Rajendernagar Slum Visit

Service learning is a big emphasis in this study abroad.  Students are required to do engage with the community through service oriented internships as part of their program.  Working with NGO's that service these slums can fulfill this requirement.  I haven't been in an Asian slum before, the one we visited looked better than I had thought, although bright colors and smiling children make it hard to call it a slum.  Of course many of the students are curious of the children and the children are equally curious about the foreign students observing them.  I felt the pleasant interaction distracted and obscured part of the reality, it is very difficult for people from core countries to fully grasp what it is like to not have water, swage, food insecurity and if you die, you are just dead and nobody cares.  Of course some people don't have a clue:  I overheard one person complain, without a hint of irony, about their own accommodations and lack of reliable internet WHILE THEY WERE VISITING THE SLUM.  Most students did seem to appreciate what was going on here though.

This is part of the slum that is more of a shanty town, we did not go in there.

This is where we entered, you get some idea of the street life.

Girl watching students enter the NGO

NGO operates out of one room building that also serves as a schoolroom and education center

Just some street photos.  Buildings are substandard construction and often built on squatted land.  Landlords collect rent on what they don't even own.  In Mumbi the government is trying to evict people living in slums, but organized opposition has halted it (for now).  Sometimes slum land can become very valuable, if squatters are paid a settlement to leave, sometimes they can do a little better for themselves.

Just some street sceens. The boys and girls are in uniform so they do have the opportunity for education (these are the lucky few, many children were just wandering during school hours).  Note the motor bike that just speeds through crowds.  He had his three sons on there with him.  The most insane bike overload I ever saw was in Cambodia where a husband, wife, two kids, infant were on a single 100cc scooter, they were also carrying a 20 kilo bag of rice (I did not have a camera then).

Girl trying to get a treat from the fruit vendor.

Interactions with slum children can be delicate, they are not exposed to many outsiders, especially foreigners.  They are bemused with phones and cameras carried by foreigners, so I kept my photos to a minimum. 

Much of the inhabitants have come from the countryside to search for work in the city, there is work but the pay is very low, often just 80 to 100 Rupees ($1.50 to $2) for a full day of work. Child labor is technically outlawed in India, but it happens all over the place, I'm sure they are paid about a dollar a day or so.

It is important to note that you should never give money, candy, etc. to slum children.  If you want to make a donation to this particular NGO, please contact me.