Transforming Asia’s largest slum

Dharavi, the largest slum in Asia, is housed in the heart of Mumbai. With a population of over one million, there is a huge untapped human resource base. Unfortunately, the area abounds in unhygienic infrastructural problems, violence and alcoholism.

On Gurudev’s direction, Art of Living volunteers took the responsibility of transforming the lives of people in Dharavi. Starting November 2000, regular self development courses have been self development courses have been conducted to eliminate stress, improve health, bring about harmony in diversity and encourage responsibility towards the self, the family and the society. Regular follow-up sessions are conducted, advance meditation courses and Youth Leadership Training Programs to give local youth a direction. Many locals have given up alcohol and addiction to other toxic substances.

General health has improved with a stronger psyche. Many locals are unemployed or working in jobs which yield poor salaries and no job satisfaction. The AOL courses gave them the confidence to venture out and many are now placed in better jobs. Several AOL devotees have employed people from Dharavi, further boosting this trend. Health, social life and financial comfort have improved.     

Social initiatives
AOL volunteers alongwith the locals cleaned a filthy patch of open ground and converted it into a play ground for children. Satsangs, meditation sessions and service projects are regularly held in the area.

Many trees have been planted to promote a healthier environment.

Medical camps
Regular free medical camps have been conducted every two months since July 2001. Free check ups and medicines have been given to around 250 locals in each camp. During the Mumbai floods in 2005, over 3,500 affected people were treated and given free medicines.

First English school in Dharavi
After working in Dharavi for a while and with the enthusiastic response from the locals, AOL volunteers realized education was an important key. With the idea of facilitating cognitive, physical, emotional, and spiritual growth among the slum children in the area, the SSRVM (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Vidya Mandir) was started. This is the first English medium school in Dharavi and has received a heart-warming response from every corner of Dharavi. The students are given free books, stationary, uniforms and teaching material. As of January 2006, the school has 150 children (79 girls and 71 boys) studying in the nursery, kindergarten and standards I-IV.

The teacher student ratio is 1:15 and field trips, computer facilities enhance the learning experience. The curriculum is guided by eminent educationists and the Mumbai University and emphasizes on English as well as Hindi, Marathi and Sanskrit.

Good health and hygiene are emphasized in the school with regular health checkups and health awareness programs for students and parents.

The teaching methodology, which combines a fun-filled way of learning, has been a success with children and their parents.

Various programs have been arranged to promote a spirit of happiness and harmony in the community. On Gurudev’s Birthday, May 13th,  a healing session was conducted where hundred of locals gathered for blessings. A month-long Ram Katha session was organized from July-August 2006 which boosted the morale of the locals especially in the aftermath of the Mumbai Blasts. The Ram Katha sessions were complementary to the regular Nav Chetna Shibirs, breath workshops, which were conducted to help the people get over the trauma. 

Old people, youngsters and children flocked to these sessions which were made more dynamic with a fancy dress competition, Rangoli competition and poetry recitation. Vedic chants were played each morning at 4am which rendered a peaceful atmosphere to the entire locale. Each day, for the month long Ram Katha session, around 200 people showed up but the numbers are going up to 500 on some days.

The enthusiastic locals wanted to arrange for everything on their own, from arranging the prasad to supplying oil for the lamps. The shift in consciousness was palpable, from "I don't have enough to give" to "I shall bring whatever I can tomorrow". Many laxmi- taru  seeds were distributed to the people so that the area could become greener.