Struggling Waters: India Faces Challenges Head-On
The Tata Center for Technology and Design at MIT recently introduced its newest cohort of graduate students to the complexities of life in resource-poor environments during an orientation programme in August. The journey took the students through various environments in India, including Mumbai, a remote mountaintop villa, a dense slum, and sleepy villages.
The programme, supported by the Tata Education and Development Trust, aimed to challenge students to develop a nuanced understanding of life and its challenges in these environments. One of the key figures guiding the students was Hanumara, who emphasised the interconnected nature of potential solutions, implying a holistic approach is needed to positively impact people's lives.
The students' itinerary included a visit to Dharavi, an informal settlement in Mumbai, home to an estimated 1 million people and known for its unofficial recycling industry that handles 80% of Mumbai's plastic waste. Inside Dharavi, students observed longstanding communities living in an intricate maze of alleys and tin-roof shanties. Homes were found to be scrupulously maintained and surprisingly modern. However, Dharavi's informal economy offers opportunities to migrants and other neglected groups, but it also leads to unsafe labor conditions and poor sanitation.
For instance, students witnessed unsafe labor conditions, such as aluminum smelting plants where workers breathe highly toxic fumes. In the residential sector of Dharavi, students saw untreated sewage flowing into the ocean from public toilets used by as many as 1,500 people per day. These observations underscored the need for extreme care in handling the challenges faced by resource-poor environments.
The students also toured villages in the Satara district and discussed urban migration and the sustainability of villages. The unequal distribution of resources - natural, economic, and social - was apparent between villages, with some being relatively prosperous and others struggling even in the rainy season.
The orientation concluded in Mumbai, in the historic Colaba neighborhood. Hanumara stated that it's impossible to introduce India in a week, but the fellows now understand the complexity of the problems they will be addressing in their research. As they gathered their thoughts about the last few days, the students prepared to head off to their individual research locations around India.
A previous Tata Center project, Tracing Public Space, aimed to help residents transform the conditions in Dharavi. The Tata Scholarship for MIT students, which provides financial support to Indian students admitted to international universities based on financial need and academic merit, was also mentioned but specific details about the newest cohort of recipients were not provided in the available information.
The group also traveled to the hill station of Mahabaleshwar, a popular summertime destination, during their journey. The orientation served as a valuable learning experience for the students, providing them with a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in India's resource-poor environments.
