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Causes and consequences of uneven development – WJEC Development in Mumbai, India

The world has developed very differently across regions and by continent. The consequences of uneven development can be observed clearly by examining different regions and countries of the world.

Part of GeographyDevelopment and resource issues

Development in Mumbai, India

India is an example of a . Each year thousands of people move to the city of Mumbai from . Mumbai is an important trading city within India and its trading bloc. Many large multi-national companies are located here, such as Coca-Cola and Tata Steel. These provide employment and generate income across the region.

People move to Mumbai because the city has lots of . People think that the city will provide lots of opportunities such as:

  • social - better housing and services, eg healthcare and education
  • economic - more jobs and higher wages
  • environmental - better living conditions with a safer environment (less chance of natural disasters)

People who move think that they will have a better quality of life. However, cities such as Mumbai face lots of challenges, and the people who move there do not always have a better quality of life. Some of the challenges they may face include:

  • social - poor housing conditions and crime
  • economic - low wages or unemployment
  • environmental - polluted drinking water and a lack of

A problem of rapid is the development of . In Mumbai the squatter settlement of Dharavi is now home to over 1 million people. Dharavi lies between two railway lines and is one of the biggest squatter settlements in the world. The squatter settlement is unplanned and has these characteristics:

  • overcrowded and noisy
  • houses are made from cardboard, wood, corrugated iron, plastic sheeting and metal from oil drums
  • lack of sanitation and clean drinking water
  • open sewers
  • pollution and disease are common
  • thousands of workshops and people employed in the
A narrow city street with plant pots hanging from balconies, and washing lines full of colourful clothes hanging across it.
Image caption,
A slum street in Dharavi, Mumbai, India

Improving squatter settlements

Brazil is also an example of a . In Brazil, squatter settlements have been improved through . This is when residents improve their own home with the support of the local authority. For example, the local authority may provide cheap building materials or a loan for residents to purchase them. Residents make all the improvements to their homes themselves.

The impacts of Multi-National Companies (MNCs) in Mumbai

Mumbai is a vital trading hub within India and the Asian economy. Many large companies are now locating in Mumbai, often to take advantage of lower wages, reduced government interference and cheaper rental costs. While the economic benefits of these companies locating in India means wages and job opportunities are increasing in their country, there are also several significant threats of large MNCs setting up in NICs.

The impacts of Coca-Cola in India

Indian employees at Hindustan Coca-Cola stack a pile of empty bottles in their crates.
Figure caption,
Coca-Cola in Mumbai

Coca-Cola is one of the most recognised MNCs in the world. Found in over 200 countries it is estimated that 95 per cent of the world recognise its famous logo.

Advantages of Coca-Cola in Mumbai

  • Coca-Cola has invested over $2 billion in India since 2011, employing an estimated 25,000 people and over 1 million people .
  • This leads to increased tax contributions to the Indian Government by the workers, and this creates the .
  • Workers are provided with opportunities to develop skills, and many apprenticeship training courses are provided to local people.
  • The Coca-Cola Foundation provides financial support to local issues such as drug awareness programmes, disaster relief programmes and recycling.

Disadvantages of Coca-Cola in Mumbai

  • One of the most reported threats associated with Coca-Cola is that the company is groundwater supplies across the region. Local farmers have reported having to dig down nearly 250 feet for water which once stood at only 50 feet. Water is an essential element in Coca-Cola.
  • Land is also said to be ‘poisoned’ as waste sludge from the manufacture of Coca-Cola also ends up in water supplies and agricultural lands.
  • Many workers are also overworked and underpaid in conditions which would not always pass health and safety regulations in western countries such as the UK.
  • Drinking Coca-Cola also increases health related issues since the drink contains large amounts of sugar and caffeine, which puts an added strain on the health services.

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