Nice article. In fact even though I am in Mumbai and pass by Dharavi frequently , I was not aware of the structured tours.

In fact , as global citizens we don’t have to feel guilty or pity towards the underprivileged. We just have to be more generous.

We have to start looking at the poor not as a burden, but “as resilient and creative entrepreneurs”. In fact todays poor will be the engine of growth for next next couple of years. In fact Dharavi is one such hub where lots of small time entrepreneurs make leather goods and other innovative products.

People comment here that these tours are “disgusting”. They seem to assume that poverty is something bad, evil, vilifying, something to be ashamed of. But it is not. Poverty isn’t bad, it’s just difficult. Life is harder when you’re poor, but not necessarily less fulfilling and definitively not less dignified. The point is, slum dwellers can be quite proud about their lives, about their struggle, about their courage and energy in the face of hardships we can’t even imagine.

This being said, I’ve been to Rio many times, and never have taken a favela tour. But all people that did told me that it was a great experience, that has nothing to do with voyeurism, but with showing the dignity and optimism of those we consider outside of society.