City: Mumbai

What do COVID-19 figures in October and November tell us about the city's preparedness to fight the virus. Since June, the Maharashtra government has allowed a gradual unlocking of services in Mumbai. Non-essential shops, salons, and spas were permitted to open towards the end of June; and by August, malls had re-opened. On October 5, the government allowed restaurants and food courts to open and the Railways were instructed to increase the capacity on local trains. Many experts forewarned that these unlocking measures, while essential for the economy, would lead to another spike of cases in the city. But a…

In 2019, researchers at the Azim Premji University (APU) proposed the creation of a National Urban Employment Guarantee Programme that addresses the problem of unemployment, underemployment and low wages in the informal urban workforce. The proposal called for providing 100 days per year of guaranteed work at Rs 500 a day as well as apprenticeships for youth with graduate or post-graduate degrees. Since 2006, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) has attempted to provide 100 days of employment to adults in rural areas. But no such social security and public works programme exists in Indian cities and…

With the festival of Dasara (or Navratri) just over last week, households like ours have been carefully packing away our statues and dolls till next year. While the Bengalis in Mumbai are immersed in Durga Puja and the Gujaratis in Garba and Dandiya, the South Indians get busy with Bommai Kolu, a festive dolls display that is the focal point of the 10-day long festival. Kolu (or Golu) is a tradition that is passed on, from one generation to the next. No matter which city in the world they move to, the Kolu moves with them. Most of those who…

Every year, some buildings give up the fight against Mumbai’s harsh monsoon rains. Why aren't the collapsing buildings repaired to save people who live in them? One answer seems to be lack of funds.  On 16 July, Bhanushali building in Fort collapsed, killing ten people. It was awaiting repairs since June 2019, when it was granted permission to be repaired from its own funds.  The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority shift the residents out of the buildings, pull them down and erect new structures in their place. Some residents are wary of such a strategy…

Fish caught in Maharashtra are not promoted enough in local markets. The local fish, considered to be superior in quality are exported for lower prices outside the country. Even restaurant associations refrain from purchasing these local fish and prefer to import lower quality fish such as the Basa. Why do we need to bring fish from outside when we have a superior quality of fish such as the local Tuna, Sakla, Ghol, Barracuda, Snapper etc, ask local fishermen. https://youtu.be/Ju5UJHvVxNU

Maharashtra currently ranks 7th in India when it comes to fishing. The government encourages inland fishing rather than promote existing traditional fishing methods. Maharashtra however is not very popular for inland fishing. In comparison to Maharashtra, other states have been aggressively supporting the fishermen by giving them coastal land to create nurseries. One such example is that of Gujarat where fishermen have been given coastal land for fishing. However, in Maharashtra infrastructural developments have been taking place which are having a direct impact on the coastal areas of Maharashtra where mangroves are being cut and coastal roads are on the…

The rivers in Mumbai are a source of livelihood, sustenance and a way of life of the people who live on its banks and around It. Rivers are slowly turning into sewers due to disposal of trash by Humans. One such example is that of the Versova creek that has been polluted as there are 12 inlets connecting to the creek coming from North Mumbai.Rivers like Malad, Oshiwara, Mogra, Poisar etc that have been carrying a lot of harmful Industrial as well as domestic waste into the river. This has led to heavy pollution and an extreme loss of marine…

The Adivasi Community of Mumbai's Sanjay Gandhi National Park are being asked to vacate their homes from the forest which they have resided in for generations. This video tries to showcase their survival, the adversities they are facing and how it’s going to affect the livelihood of these communities when they are forced to relocate. The Adivasis live in areas that are beneficial to them and they are highly dependent on the forests for their survival. Relocation will prove to be a huge tragedy in terms of finding new ways to survive. Not to mention, it will end their cultural…

The Art and Culture of the Warli communities are slowly getting lost. Today, not many indigenous communities have been following their traditional art and culture as they are slowly getting urbanized and trying to find a livelihood outside the jungle and forest areas. Through my videos, I want to show their Culture and Art forms that have been slowly fading and how their art needs a space of its own to be displayed to not only the residents of Mumbai but also to people travelling to Mumbai to see the majestic Culture of its original inhabitants. https://youtu.be/s2wt08Bqqzo

Being a hardcore Gujju (Gujarati) and a Bombayite by birth, the street dancer in me that comes alive and out in full force every Navratri, is restless this year. Navratri, which when translated into English literally means '9 nights', is usually 9 nights of worship and dancing for us. Garba and Dandiya are the big cultural dances that are performed. Garba is done before the worshipping rituals (called Aarti) while Dandiya is performed after the Aarti. Some of us have been performing as a troupe at the local celebrations over the last couple of years. This year all the festivities related to this…