I need an Indian (dot) perspective re: slum tours

[poofyhairguy]

My wife and son volunteered to work at a soup kitchen as part of my son's community service assignment at school. A more ungrateful bunch of people you'll never meet... not that my wife and son were looking for gratitude but man, you could at least be somewhat polite toward the people volunteering their time to help you. :whiste:

Many homeless people lack mental stability or social skills.

 

[radhak]

How do Indian ex-pats feel about tour operators like this?

http://www.slumgods.in/the-longer-yard-dharavi-tour/

Depends on why you are going. Voyeurism is never appreciated, even by the poor; but if you go with the intention of interacting with people who are much lower than you in purchasing power, but maybe just as happy with their lives as you might be with yours, no grudges there. This particular tour might be safer for you, and more dignified for them than some others. The tour guides are from those same slums, and they give back to that community in a committed fashion. I daresay if you are in India, aren't a snob and don't look down on the people there as some on this forum do, you might really like it.

Just don't go thinking you can throw around some cash and make their life better. Instead, you might learn something good from those living in these slums.

You can get germs from keyboards, hospitals, schools, workplaces, gyms, malls, etc... Perhaps it is best that you don't leave home if you are a germaphobe.

Is it and different than walking on the side walk of your street?
IMHO, it is more likely that you get mug and rape going home from your local bars at night. Because, thieves don't hangout in places where people don't have money.

Well said.

Nope. Still not going to India either.
I am not sure what kind of silly question that was even pretending to be. People in Flint, Michigan are safer than women in India.

Really? Did you pick Flint because maybe it has an especially low crime rate? Because as far as stats go, USA is far worse than India: 15 times worse.

http://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/compare/India/United-States/Crime

Yes, it might be under-reported in India, but not by an order of 15. And horror tales of sexual assaults in US colleges are at an entirely different level - an unheard of phenomenon in India.

If you take the time to get a better picture, you might change your tune.
http://world.time.com/2013/11/08/wh...india-than-everywhere-else-but-actually-isnt/

But then, I guess it's easier for you to read headlines and spout nonsense. Who am I to judge?

 

[Ns1]

Thanks all. I appreciated some of the replies here, especially @radhak

 

[smackababy]

Ah, the trap was set, the bait laid, and you fell right into my clutches! I was hoping I'd catch a "India is so much better than the US and rape isn't really a problem" person!


Also, I picked Flint, Michigan because it is one of the worst cities in the US.

 

[squarecut1]

My wife and son volunteered to work at a soup kitchen as part of my son's community service assignment at school. A more ungrateful bunch of people you'll never meet... not that my wife and son were looking for gratitude but man, you could at least be somewhat polite toward the people volunteering their time to help you. :whiste:

Yes that is an American thing. I regularly volunteer for people on refugee status in America and they are full of grace.

 

[squarecut1]

One can indeed learn so much from interacting with people on a lower social status than you.

 

[squarecut1]

Yes that is an American thing. I regularly volunteer for people on refugee status in America and they are full of grace.

The other thing that I must add is the children. Beautiful children. Having none of the entitlement and spoiled attitude of the regular children of the population. So full of sweetness and innocence

 

[OBLAMA2009]

that actually looks interesting, they arent really marketing it as a "ha ha slum tour", so i would do it. if they were selling it as a "slum tour" and highlighted really effed up sheet id be afraid to do it, you might end up with trauma/ptsd afterward

correction: they are advertising it as a "slum tour" but they are showing other aspects like food, art etc...seriously if you have a country where sheet like that is going down you need to cease breeding until you get the effed up sheet under control

 

[radhak]

Ah, the trap was set, the bait laid, and you fell right into my clutches!

Okay, you did get me there...

I was hoping I'd catch a "India is so much better than the US and rape isn't really a problem" person!

Umm, that is something I won't say. India has ways to go, particularly in the law-and-order and social consciousness areas; and rape is a huge problem anywhere; even one rape is one too many. In India, an under-educated woman has very little command over her own life, and any brush with crime, and subsequently with the law, leaves her bruised for life. So far be it from me to belittle her situation.

I only object to painting a whole population with a very wide brush. There's a lot of pleasure to be had in experiencing anything new, particularly a new culture from within. India in particular can offer a lot, if you can just follow some basic steps for personal safety.

As others have noted, this particular 'tour' is not to gawk at people, but rather like a factory tour - you'd see a lot of manufacturing going on (from soaps to leather to clothes to edibles and automobile parts) and massive recycling processes - all manual! And you'd be able to participate in their activities if you want to. As in, try some bollywood dance steps or try to create an earthen pot. I think it'd be fun.

 

[rahul]

FWIW, not everyone who lives in a slum in Bombay is poor, many do so because it's affordable housing close to school/work. I had friends in college who lived in Dharavi, their 2 room "house" had all the comforts I had at our apartment in a high rise in Andheri, at a fraction of the rent.

If I were you, I'd ask a colleague to take you around Dadar/Matunga, Mahalakshmi or Santa Cruz/Vile Parle for some local color. The three places listed are very different from each other.

 

[DesiPower]

FWIW, not everyone who lives in a slum in Bombay is poor, many do so because it's affordable housing close to school/work. I had friends in college who lived in Dharavi, their 2 room "house" had all the comforts I had at our apartment in a high rise in Andheri, at a fraction of the rent.

If I were you, I'd ask a colleague to take you around Dadar/Matunga, Mahalakshmi or Santa Cruz/Vile Parle for some local color. The three places listed are very different from each other.

No Kamathipura? 😉

 

[Aharami]

Depends on why you are going. Voyeurism is never appreciated, even by the poor; but if you go with the intention of interacting with people who are much lower than you in purchasing power, but maybe just as happy with their lives as you might be with yours, no grudges there. This particular tour might be safer for you, and more dignified for them than some others. The tour guides are from those same slums, and they give back to that community in a committed fashion. I daresay if you are in India, aren't a snob and don't look down on the people there as some on this forum do, you might really like it.

Just don't go thinking you can throw around some cash and make their life better. Instead, you might learn something good from those living in these slums.



Well said.



Really? Did you pick Flint because maybe it has an especially low crime rate? Because as far as stats go, USA is far worse than India: 15 times worse.

http://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/compare/India/United-States/Crime

Yes, it might be under-reported in India, but not by an order of 15. And horror tales of sexual assaults in US colleges are at an entirely different level - an unheard of phenomenon in India.

If you take the time to get a better picture, you might change your tune.
http://world.time.com/2013/11/08/wh...india-than-everywhere-else-but-actually-isnt/

But then, I guess it's easier for you to read headlines and spout nonsense. Who am I to judge?

dont bother. you're just wasting your breath.

 

[RearAdmiral]

I went around slums in Ghana...cannot recommend for a good time. I was on the hunt for this peanut based treat that some folks make...omg so good! I smuggled a large amount back on the plane.

 

[rahul]

No Kamathipura? 😉

Unless he wants to sample the wares, no 😛