Slums in Mumbai are only a reflection of many facets of poverty. The movie Slumdog Millionaire directed by Danny Boyle is an ideal portrayal of the harsh lives of children on the wrong side of India who experience the bitterness of poverty. Despite the unjust peculiarities and sorrows created by poverty, people are still hopeful on their future and still have lust for life. Dharavi is a perfect example of slum area. Slum area is generally defined as informal and low class settlements often found in the cities.
“Dharavi is a sprawling, chaotic place of precariously-built brick houses, bamboo and corrugated iron-roofed huts, milky cess pits, greasy fried food stalls and noisy, dusty workshops” with unreasonably many number of population (“Slum in Mumbai” 2009).
Their illegal settlements deprived them of public services such as water sewage and medical assistance. Moreover, their massive population encourages fornication, street gangs or other forms of violence, health problems, homelessness and thus poverty.
The level of poverty experienced in the Slums of Mumbai is not only manifested in the shortest of common or basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter and safe drinking water. But poverty also deprived them of many opportunities such as the education, high paying careers and updated modernity. Children and youth under the state of poverty instead of participating in community and social services for their individual growth and learning will be forced to work at a very early age to provide for their family.
The Essay on What Major Events Have Led to India’s Slums?
Imagine trash covering the streets, houses built with anything that can give efficient shelter, and 26% of children underweight or stunned. In India’s slums this is reality. Millions of people are living in India with no type of sanitation just outside its cities, where water is running perfectly fine. Over the years, the population of India has grown tremendously but so have its slums. India ...
Thus spiritual, emotional and intellectual growth is relatively slower compared to those youngsters expose to different learning communities/ activities. People who live in poverty often perceive themselves as hopeless individuals and unconsciously see themselves as victims of capitalism. They often have a bad impression towards government and social institutions believing that their services are unfairly distributed for the people like them.
As a result, they are the one prone to rebellious activities against the government. They are often putted into a situation where they make impulsive decisions for the sake of survival that will only serve to further complicate their lives. This may include considering crime as an acceptable or justifiable alternative for physical survival. Ultimately, their value system and moral standard will be greatly affected. Poverty may cause disunity inside the family and community as a whole.
Example of this is the increasing number of single mothers and separated parents because couples can’t live by love alone. Poverty may lead to encountering many mental and psychological problems because and anxieties and different levels of depression. The effects of poverty all over the world especially on slum areas show inequalities and disparities between the rich and the poor. It is not only a reflection of their own wrongdoings but also a reflection of mismanagement in governance and unequal distribution of wealth and resources.
Moreover, poverty especially in Asia is also a reflection of cultural causes which exercise their life in conformity to their tradition and religion. The United Nations and various social institutions though are working hand in hand to at least lessen poverty since everybody deserves a decent life. . (2009).
“Slum in Mumbai”. The Star Online. Retrieved on February 17, 2009 from http://thestar. com. my/lifestyle/story. asp? file=/2009/2/16/lifefocus/3092984&sec=lifef
