Discover Transforming lives in New Delhi Slums Areas

New Delhi is a big, exciting city with lots of bright lights and fancy places! There are fast trains, big shopping malls, and fun movie theaters where people can watch films on huge screens. There are also restaurants with delicious food and stores full of cool clothes and toys. But, there’s also a sad side to New Delhi Slums.

Some people don’t have nice houses or enough food and work hard every day just to live. Today, we’re going to talk about New Delhi Slums like these in and around New Delhi.

Here’s a list of the New Delhi slums areas

Madanpur Khadar
Sangam Vihar
Paharganj Slums
Kathputli Colony
Kusumpur Pahari
Seemapuri Slums

Madanpur Khadar

Madanpur Khadar is a resettlement colony just a kilometer away from the Sarita Vihar Metro Station on the outskirts of Delhi. In the year 2000, the government chose this area to move large groups of slum-dwellers from various parts of the city, giving them a place to live.

Today, most people living in Madanpur Khadar work as rag-pickers. As you enter, you’ll see mud and brick houses lined up along narrow streets, with markets selling second-hand goods and trash materials. A sewer line runs through the area, and the residents face challenges like unsafe drinking water and sanitation issues. However, some support is provided, as several NGOs focused on Women’s Welfare and HIV support have set up centers to help the community.

Location: Near Sarita Vihar Metro Station

Sangam Vihar

Sangam Vihar is one of the largest slum colonies in India, established in the late 1970s. It became home to many people who migrated from nearby states, especially Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Life in Sangam Vihar is challenging, as many areas lack a water supply, forcing people to struggle daily for basic necessities. There are also few communal toilets, leading to open defecation and creating serious sanitation and hygiene issues in the community.

Location: Sangam Vihar Road

Paharganj’s New Delhi Slums

Paharganj’s New Delhi Slums is a bustling community near the New Delhi Railway Station, well-known as a backpacker’s zone. Besides housing travelers, this area is home to a large slum community. Unlike many other slums, Paharganj is a bit more developed because of the income from guesthouses catering to train passengers arriving nearby.

Many residents here work in menial jobs or, in some cases, as pickpockets. The area reflects an Old Delhi-style settlement, with narrow streets lined with 2-3 floor buildings and shops. The lanes are typically untidy, crowded, and always bustling with activity. Small brick houses line the streets, where women can be seen washing dishes, sewing clothes, or chatting together.

Location: Paharganj Road

Kathputli Colony

Kathputli Colony is a unique and remarkable slum located near Shadipur Depot in Patel Nagar, and it is in the process of being relocated. The residents of this area are magicians, puppeteers, acrobats, dancers, and various other artists who have lived here for hundreds of years.

The colony is known for its narrow mud roads, colorful houses, and streets filled with performers. It has a vibrant atmosphere, with artists showcasing their talents. The Indian Government has often turned to the community’s puppeteers and magicians to represent India’s cultural excellence on the global stage.

Location: Near Shadipur Depot, New Patel Nagar

Kusumpur Pahari

Kusumpur Pahari is the largest slum in New Delhi, home to over 10,000 people, primarily migrants from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, Assam, and other states. Located near Vasant Vihar, one of the most upscale areas in Delhi, it offers a sharp contrast to the posh bungalows surrounding it.

The majority of residents in Kusumpur Pahari work as servants, drivers, gardeners, and sweepers, serving the wealthy families of Vasant Vihar.

Location: Near Vasant Vihar

Seemapuri Slums

Seemapuri Slums is a challenging slum area located in East Delhi, known for its overwhelming garbage dumps, open drains, and sewage nallahs (canals). The people living here are mostly from the labour class, struggling with limited resources.

Women in Seemapuri often have to collect toxic drinking water, and families live in mud houses, with 7-8 members sharing a small room. Basic amenities like proper sanitation are scarce, making daily life even harder for the residents.

Location: Near Old Seemapuri, Taharpur

Conclusion

This is the other side of New Delhi—where many slums in New Delhi are still exist, while others have been destroyed for events like the Commonwealth Games and the construction of malls and buildings. So, the next time you find yourself complaining about life’s little inconveniences, take a moment to be grateful for the roof over your head.

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