S.H.E.D.) got established and involved in 1983 in the slums of Mumbai, at the request of the Dharavi slum community. There was then a 'Dada' for every street, and I came across groups of children who were employed in brewing alcohol for them, instead of going to school, lured by a good salary with a free daily lunch! Under the mafia lords in Dharavi, the crime rate was horrendous.

To begin with, I held a meeting with over ninety of the Dadas and asked what future they planned for their youth apart from their criminal activities. While succeeding in convincing them that there could be a better and more promising future while abiding by the law, it was true, as they said, that there was inadequate schooling and absolutely no skill training facilities available in the slum at that time.

We agreed to try and start Vocational Training. When I said that no teachers would feel safe in coming there, they promised absolute security to our Centre if we started work there. They have kept their word. With sound advice from Shri Vijay Merchant whom I consulted, we established SHED with a group of caring citizens and the people of Dharavi. With support from the Municipality and the Police whenever required, we started off and have carried on.

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