Slum Illegally Set on Fire, Demolished

Despite a stay order, police illegally demolished over 500 hutments in a slum community in the eastern suburbs of Mumbai. Slum community has decided to raise questions about slum development as well as housing priorities of the government of Maharashtra as well as Mumbai corporators.

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More than 500 hutments were illegally bull dozed and burnt down on 14th May,2010 at Anna Bhau Sathe Nagar, a slum community in eastern suburbs of Mumbai. The Additional Collector Shri Danajay came along with a contingent of more than 250 armed policemen and 6 Bull dozers to the demolish more than 3000 houses. The Demolition squad was fiercely resisted and opposed by the slum dwellers, especially the women but using force they forced enter into the slum and started the demolition drive. To facilitate that fire was put at atleast 3-4 places. Slum residents lost most of their meager belongings as they had no chance to save the same. 40 slum activists were detained by the Deonar Police and release only later in the night.

In the morning a stay was obtained from the Office of Administrator-Konkan Commissioner and was shown to the Demolition Squad, but they shockingly refused to accept the same and continued with the Illegal Demolition in brutal ways. The authority of the Office of Deputy Collector in issuing the Demolition Notice has also been challenged. The demolition has led to atrocities on the members of the Scheduled Caste community members.

Given the un-holy nexus that exists amongst the builders-bureaucrats-politicians, in Mumbai it would not be surprising if they plan to hand over the land to a private builder. Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan earnestly requests you to support the struggle of the slum dwellers against the un-just and the illegal eviction by writing and calling to the concerned officials at the earliest. Your support would be very critical.

The agitation for Right to housing and land for the poor, continues with increased support from various organisations, at Anna Bhau Sathe Nagar, Mankhurd. Here thousands of people – men, women, children and aged are camping, with slogans asserting their Right to shelter, as a part of Right to Life.

 
After arrests, lathi charge, demolition of about 400 houses, with almost 100 houses burnt to ashes, and death of Shivaji Bhutekar, people have gained courage and commitment to take over the land to rebuild houses. Black flags of protest are on the houses while belongings are being put back. Small shops selling immediate needs have brought a bit of live amidst despair.

 
Today(the day after the demolitions), condemning the statement by the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Ashok Chavanji, and questioning the role of the Collector, Deputy Collector and Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM); Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan has challenged the government to prove whether it is with or against Aam Aadmi and whether it is in favour of providing houses to the Ministers and land to the builders but not the poor or even the middle class. The threat is looming over the communities, not only over 2800 houses in Sathe Nagar which are not yet demolished but also over Rafi Nagar, Sanjay Nagar (slums on the BMC land), Indira Nagar (on collector’s land) and other slums. There is no declaration of ‘slums’, under Section 4 of Slum Act, 1971, which the government is to take up in the case of communities living below subsistence level but it has not been done till date, in spite of our application for declaring not one but 19 slums.
 
The issue is who owns the land? If it is for development that the Government of Maharashtra is committed to, the land should not and cannot be unjustly distributed. Today 60% of slum dwellers are living on 6% of Mumbai’s land and more and more of slum land is being re-distributed to the builders, fictitiously called, “developers”, benefiting the rich and political elite. This is unacceptable. While the Government of Maharashtra has cheated the middle class and lower class organised under the banner of Nagari Niwara, slum dwellers are exposing the land grab.
 
Anna Bahu Sathe Nagar is now taking the lead and their Visthapan Virodhi Yatra, beginning today, awakening and organising of slum dwellers, SRA affected and others has begun today. After 2004, there will be another challenge to the government and MCGM, if they proceed with demolition and destitution instead of initiating development with land rights, under housing schemes like Rajiv Gandhi Awas Yojana or BSUP. Mandala and Anna Bahu Sathe Nagar have already applied under these Central Government schemes.

No response by the state government officials or the ministers, except Narayan Rane’s assurance to take a report from the officials and the Mumbai Commissioner and visit the place. Local Corportor has extended support and written to the Chief Minister against demolition but MLA, Shri Abbu Azmi and MP, Sanjay Patil have not yet made any expressive move in this regard.

A fact finding team, constituting of Varsha Gupte, Bino Paul, Satyen and Monica Wahi have conducted their exploration and listened to the voices of slum dwellers and would be preparing a report highlighting the consequences of demolition on the lives of slum dwellers, especially the children, women and aged persons.
 
The Satyagraha with legal action under SC& ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act, 1989, under Slum Act, 1971 and all human and legal rights instruments is on! Justice (Redt.) Suresh of Mumbai High Court has condemned the action of State Government and said that the demolition of housing of slum dwellers is illegal and unconstitutional because it violates the Right to Life and further his experience shows that today this is happening across the length and breadth of this country. In such a context, the only option left before the people is to be committed for struggle if they have to attain justice.

Ms. Medha Patkar and Justice H. Suresh (Bombay High Court) addressed the press conference today afternoon.

 
Organisations that have expressed Support & Solidarity to Struggle of Anna Bhau Sathe Nagar Slum Dwellers:

 

1.   Socialist Front, Subhash Ware, Pune

2.   Janta Dal (Secular) Pratap Aoghade

3.   Samajwadi Jan Parishad, Sanjiv Sane

4.   Lok Rajniti Manch, MR Khan

5.   Samajwadi Jan Parishad, Ram Sharmol

6.   Rashtriya Sewa Dal, Bharat Latkar

7.   Girni Kamgar Sangharsh Samiti, Datta Iswalkar

8.   Samajwadi Mahaila Sabha, Varsha Gupte, Pune

9.   Stree Mukti Sampark Samiti

10.               Massom

11.               SM Joshi Foundation, Pune

12.               Shehar Vikas Manch

13.               Apnalaya

14.               YUVA

15.               ICHRL

16.               Nirbhay Bano Andolan

17.               Railway Small Caterers Union

18.               Bootpolish Worker Union

19.               Chemical Mazdoor Sabha

20.               AVEHI

21.               Phule Shahu Ambedkar Vikas Manch

22.               Janjagruti Vidyarthi Sanghatan

23.               Kachra Kamgar Sanghathana

24.               CORO

25.               Republican Panther

26.               NAPM (West Bengal)

27.               Akhil Bhartiya Railway Khan Pan Railway Licensees Federation

28.               Narmada Bachao Andolan

29.               Parivartan

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Contact us at: 09423965153 / 09969363065 / 09820619174In Solidarity,

Santosh Thorat       Jameela Begum   Simpreet Singh     Sumit Wajale     Geeta Thatra       Madhuri Variyath

Officials to be Contacted:

·         Shri Dhanajay, Addl. Collector - 9702302333

·         Shri Dilip Sawant, ACP-Mumbai Police- 9821722776

·         Shri Ashok Chavan, Chief Minister-Maharashtra, chiefminister@maharashtra.gov.in, ashokchavanmind@rediffmail.com

Phone No. (022) 2202-5151, 5222, FAX No. 22854166

 Smt Sonia Gandhi, Fax No 011-23794616


Posted by collective at May 16, 2010 03:39 PM