Connecting rich and poor: Doors open for people to experience Mumbai's slum life

David said that living in slums is difficult, adding that it is valuable to show how people live in slums.

In a novel initiative to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor, an NGO has encouraged a slum dweller from Golibar area of Santacruz to let people live at his home and experience slum life in Mumbai.

The slum dweller, Ravi Sansi, has credited NGO's supervisor David for this initiative. David Bijl, 32, is a Dutch citizen who works for a Mumbai NGO.

"It started with David sir, who is a supervisor at an NGO where I work visiting our home and suggesting starting it," Sansi told news agency ANI.

Sansi lives in the one-bedroom home with 16 of his family members.

David said that living in slums is difficult, adding that it is valuable to show how people live in slums.

"This initiative can help them financially. It is also help to create a connection between two groups of people, poor and high class. This is not about idealising slums, living in slums is difficult, it is valuable to show how people live here," David told ANI.

According to reports, the stay costs Rs 2,000 rupees (22 pounds), all of which goes to the host family.

The initiative has, however, drawn criticism, with some terming it as "poverty tourism".

OneIndia News