How youth groups helped transform Govandi, among Mumbai's poorest neighbourhoods

Mumbai: In 2011, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences launched ‘Transforming the M-Ward’ project after it was found that it ranked lowest on the human development index of all the wards in the city. Mumbai, India - February 15, 2023: Artists and talented youth boys and girls participate in the 5-day Govandi Arts Festival, which aims to create a ‘safe space’ in this neglected Mumbai suburb and highlight the talent of its youth, organised by Community Design Agency in collaboration with the British Council, at Natwar Parekh Compound, Govandi, in Mumbai, India, on Wednesday, February 15, 2023. Simpreet Singh, a consultant for the project, who has been working in the ward for two years, shared while project workers have been successful in making incremental changes, “many vulnerabilities identified all those years ago – such as pollution from Deonar dumpyard and the medical waste incinerator that was supposed to be moved out of Mumbai, but is still functioning and releasing fumes in the area – remain unresolved”. Citizens’ persistent struggles have made a difference, as authorities are more responsive now,” said Dnyaneshwar Tarwade, senior programme manager of the NGO Apnalaya, who works to empower groups in the area. In the years after the project was launched, various youths mostly from the slums formed the Govandi Yuva Manch – their focus was to make a list of issues plaguing in the area, raise awareness, gather support from residents and approach respective authorities to find solutions.