The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Medha: demands of those living in slums are not unreasonable

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Sunday, Feb 25, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Medha: demands of those living in slums are not unreasonable

Bangalore Bureau

Meet protests against Government's lack of a pro-poor policy

Bangalore: "Clearing slums seems to have become the only mandate of the Slum Board," said social activist Medha Patkar. "Those who have built the city with their hands, those who clean its streets and keep the city running are not only unacknowledged but also punished," she said.

Ms. Patkar was speaking at a meet organised by the Karnataka Kolageri Nivasigala Hitarakshana Janti Kriya Samiti here on Saturday to protest against the State Government's inaction in recognising slums and the lack of a pro-poor policy.

Over 2,000 people living in slums from across the State attended.

"The demands of slum dwellers are not unreasonable. All that you are asking for is the right to build your own houses and basic amenities such as drinking water and electricity," Ms. Patkar pointed out.

`Exploitation zones'

Referring to SEZs as "special exploitation zones," she said, "Farmers across the country are being threatened by industries, which will acquire these lands with tax holidays and free electricity." The only answer to oppression of any kind, whether class, caste or gender, is to voice a united protest, she said.

M. Venkataswamy of the Samata Sainik Dal and Hassan Mansur, convener, Janti Kriya Samiti, spoke at the meet that demanded "Constitutional principles of the Right to Equality and Right to Life" and the setting up of a separate ministry solely for slum development.

Earlier, Ms. Patkar led a procession of people living in slums from Chiklalbagh to Banappa Park.

The conflict over the sharing of river waters is going to be unending, Ms. Patkar said.

She told The Hindu that though many tribunals were formed to find a solution, the sharing of river waters would be conflict-ridden, driven by politics.

"A river can be divided into four sections: catchment, command, upstream and downstream. Conflicts arise because there is inequity in distribution, that's the basic premise," she said.

She suggested that water could be collected in hundreds of small units in the catchment area.

By harnessing the resources and collecting water in small units, groundwater could be recharged. And, with efficient water utilisation, the flow of river waters could be maintained.

"This decentralised treatment is the best alternative," she said.

Speaking of the Cauvery dispute, she asked, "Political parties may be fighting over river water, but how much of this water will reach the poor?"

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