Newly-painted homes bring colour into lives of Bandra slumdwellers
Till now, slums have generally meant ugly shanties, stinky, dirty-looking dwellings which are difficult to live in. Recently, there has been a huge transformation in a few slums across various parts of the city. One such is right off the WorliBandra Sea Link toll plaza.
Slumdwellers of Bandra west are happier after the look of the area was transformed. The initiative to change the look of the Jaffar Baba Colony in Bandra by painting the houses with bright colours and modern art was taken up by a nongovernment organisation (NG)) -- Misaal Mumbai.
Residents have noticed the difference and they feel they lead an altogether different life now. “Earlier, people used to feel nauseated to come to a slum area like ours, but after the spruce up, we have so many people visiting us. Even our relatives from outside the state have come to witness the spectacle after we shared them the news. Our lives have changed in a few weeks for the better,” said Sapna Sonawane, a homemaker who lives in the slum.
Modernising the slum and transforming it into a completely new zone has also attracted tourists who come to have a look at the murals and the painted homes. “The aim was not only to give the place a modern look. The goal is to uplift them and make them aware that whether they live in slums or a mansion, a home is always a better place to live,” said Rouble Nagi, artist and philanthropist, who heads Misaal Mumbai.
The organisation is now waterproofing the paint before monsoon strikes. “Now we don’t feel ashamed of living in a slum. Even we don’t like to live in slums but we are helpless. Initiatives like these uplift us. There are people who specially come to see these slums after they were painted,” said Natty Keni, another slumdweller.
BJP Mumbai president Ashish Shelar and BJP MP Poonam Mahajan helped the organisation in its mission.
“There is a sense of responsibility in us as well. We try not to litter things here and there. Now that the walls are painted nicely, people’s spitting has been reduced to a drastic level,” said Dagdu Khairwar, a resident who also helped in painting the slums. He added sarcastically, “Good samaritans of Misaal Mumbai should not be rewarded by us by being irresponsible.”