Raghubir Nagar, like other slums in the megacity of 20 million, is home to those on the margins of Indian society, families living cheek-by-jowl in ramshackle structures often lacking basic amenities.

But in less than a month 15 to 20 volunteers refashioned the craggy facades of nearly a hundred structures in rainbow colours with huge murals depicting nature, religion and daily life.

“The aim was to bring some positive change and confidence in the locals, who were usually forgotten by society,” Yogesh Saini, founder of Delhi Art Street told AFP.