Indore slum-dwellers choose TV over civic amenities

For those living in the cramped and squalid conditions of Shekhar Nagar slums in Indore, the television is the sole mode of solace and entertainment that keeps the dwellers' sanity intact.

For those living in the cramped and squalid conditions of Shekhar Nagar slums, the television is the sole mode of solace and entertainment that keeps the dwellers' sanity intact.

DTH-connections-dot-every-house-at-Shekhar-Nagar-slum-in-Indore-on-Tuesday-Arun-Mondhe-HT-photo

Situated on the banks of an open drain near Harsiddhi temple, the area is counted amongst the largest slums of the city. However, take a hawk-eye view of the area and you will see DTH discs dot almost all the 2600 make-shift house in the area.

For these slum dwellers, spending a sum of Rs1500 to acquire a DTH connection has come up as an example of changed times wherein people are choosing entertainment over basic civic amenities. "Many households in the area do not have toilets. It is difficult for us but investing in a television set is an entirely different matter," said Mukesh Kachua, a daily wager.

For Raju Chandan, a flower seller residing in the area, entertainment is a must. With a monthly income of approximately Rs 3000, it's difficult for Raju to make his ends meet, but he willfully spends as much as Rs 300 every month on DTH recharge. "Entertainment to zaroori hain life main (We need entertainment in life)," he states.

Raju is not the only one in the slum who rates television over basic civic amenities. "I drive an auto-rickshaw and earn approximately Rs 4000 a month. But owning a television set is a must. It makes the environment more peaceful at home and gives a mode of entertainment to my children," said Santosh Chandra.

Considering the huge number of television sets in the area, we asked some of them about their favourite content on these sets. "We watch latest Hindi songs and some times news," said Raju.

Linking the purpose of television more with entertainment than with information, all of them choired, "After a long day at work when we see people in better conditions than ours on television, it soothes our grief and at times, also inspires us."