Dharavi Papadwali: Livelihood and Development
Director: Richa Hushing; Cinematographer: Tapan Vyas
Duration: 00:22:26; Aspect Ratio: 1.778:1; Hue: 43.778; Saturation: 0.155; Lightness: 0.228; Volume: 0.134; Cuts per Minute: 4.012; Words per Minute: 49.257
Summary: Dharavi is a slum popularly termed as the Asia’s biggest slum. Known to be one of the densest and most layered human settlements in the world, the origin of Dharavi can be traced back to mid 20th century, at the height of the industrialization in the region. Dharavi was originally located at the northern periphery of Bombay, but with boundaries of this ever-growing city constantly extending on all sides it has come to occupy prime location today. Today, according to official records, Dharavi is marked as an area spread over 175 hectares, where as many as 18,000 people crowd into a single acre. But considering the large presence of unofficial/illegal migration influx, the real number of people living in Dharavi is likely to be much more. Home to approximately one million people, Dharavi populace includes diverse language groups, religious communities and economic units. Most of the citizens of Dharavi are urban artisans, functioning out of the outer space of their one-storey shanties. This seamlessness in working and living space, over the decades, has resulted in high number of female wage earners. Currently, Dharavi is in the eye of a storm as the prime land that it occupies needs to be ‘re-developed’ to keep in pace with the economic globalization that is sweeping the city.
Papad making is predominantly a female occupation, where women work in groups within families or neighbourhoods and operate from home. The most important part of this trade, drying of each papad, needs large open air space. Traditionally, when papad was made at home, women used the courtyards for this purpose. With urbanization Papad (same like pickles and other snacks) making emerged as a cottage industry. The New Muncipal Chawl in Dharavi which was originally built as military barracks for world war–II, presently functions as courtyards for drying Papad for a large number of women and their families. The Papadwalis are generally part of Lijjat, a large institution with numerous branches manufacturing and marketing Papad all over India and also exporting abroad. The institution is registered as a co-operative society of women and each branch is supposed to work autonomously. It started in 1959 in Girgaum in Mumbai and through the four decades grew to be a formidable brand name. However the institution had its fair share of controversies around the issue of ethics and transparency. Besides, the wage earned by the women does not really justify the working hours put into the job.
Shooting is the courtyard of the new municipal chawl in Dharavi, where papads are kept to dry turned out to be a very difficult task. The women were hostile, some even threatened to break the camera. In some earlier occasion some reporters shot the courtyard and reported it in the media as an issue of public health considering the dirty courtyard where the papads were dried. A public outcry followed and some women lost their livelihood. Since then the women are wary of any camera.
Following is a story of one such family whose livelihood is making Papads. The work was originally started by the mother of the family. Now the mother is employed in some other work while the next generation continue the Papad making. The present working team comprises of the daughter-in-law and the married daughter with some help from the male members. The married daughter earlier used to live outside Dharavi with her husband who is an auto rickshaw driver. But the contract of Papad making is scarce outside. So she has shifted back to her mother’s place to work in the family business and earn a livelihood. Presently there are 3 families – of the daughter, of the daughter-in-law and of the mother, living in the same house. All of them posses ration cards which are considered as valis proof of residency. After the brother gets married in near future there will be another family under the same roof. The house is in the BMC (Bombay Municipal corporation) chawl which was built as army barrack during 2nd world war. The residents are old tenant of the place. The house has three rooms one after the other much like an office space structure. These are one of the larger houses in the area. Still one wonders how under the redevelopment policy the existing three families (each of them has the proof of validity) and their work space would be accommodated in the one room tenement in the multi-storied building.
It is part of our Dharavi documentation project. The project aims at documenting the various communities who have not only found homes for themselves in Dharavi but whose livelihoods are intrinsically tied to this space. We hope to evolve a comprehensive documentation and dissemination of the spaces and lives of Dharavi residents. Shot by Tapan Vyas.
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BMC Chawl, Dharavi
Dharavi is not a settlement, it is more like microcosm of the world. The living spaces and the working spaces are so intrinsically weaved with each other that it is hard to separate the two. A common community courtyard for at least a hundred of households serving as a work place for women as well as playground for children. Long shot of Papad drying in the sunlight. The raw pancake like papad are pasted on the backside of the cane basket and left on the road for drying. The colourful clothesline in the background provides a cinematic backdrop and hide the harsh reality. Patterns and coulour dominate the scene.
Dharavi, New Muncipal Chawl, Mumbai
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Dharavi, New Muncipal Chawl, Mumbai
Indoor shot. Household of a Papadwali. Majority of the livelihood activities happen within the living space. There is no demarcation. The whole family is involved in the work. The woman in pink saree is the married daughter and the woman in green saree is the daughter-in-law. The man is the unmarried brother. The children belong to both the families. Innovative way of avoiding the hassle of drying Papad in the sunlight by using the fire of a kerosene stove under the cane basket with Papads pasted all over. Shots of dough, rolling pins, cane baskets. The cane basket rotates in the foreground creating an artistic visual and in the back ground hands of the woman working away in furious speed.Speed, pattern, shape - installation like quality of a sweatshop.
