The Hindu : New Delhi News : A voice for the voiceless

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Sunday, Oct 08, 2006
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New Delhi

A voice for the voiceless

Devesh K. Pandey

NEW DELHI: A two-day annual convention of Sajha Manch, a platform of about 70 organisations working on issues concerning those living on the road and in slums and resettlement colonies ended here on Saturday.

Eminent panel

A panel comprising the Member of Parliament from East Delhi, Sandeep Dikshit, eminent Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan and journalist Bharat Dogra inaugurated the convention on Friday.

In his address, Mr. Dikshit said the poor must continue their effort to make their voices heard, for which they would have to change their plan of action as soft forms of protest were not attracting attention of either the State or the media.

`Neo-liberal regime to blame'

Mr. Prashant Bhushan said the displacement of the poor had a direct relationship with the neo-liberal regime unleashed in the 1990s wherein cities were designed only for those who could afford to bear the "cost".

Stating that the courts had a major role to play in this, he asserted that people must be involved in the policy planning process.

The convention concluded that the urban poor who make an immense contribution to the city's development should be provided with a decent livelihood and habitation.

Low-cost housing the need of the hour

The convention also concluded that very many people in the Capital had been forced to live in temporary shelters as the Delhi Development Authority did not provide low-cost housing that it was mandated to deliver. And for this it should be held accountable.

"Slum eviction should stop immediately, and in case they are removed the slum dwellers should be resettled in nearby areas and resettlement colonies should be provided with basic amenities."

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