

However, some, like Shaikh, are resisting the redevelopment.

Everyone acknowledges that Dharavi, long neglected as informal housing, is desperately requiring investment and development. Yet they fear that this plan – without community input – could potentially transform a piece of prime Mumbai real estate into a luxury development, forcing out the lower-caste, working-class residents who have lived there since the nineteenth century.

These were these marginalized, relocated individuals who established the uninhabited area into a frequently examined example of community resilience and business activity, whose economic value is valued at between a significant amount and $2m a year, making it a major informal economies.

Resettlement Issues

Out of about a million people living in the dense 220-hectare area, less than 50% will be able for alternative accommodation in the redevelopment, which is expected to take an extended timeframe to complete. Additional residents will be relocated to undeveloped zones and salt plains on the remote edges of the metropolis, threatening to divide a generations-old neighborhood. A portion will not get housing at all.

Residents permitted to stay in the neighborhood will be given flats in high-rise buildings, a substantial change from the natural, collective approach of residing and operating that has supported this area for many years.

Commercial activities from clothing production to pottery and material recovery are expected to reduce in scale and be moved to a designated "business area" separated from residential areas.

Survival Challenge

For residents like the leather artisan, a craftsman and third generation resident to call home Dharavi, the plan presents a survival challenge. His rickety, three-floor workshop produces garments – formal jackets, suede trenches, decorated jackets – sold in high-end shops in south Mumbai and abroad.

Relatives dwells in the rooms downstairs and his workers and tailors – workers from different regions – live in the same building, enabling him to afford their labour. Beyond the slum, housing costs are typically significantly more expensive for basic accommodation.

Pressure and Coercion

At the administrative buildings in the vicinity, a visual representation of the transformation initiative shows a very different outlook. Fashionable people move around on two-wheelers and eco-friendly transport, purchasing continental bread and pastries and having coffee on an outdoor area near a coffee shop and treat station. This depicts a complete departure from the inexpensive idli sambar morning meal and budget beverage that maintains local residents.

"This represents no progress for residents," explains the artisan. "It's an enormous property transaction that will render it impossible for residents to remain."

There is also concern of the corporate group. Headed by an influential industrialist – among the country's wealthiest and an associate of the Indian prime minister – the conglomerate has been subject to claims of crony capitalism and questionable practices, which it denies.

Even as local authorities labels it a collaborative effort, the corporation invested $950m for its majority share. A case stating that the redevelopment was improperly granted to the business group is being considered in the top court.

Ongoing Pressure

From when they initiated to publicly resist the development, protesters and community members claim they have been subjected to a long-running campaign of coercion and warning – comprising messages, direct threats and suggestions that opposing the initiative was tantamount to opposing national interests – by people they assert work for the corporate group.

Among those alleged to have making intimidations is {a retired police officer|a former law enforcement official|an ex-c