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Ambience shot of the work cum living space. Painted rolling pins, dough, the indigenous device of drying Papad with stove and cane basket. Detail of working hands, sweating faces, tout shoulders.
Dharavi, New Muncipal Chawl, Mumbai
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More close shots of the work station. Behind the work paraphernalia is a cot which is also the only seat and the study for the children. Feeling shy in the presence of the camera crew the children hurdle on the cot. We talk to the woman in Marathi. Her close shot with the children in the background in soft focus. Their restless movements create a pattern of colour behind her. In the foreground rotates the Papad basket. The image of a working class mother, eternal provider. She explains the reason for distrust towards any camera crew. The self serving media exposing these poor families to the scrutiny of the larger society and the state. With the debate around 're-development' of Dharavi which involves international real estate interest, these things will occur more often. The real estate and the state would use the media for generating public opinion for demolishing Dharavi.I think it was an interesting problem that a presence of camera created – a thin line between ethics and irresponsibility where poverty itself is a highly in-demand commodity.
We get this batter from BandraThey give us 20 rs per kg to make these papadsIn case we spoil it, they cut 100rs per kg from us- Which company ? Lijjat Company. The price is alright. 20rs per kg… We churn about 4/5kgs of batter everyday.It all depends on our work…We should be able to make at least 800gms of papad from 1kg of batter… We are careful about our papads more than we are careful about our children…It is about 25 years since I'm in into this business… - Some local people in the courtyard didn't let me shoot papads; why ?I don't know who exactly, but some people had shot the working space around us, and registered complaints (of filthy conditions) so the company stopped giving batter to some of us...That is why we are scared of people coming and shooting us. I guess they were outsiders. They took our photographs and names and god knows what they did that the company stopped giving batter… they sweet talk here and complain about our work there… That's why we are afraid of anybody coming here… What to do once the batter stops coming ? This business is good… we can work from home… look after our kids…
Dharavi, New Muncipal Chawl, Mumbai
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Children have left the frame, wider shot. The woman continues to talk as well as working in full speed. There is no time to indulge into a relaxed chat. It is a sweat shop. 'in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread' (Genesis 3:19). She swears by the 'home based' work pattern which have made women like her possible to be a wage earner. The traditional logic of secured organized sector and vulnerable unorganised sector seem inadequate in the contexts of gender consideration and post globalization job market. The workshop-home structure of Dharavi make it possible for women like her to earn a wage, whatever might be the hard work involved. She is aware of the fact that a more gentrified settlement will not provide her this opportunity.Her sister-in-law joins in.
Dharavi, New Muncipal Chawl, Mumbai
I don't have my own home, I stay at my mother's place… My husband has a home back in his village, there are hardly any employment opportunities in village, that's why we came here to live. My husband is an auto rickshaw driver, and I work from home… - Which is your village ? - Katdilli… It is about 4 hours ahead of Solapur. - So how do you find Mumbai ? - Well, earn and eat… - And how do you find Dharavi ? – It is good… it was filthy before, but now it's better… In Dharavi, you can do any sort of work and get going… outside women just have to sit and eat… Just one man earning and ten mouths eating doesn't work… That is why we don't leave Dharavi… we like it this way... we like our chawl… but I guess, they say they wont give as many rooms as we have…
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A wider shot, as wide as possible in the small room with a burning stove and other working tools. The sister-in-law participates in the talk.
Dharavi, New Muncipal Chawl, Mumbai
Neighbourwoman: Its many years old… about 80 years… we have the proofs… we have ration card… every 10/15 years municipality attends to the chawl, mends the roof tops… we pay rent every month… 16 Rs per month… now its increased… its 22 Rs per month… it's a municipality chawl that is why…
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Here, we have to keep our mouth shut … only watch the show… the politicians are only for themselves, they don't bother about the others… they say, women are outsiders… (regarding married women's rights to matrimonial homes) so they register only the men in the house… Now in this house there are 2/3 ration card holders… but they have registered only one house for us… if you object, they say, "are you a male to ask for your part?"… so what do we do ?
The patriarchy works even in this lower section of the society too. Women are denied any property rights or access to any permits and licenses (such as tenancy or ration card). As a result when in trouble, in case of domestic violence or destitution, they cannot assert any rights. In urban milieu property rights come in the form of access to facilities. Since women are not recognized as representatives of the family units, these facilities are denied to them by the state. This social discrimination is the main cause of vulnerability of the women in urban society.
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Cu of the sister-in-law. Her son watches. She continues. Media and politicians are talking about 're-development', international institutions are sending researchers to study the 'redevelopment', architects and town planners are debating the issue in favour and against, international builders are biding for the construction job – but the residents whose life would be directly affected have no clear idea. Specially, the women whose opportunity to earn a wage is most likely to be a casualty of this development, are not considered as an active party. All the dialogue and negotiation happen between – the state, real estate lobby, town planners, middle class civil society, NGOs and sometimes important male residents of the slum.
