In the slum clusters of Shivaji Nagar, M East ward in Mumbai, water is scarce. Over 60 percent of residents buy water from private tankers and\/or from those who have piped water connection in their homes, spending nearly 12 percent of their incomes. In Shivaji Nagar, the average monthly family income is INR 7,802.<\/p>
Adarsh Nagar 1, one of the slums within Shivaji Nagar, has recently gotten a water connection, while Adarsh Nagar 2 does not have a regular supply of water. However, since March 23rd, the day of the lockdown in Mumbai, not a single household in Adarsh Nagar 2—out of 500 families in total—has had to buy water.<\/p>
Why? Because Adarsh Nagar 1 has been sharing its water with them. “It’s a time of unprecedented crisis. We must take unprecedented steps to survive through this,” is the general refrain.<\/p>