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The Dharavi Project: from Slumdog to Slumdancer

The Dharavi Project: from Slumdog to Slumdancer

Malini Agarwal

Now the last place in the universe you’d expect to hear Timbaland was making a splash would be Dharavi, Mumbai right? But I suppose stranger things have happened. Yesterday Timbaland Productions presented “Respect Recycle” The Dharavi Project to highlight the key contribution Dharavi is making to “change climate change.”

Amar, Jim Beanz, Apache Indian and Rebel
Sout Dandy Squad
slum dancers

Several artists of Timbaland Productions  headed into Dharavi to show RESPECT to Bombay’s rag pickers and the entire recycling industry that is based out of Dharavi, by celebrating music, graffiti art and sculpture at Shri Guru Dutt Gym, Dharavi Kolivada. There were performances by Dharavi based Tamil rappers, Sout Dandy Squad, Apache Indian, Amar (UK), Jim Beanz (US), Rebel (US) from Timbaland Productions, DJ Ashrafi, DJ Kedar as well as many more inspired dancers and artists, This first of its kind event was supported by, the Indian Youth Climate Network.

The Dharavi Project (even the title has a cool ring to it na? I just figured out why it feels so familiar, does anyone else watch Lost and is totally intrigued by The Dharma Project?!) works with musicians, photographers, film-makers, writers and other artists so The Sout Dandy Squad performed with several international artistes. The purpose being to showcase local artistes and give the youth of Dharavi a chance to witness international artistes up close.

Spotted bopping: Sapna Bhavnani and Apnavi Thacker

ACORN International is a non-profit charity organization that works across 12 countries to aid marginalized sections of the population. Members of ACORN Foundation (India) have been working in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru with waste collectors, hawkers and small business owners. In Mumbai, ACORN has launched the Dharavi Project, to support the rag pickers of the area, and the recycling industry in Dharavi, where the collected garbage is recycled. To spread awareness of the role of the rag picker, many of who are children and women, ACORN has planned a multi media programme under the Waste Matters campaign that involves a documentary titled Waste by filmmaker Parasher Baruah, taking students for recycling walks to Dharavi that was organised in association with DNA Newspaper and an Art and Photography exhibition.

The next event by ACORN India is an Ecological Fair for the citizens of Mumbai, especially dedicated to students. The Eco-Fair has been supported by the MMRDA and the Mumbai Municipal Corporation and the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA).  The aim of the initiative is to spread awareness in students of the need to protect the environment, and how to manage solid dry waste. To involve students, various activities have been planned that are both informative about the cause and fun, so the kids will enjoy the experience. Besides participation of schools, the day-long fair will feature stalls put up by locals from Dharavi that will have on sale leather, pottery items, zari garments and food.

The Indian Youth Climate Network (IYCN) is a coalition uniting Indian Youth and Indian youth oriented organizations that are concerned about climate change. Indian Youth Climate Network (IYCN) aims to build a climate movement based on solutions and believes that the greatest solution is our human capacity to take action.