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Across several weeks, coercive communications recurred. Initially, supposedly from a former police officer and an ex-military commander, and then from law enforcement directly. Ultimately, a local artisan asserts he was ordered to law enforcement headquarters and warned explicitly: remain silent or encounter real trouble.

This third-generation resident is among those opposing a multimillion-dollar initiative where Dharavi – a massive informal community with rich history – is scheduled to be razed and transformed by a large business group.

"The culture of this area is exceptional in the globe," says Shaikh. "Yet the plan aims to destroy our social fabric and stop us speaking out."

Contrasting Realities

The narrow alleys of the slum stand in sharp opposition to the high-rise structures and luxury apartments that dominate the neighborhood. Homes are built haphazardly and frequently lacking adequate facilities, small-scale operations produce dangerous fumes and the atmosphere is permeated by the unpleasant stench of exposed drainage.

To some, the prospect of a renewed Dharavi into a modern district of high-end towers, neat parks, modern retail complexes and residences with proper sanitation is an aspirational dream come true.

"We don't have adequate medical facilities, roads or drainage and there's nowhere for youth to recreate," explains a tea vendor, fifty-six, who relocated from Tamil Nadu in 1982. "The sole solution is to demolish everything and provide modern residences."

Community Resistance

But others, such as Shaikh, are resisting the redevelopment.

Everyone acknowledges that this community, long neglected as an illegal encroachment, is urgently needing financial support and improvement. However they worry that this project – absent of resident participation – is one that will transform a piece of prime Mumbai real estate into a luxury development, forcing out the marginalized, migrant communities who have resided there since generations ago.

These were these marginalized, relocated individuals who built up the vacant wetlands into an extensively researched phenomenon of self-reliance and economic productivity, whose output is valued at between $1m and two million dollars a year, making it among the globe's biggest unofficial markets.

Relocation Worries

Out of about a million inhabitants living in the dense sprawling zone, less than 50% will be eligible for new homes in the redevelopment, which is estimated to take seven years to accomplish. The remainder will be relocated to barren areas and salt plains on the far outskirts of Mumbai, threatening to divide a long-established community. A portion will not get residences at all.

Residents permitted to stay in Dharavi will be provided flats in multi-story structures, a substantial change from the natural, communal way of living and working that has supported the community for generations.

Businesses from clothing production to ceramic crafts and material recovery are expected to reduce in scale and be moved to a specific "business area" distant from residential areas.

Survival Challenge

For those such as Shaikh, a leather artisan and third generation of his family to call home the slum, the redevelopment presents a survival challenge. His makeshift, three-floor operation produces garments – sharp blazers, premium outerwear, studded bomber jackets – sold in premium stores in upscale neighborhoods and overseas.

His family lives in the spaces below and laborers and sewers – laborers from different regions – live on-site, permitting him to manage costs. Outside Dharavi's enclave, accommodation prices are often 10 times costlier for a single room.

Threats and Warning

At the administrative buildings in the vicinity, a visual representation of the redevelopment plan illustrates an alternative perspective. Slickly dressed people move around on cycles and electric vehicles, acquiring western-style baguettes and croissants and enlisting beverages on a terrace outside a coffee shop and Ice-Cream. This represents a complete departure from the inexpensive idli sambar first meal and 5-rupee chai that sustains the neighborhood.

"This represents no progress for us," says the protester. "It's a massive real estate deal that will price people out for residents to remain."

Furthermore, there's concern of the corporate group. Managed by an influential industrialist – among the country's wealthiest and a supporter of the Indian prime minister – the conglomerate has encountered allegations of favoritism and questionable practices, which it disputes.

Although local authorities labels it a collaborative effort, the business group paid $950m for its 80% stake. A case claiming that the initiative was unfairly awarded to the business group is pending in the top court.

Ongoing Pressure

Since they began to publicly resist the development, protesters and community members claim they have been subjected to a long-running campaign of pressure and threats – comprising communications, explicit warnings and insinuations that speaking against the development was comparable with anti-national sentiment – by people they claim represent the developer.

Included in these accused of issuing the threats is {a retired police officer|a former law enforcement official|an ex-c