We were born in this very house… It seems my grandfather bought this house for 60 Rs. My mother tells me, I'm telling you… What more ?! - But whose does the chawl belong to ? – Muncipality. There are ten chawls in total … municipality purchased it from those… what do you call them, the border guys… the Military had their barracks they say… they have sold it… - So you pay the rent ? – Yes. We pay 22 Rs per month. Why are you laughing ?!- What do the new guys say ?– They say they want to erect buildings. They'll breakdown these chawls… and what warning have they given us ? – 250sq ft. – When will they breakdown ? – by this Diwali they say… - yes they say so… but we don't know anything for sure… but we say we like our chawls, buildings are not good for us. Because they wont give us as much space… we have about 4 rooms in this chawl, but they have promised us only one… how much can you divide a single room ? If we try to speak up with the big guys, they ask us to keep our mouths shut. – Women don't get much chance to voice here… - Here everyone is self-centered. We haven't really had any dialogue with guys here… we are telling you as much as we have heard…
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The late afternoon weak sunlight falls through the window on her cheek – giving it a tragic/romantic ethos. Much has been talked about Dharavi being a health hazard and that was used in the campaign for demolishing Dharavi. What is evident from the talk of these women, that the settlement was deliberately left to detoriate to this level. New facilities were not provided, old facilities were not maintained and then a claim was made that the only way to solve the problem is to raze it. Camera goes to the other angle and another woman speaks up.
The politicians ask for votes but they don't help us. There is a major problem of water here… even the gutters are never cleaned. Municipality cleans the bigger gutters on the main road, but no one has bothered to clean the smaller choked gutters in our chawls… We clean it ourselves. They have won election for more than four years now, but no one has really looked after this place. Mahindra Shinde is for this area (she meant corporator of this area)… In richer localities, there are about 4/5 taps allocated and in our chawl, not even one. We share 1 tap amongst 5 households, even that tap doesn't get water regularly. Moreover the water is not clean… Should we use it for drinking or for washing ? Its never sufficient… we fight over water. Should we attend to our work or just keep filling buckets ? Where do we go to get water ? Other woman: And in this playground in the front, people from all over come to shit n pee and spoil the place, no matter how much ever you clean it. No one finds a facility for that. Earlier it used to be a garden. Children used to play on the swings and slides in the past… Youngsters used to sit and study there, rest in open air… now its become an open toilet to shit n pee.
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Dharavi, New Muncipal Chawl, Mumbai
For urban working class acquiring education is the most vital aspiration. As the education system gets more and more privatized it become inaccessible for the poor. On the other hand free govt. schools fail to provide useful education. The govt. launches populist schemes such as free bus travel on occasion of Ambedkar's birth anniversary, (Ambedkar was the leader of untouchables), but ignores the essential duties. The women's analysis and articulation of the situation is astoundingly precise and hard hitting.
The neighbour woman: Schooling of kids is going on fine. – The woman: The schooling gets expensive. It's a private school so we have to pay the fees. Its called Dr. Ambedkar High School, but does the name exempt us from fees? It's 200 Rs fees per month per child. From 1st to 10th… On Ambedkar Jayanti they sponsor free travel for all of us… then why not give us free schooling ? Can anyone enquire ? The school is too much… they care only for money. The education is compromised. On one bench, they seat 4 girls… if one sits the other falls, if other sits the one falls! On parents day if we complain, they say, "give us a tall building and we'll have a separate special seat for your child…"
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Ambience shot. Long shot of the room with the kitchen in the B/g. The children play among the doughs, rolling pins and kerosene stove. In the kitchen lay shining steel utensils, the pride of any housewife. Teenage girls make tea and can't stop giggling at the camera.The sister-in-law comes out, camera follows her. The outside wall of the chawl is heavily lined with drying clothes. There are garments, bed spreads, sarees… Dussera festival is impending. It is the spring cleaning time. The whole community's belonging is drying around. She reaches the Municipal school. Children in uniform return home from school. The difficult aspiration of the poor trek through the muck! Indoor of the house. Her children in school uniform keep staring at the camera. The proud mother watches the children's antics. The girl continues to stare at the camera. The corridor of the chawl in B/g. What is in store for these children who are so proudly flaunting their school uniform?
Dharavi, New Muncipal Chawl, Mumbai
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Back to outside Papadwali's house. Evening. Long hand held track shot through the location – chawl, hanging clothes, people go out for shopping, somebody folds the hanging clothes, children come back from school, vendors on their last round, some pandals, rickety staircases announcement of some community activity… and some neo adult youths shyly flirt with the camera.It is a dense, autonomous and proud neighbourhood. The one storey settlement known as New Municipal chawl around the large courtyard was constructed as army barrack during the 2nd world war. The construction of this old chawl is extremely good. One arm of the chawl has tenements which are little larger with three rooms. Popular guess is that these units were used as offices. Our protagonist, the Papadwali family, live in one such house. The other arms of the chawls have smaller one room tenements with bunks constructed overhead. The common courtyard is used by the entire community for both the household and livelihood activities.How would the 're-developed' model work for them? How would the value of the living-working space be calculated?
Dharavi, New Muncipal Chawl, Mumbai
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