The history of local self governance among indigenous communities in India dates back to the pre-colonial era when governance was based on customary laws and social norms of the society. These traditional structures were largely community centric, playing a mediatory role in land management and resolving social disputes to maintain status quo in the community. In modern contemporary realities, local self governance has transformed into a cohesive component of the society, legislated through the 73rd and 74th Amendment of the Indian Constitution. The institutionalisation of the Panchayati Raj System decentralised and devolved power to urban local bodies to promote grass root level democracy. The Koli Jamaat is a functional example of this framework at play in Dharavi Koliwada:  

Koli Jamaat, the local self-governing body of Dharavi Koliwada carries the commitment to undertake developmental challenges for the Koliwadas with a participatory approach. Until the early 1960’s, The Koli Jamaat was solely led by a Patil or the village head who as a community leader acted in good faith to support his flock. The reference to the word Patil in colonial history is associated with the administrative powers vested with the village headman which was traditionally transferred through inheritance. The emergence of elected local bodies in states like Maharashtra and Gujarat during the 1960’s prompted the Koliwada community to acknowledge the need for formal recognition to advocate for their rights. As a result, the Koli Jamaat was re-collectivised to form Dharavi Koli Jamaat Trust, legislated in the early 1960’s as a registered trust under the State of Maharashtra. 

Gradually, administrative powers were transferred from the Patil to the office bearers of the Trust however the Patil continued to serve as a Silent Leader of the community for both Hindu and Christian Kolis alike. The traditional role of the Patil has evolved adapting to the urban context of Dharavi and the ‘silence’ of the Patil is not a form of disengagement but a display of cultural devolution, symbolising the intricate balance between federalist structures and traditional leadership.  

The Dharavi Koli Jamaat trust comprises the President, Secretary, Vice-President, Vice-Secretary and the Treasurer as office bearers along with 16 other members who form the executive body of the Trust. The executive body conducts bi-monthly meetings to reach consensus over the issues presented to them by community members. The trust also has an advisory committee to promote community participation in local governance where the committee gives recommendations to the proposals made by the Jamaat. Over the years, the trust has maintained cordial relations with key stakeholders in the district including local leaders, politicians, civil society organisations, Fisherfolk Unions and the BMC. Once the demands and proposals are drafted, it is then forwarded to Legislative Assembly Members (MLA’s) and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for further consideration. The Koli Jamaat trust relies on the coordination of its stakeholders and community members to prioritise on development objectives and determine appropriate measures for the community.        

Elections to the trust in Dharavi Koliwada are in stark contrast to the culture of campaigning in India that puts on a visual affair offering huge rallies, campaign posters, and fiery speeches for its spectators. Moving away from the grandiose that politicians form during elections, representatives standing for election in Jamaat believe that it's important to communicate in person to form bonds in this tight-knit community. Representatives go door-to-door in the hunt for votes which is a common tactic used in India to gather support from the masses. Although culturally deviant, it has several aspects of the general electoral function embedded within it. The elected members hold their position for a stipulated period of 5 years and elections are conducted wherein eligible voters (Kolis) cast their votes through ballot paper voting. Election campaign demands the candidates to submit their election manifestos outlining their tentative vision and propositions for the years to follow. In recent terms, the participation of women and youths has increased significantly and currently they make up 60 percent of the trust.      

We interacted with Dominik Koli, the current president of the Koli Jamaat Trust who believes that the trust provides the flexibility to restructure their welfare initiatives in addressing the community’s priorities and needs. He wants the community to acknowledge the administrative valour of the trust rather than viewing it solely as an entity that provides support during festivals. This is his second tenure as President and while it has been an enriching experience for him, it also comes with the additional pressure of being accountable for the decisions taken by the trust. His tenure comes at a crucial conjunction for Dharavi with calls for redevelopment disrupting the social cohesion of the community. People are growing apprehensive of the trusts’ interest, he says. Dominik has been working to rebuild trust amongst community members and to collectively resist the intrusion of non-state private entities within Dharavi Koliwada all the while hoping that their pleas don't fall on deaf ears.

The Koli Jamaat Trust has worked to manage local affairs and to preserve the cultural traditions of the community. Apart from the spatial developments in Dharavi Koliwada, the trust also ensures that the socio-economic challenges of the community are given careful consideration. The trust has been providing scholarships and sponsoring the education of young children in an attempt to support their educational aspirations. The trust has also kept aside dedicated funds to assist families in Dharavi Koliwada going through financial constraints and emergencies. The trust believes that prioritising the needs of the people and helping them at times of distress is a part of the social fabric that brings the community together.    

Collective ownership of public land has helped the Koliwadas harness locality as a resource to generate capital. The trust collects rent from houses that have been leased to migrant workers and the general public, which in turn is used to provide infrastructure, welfare measures and to launch new initiatives for the community. One such initiative carried out in collaboration with urbz, is transforming the Customs House into a study space for children and young adults of Dharavi Koliwada. The trust believes that a study space tailored to the needs of children in the community promotes the creative and explorative aspirations of the younger generation.

Onal, a young Koli, aspiring to be a member of the Jaamat someday, talks about how detrimental it is for the Jamaat to consider the ambitions of the people in Koliwada “It is the people who came first, the Jaamat was only made after.” He feels what once used to be a people-centric trust is now diluting to accommodate the calls for redevelopment of Dharavi. While various vested interests shape the narratives of Dharavi Koliwada, it is young people like Onal who are devoting their time to sensitise people on the ills of a top down approach in redevelopment.. “Redevelopment will further push the Koliwada to the fringes and what once stood as cohesive cultural heritage will be reduced to scattered site housing displacing the community.”    

Onal envisions a Jamaat that is gradually taken over by young minds. He wants the youth to actively participate in the decision-making process and contribute to the welfare of the community. In our conversations with Onal, we realise that he has a strong vision for the community to drive their entrepreneurial spirits. He talks about effective strategies that the Jamaat could incorporate to boost economic empowerment in Dharavi Koliwada, one such strategy being the Micro-Enterprising financed by the Jamaat for young entrepreneurs. 

While the vision of the trust aligns with that of Onals, who collectively want to empower the younger generation of the Koliwada community, the trust is met with the additional challenge of procuring funds for new projects. Currently the trust manages to coordinate funds for public projects with the money disbursed by BMC under The Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA), but when it comes to welfare issues of the community, the trust heavily relies on their own resources in the form of rent, sponsorships and in-house donations which at times is inadequate to cater to the demands of the community. 

The Dharavi Koli Jamaat Trust needs the support and financial assistance of the State to undertake new projects and initiatives. Currently, The Jamaat is working on multiple projects with high level stakeholders to facilitate socio-spatial improvements in Dharavi. The water and sanitation programme initiated by the Jamaat aims at resolving the issues of water contamination and water-borne diseases by using non-conventional water channels to supply water in the neighbourhood. Furthermore, the Jamaat in order to preserve the ancestral memory of River Mithi has proposed to develop a celebration garden and recreational space along the riverside. These initiatives originate as per the requests and demands of the community and the Jamaat works diligently to help its people and locality build resilience in times of vulnerability.     

urbz has been collaborating with The Dharavi Koli Jamaat in multiple projects including the Garden of Festivities, Customs House, Water & Sanitation and Solar Powered Street Light Project.