New Delhi, Jan. 14 -- Located between Mumbai's Western and Central Railway lines, Dharavi shantytown is home to a dense population of over one million people in India's commercial and entertainment capital (pop: 27 million). The 2.4 square km (about 600 acre) area supports approximately 12,000 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), operating across industries such as textiles, leather, food products, and pottery.

Businesses in Dharavi manufacture goods for brands such as Zara, H&M, and Giorgio Armani. The well-known Mumbai mithaiwala Punjabi Ghasitaram traces its origins to Dharavi, while Lijjat Papad, a brand associated with women's empowerment, sources part of its supplies from the area which is considered one of the world's lar...