As Mumbai’s ambitious Dharavi redevelopment gains real‐world momentum, its online counterpart has been caught in a swirl of hyperbole and half‐truths. In mere clicks, social-media posts have painted a picture of wholesale displacement – claims that every one of Dharavi’s roughly 1.4 lakh tenements and 10 lakh residents faces eviction without recourse.
The reality, documented in official plans and confirmed by project leadership, is far more layered: a tenure-based rehousing framework designed to deliver “housing for all”, not blank-check removal.
How Misinformation Takes Root
In the digital echo chamber, nuance is the first casualty. A single post declaring “every Dharavi resident must move out” can ripple across thousands of feeds before a fact-check appears.
Anxiety spreads through alleyways as densely as people roam them. Yet, a careful look at the Slum Rehabilitation Authority’s guidelines and the joint venture’s road map shows no blanket eviction-only tiered relocation tied to clear eligibility dates.
What the Rumors Say
Left unchecked, such narratives can derail community trust. But they flatten a complex policy into clickbait and leave out the very real assurances being extended.
The Real Plan: Eligibility by Tenure
Under guidelines approved by the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA), eligibility hinges on the move-in date:
Pre-2000 Residents