The Hindu : National : More demolitions in Mumbai leave slum dwellers in the lurch

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 18, 2006

National

National

More demolitions in Mumbai leave slum dwellers in the lurch

Prachi Pinglay

Police atrocities, lack of alternative accommodation increase the agony of the hapless people

— PHOTO: VIVEK BENDRE

TELL-TALE SIGNS: Make-shift structures at Mandala in Mumbai after the demolition drive conducted recently.

MUMBAI: Demolitions by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) have once again drawn attention to the plight of the urban poor in Mumbai. Last week, social activist Medha Patkar joined slum dwellers in Mandala, Mankhurd, a north-eastern suburb of Mumbai, to protest against the demolition of their houses.

These people had relocated to a 60-acre plot after their homes were razed down in December 2004. During the demolition drive, a fire gutted several huts and four persons were injured.

Temporary structures

Since the demolition, the BMC has dug a deep trench to prevent the slum dwellers from occupying the land again.These families have been living on the boundaries of this trench in makeshift structures.

After the heavy rain and floods in July 2005, Medha Patkar led the slum dwellers to reclaim the land, as the Government had made no arrangement to provide them alternative accommodation. Last week, they were forced to vacate this strip of land as well. The displaced families now stay on the premises of a temple and mosque adjacent to the disputed plot.

Santosh, an activist with the National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM), said: "After being rendered homeless twice, all these families were beginning to settle down.

Now we understand that this plot has been given to other people who were evicted after cleaning up the Mithi river. The Government wants poor people to fight among themselves."

The slum dwellers allege that the police beat them up and arrested many under various charges during the demolition drive. They even allege that the fire was a BMC ploy.

Shanti, sorting out her belongings after the demolition, said: "This place was full of water. We paid money and got the place filled up after months of hard work. How can they drive us out now? Policemen threaten to beat us up if we go to the plot. It will start raining in a few days, where are we to go?"

Memories of the deluge, when they spent several days under a plastic sheet, are still vivid.

Rabia recalled that the police beat up her blind husband too. "Now he is injured and at home. We could not save much of our belongings. We are now waiting for Medhatai to come, and then we will do whatever she says."

While some worry about the impending monsoon, others are tired of the sweltering temperature. Bilkis, a mother of two and expecting another, finds the heat unbearable.

"We now live under a plastic sheet. It is so hot throughout the day, and there is no shade. I feel ill, but I cannot even go to a doctor, leaving my kids in the open."

The activists are holding meetings and planning to demonstrate in Azad Maidan. They will decide on the future course of action when Medha Patkar returns to Mandala.

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