The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : A nightmare all over again for them

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 08, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

A nightmare all over again for them

Deepa Kurup

Bangalore: In Singapura, a slum in the northeast of Bangalore, the residents, aware as they are of their rights, have had to come to terms with their lot. When in 2002 they were thrown out of six railway slums in different parts of the city, the 150 families lived on the roadside under plastic sheets for 18 months. They were then given a pittance — five acres of barren forest land.

They built a colony from the scratch, braving mosquitoes, disease and hostile villagers unwilling to accommodate a predominantly Muslim population.

Now, after four years of struggle, the Government has made new plans for them — without their knowledge or consent. Under the JNNURM a multi-storeyed building with 675 rooms will be built to accommodate them and people from other slums. If this happens, it will effectively pour water over their repeated requests for land rights and the houses that they have built over the years.

“The officials tell us that the land is not ours, only the walls are. We cut on food to build this,” says an angry Bibijaan, a resident. The Karnataka Slum Clearance Board, she says, works against them.

“When we ask the BBMP for streetlights, the board tells them not to sanction them because we are supposedly under their purview,” says Abida Begum, her neighbour.

Over the years, they have sunk a borewell, built an anganwaadi, a mosque, and even a public toilet. “And all this only to be taken away?” they ask.

The slum dwellers wrote to the Government expressing opposition to the JNNURM proposal and seeking land rights. Their letter received no response. Afzar, a resident and crusader, filed for information under the Right to Information Act. He learnt that tenders for the project had been floated, and the residents’ plea in effect disregarded.

Mr. Afzar points eastward where houses are being constructed under Ashraya Yojane. “These have been like this since we came here. The structure is weak. What if we agree to move into that promised building and then it falls down?” says Mr. Afzar.

Abida Begum is more practical. “What will I do if my son grows up and I want one more room? Do they want to always keep us poor?” she asks.

However, these are the larger issues. Every day problems such as lack of water, prevalence of disease and poor sanitation continue to make their lives a living hell. When they asked for toilets, the Government built a Sulabh Souchalay where they pay anything from Re. 1 to Rs. 5. “A rupee seems like a lakh to us. We can hardly find jobs around here, and they assume we can afford to pay for toilets,” says Abida.

Recently, water pipes were laid in the surrounding areas, and this area was excluded.

Life is an ongoing battle. The residents however ensure that their children go to school. Says Afzar: “We have suffered enough and want them to do better.”

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka