This settlement dates back to 1975 and was earlier a creek where people settled and eventually reclaimed the land. Mahim Nature Park and Maharashtra Nature Park adjoin the settlement and till 1975 this was an open space where garbage was dumped. Soon people living nearby dumped the debris here to reclaim the land and the entire area was transformed into living spaces. Most residents living in Naik Nagar are Hindus, followed later by Muslims and migrants from UP, Bihar, Gujarat and interiors of Maharastra.
Previously men from Naik Nagar were engaged in disabling batteries and making wooden boxes. Now most men work in private companies, BEST and Central government. As Muslims are greater in number garment making business is the main occupation in Naik Nagar and they make jeans, dress material, dupattas and clothes for small children. They also make cleaning brushes for companies that use them to clean their machines and to clean bottles. Making banana wafers and pickles is also a common trend. Women are engaged in thread cutting but they don’t venture out to pursue any form of a job. The changing circumstances and new programs related to empowerment of women are held in the community and also engaging women in small scale industry around their community.
Each lane in Naik Nagar has a tap and as the population grew so did water scarcity. Only about 10 percent of the people living in Naik Nagar get water and the rest make external arrangements (water tankers). One tap provides water to about 10-20 settlements in the area.
Prominent festivals celebrated by this community are Ganpati ustav, Holi, Diwali, Navratri and Eid.
