Karnataka - Bangalore   

They live in perpetual fear of disaster

— Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

Deprived lot: People in J.D. Mara slum in Bangalore are living a pitiable existence with no support from the government as for as amenities are concerned.

BANGALORE: “There are no naxalites or Tamil extremists active here. These people do not even know what a naxal means,” says Chandrashekar, a resident of J.D. Mara slum on the Bannerghatta Main Road and a Dalit Panthers of India activist.

In the news recently for alleged naxalite activity in the area, people of J.D. Mara slum probably do not know of Human Rights Day observed on December 10 or the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that assures them the right to life, liberty and security.

The 3,000-odd families living here know of only one looming threat — that of fire. After all, they have been victims of fire five times in the last four years.

The residents believe that the fires were intentional, the handiwork of vested interests who want to scare them off the land.

While some have fled the place, the fear of another fire has forced those who remain in the slum to borrow thousands of rupees to construct concrete single-room houses. “We did not own much. But we lost the few clothes and vessels we had in the fire last year. So, after borrowing some money we built this house,” says Annaiah, a resident.

While taking us around the slum, Kalavathi, a domestic help, points to her house and says, “I have spent Rs. 50,000 to build this dwelling. I pay about Rs. 1,000 as interest for the loan I have taken. But that is all I have. There is nothing else by way of amenities.”

Piles of unused bricks lie around houses only half-constructed because money became short for the owners. Others too poor to raise loans continue to live in thatched huts.

The promised compensation for the victims of the fires has not come by. Women walk long distances to use the public toilet.

“I have not had a bath in several days now. Right now, I do not even have money to buy water,” says Neela. She was among the unlucky ones who missed her chance to get water from the tanker on Sunday afternoon.

Spread over eight-and-a-half acres, J.D. Mara slum is located on private land and came into being about twelve years ago. But the Government directive which bars slums formed after 1991 from being “declared” has meant that the State cannot be held accountable for the lack of civic amenities.

“Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family…,” says Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. But who’s listening?

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