Rehabilitate the slum dwellers of New Gandhinagar!

Lucknow-110 poverty-stricken families of a slum in New Gandhinagar, behind Lohia Hospital were thrown into extreme hardship and uncertainties on 29/09/2009. The Lucknow Development Authority(LDA)- without any written notice or reasons ran bulldozers down the thatched roofs with the horror-stricken inhabitants looking on helplessly and members of Project Vijay trying to negotiate in vain. The only 'notice' was a verbal warning from an LDA official.

 

The slum dwellers were mostly poor daily wagers who worked as rickshaw-pullers, fruit sellers and produced goods like stone grinders and dholaks. The slum could barely meet the bare necessities of its inhabitants-most having lived there for the past 4-5 years. In the past, Project Vijay had tried its best to uplift the deplorable state of the slum by opening schools and maintaining personal relations, almost family-like, with the slum dwellers for considerable time duration through frequent visits.  

 

On Tuesday afternoon, around 12:30 am, however, their fates were about to see a dramatic turn as the LDA brought in bulldozers to demolish their houses. The panic-stricken villagers pleaded for mercy from the 40-50 odd policemen and heavy demolishers. Project Vijay also tried its best to reach a peaceful end to the problem on the residents behalf. The police were on the verge of lifting their heavy lathis and were held back mostly by the efforts of 3 patriotic individuals of Project Vijay- Himanshu, Ashish and Abhishek.

 

The reason stated for the demolition symbolizes great irony and pathos of the powerlessness of the common man before a tyrant administration. It so happened that the rights of the slum dwellers were violated only to ensure that the Honorable Chief Justice, Allahabad High Court and Honorable Governor, Uttar Pradesh had better sights to enjoy on their way to the inauguration of the site of the proposed building of Human Rights Commission. It is highly disappointing to see that today, official functions for establishment of pillars of support of Human Rights are given more importance than the rights of the poor people themselves. Later, the LDA officials also stated that the slum land had been allotted for the construction of other Government offices.

 

When the inevitable bulldozers finally started moving, the slum dwellers along with members of Project Vijay put up a last act of defiant protest by stepping in front of the bulldozers and tried their best to get the heartless destroyers to negotiate. But the bulldozers were not to stop. Without any prior notice, the slum dwellers had no time to gather their belongings and move out safely. Chaos ensued, as the machines rolled on from one side and the slum residents frantically gathered whatever they could and ran out. Project Vijay activists rushed to the fronts of these bulldozers and tried to hold them off just long enough for the poor people to gather their most valuable articles and meager savings.

 

The oppression might have still been acceptable if the loses were just materialistic, but things took a nasty turn as Safaidul Nisha, an inhabitant was hit by the bucket of the crane while gathering her belonging in the slum. Deeply injured, she fell in a nearby bush and even now, the demolishers failed to take any notice as they continued their rampage. She was rushed to the Ram Manohar Lohiya hospital immediately by Project Vijay in critical condition. Now, she has been declared to be out of danger.

 

Mohammed Tafreef, was a 12 year old disabled resident of the same slum. His parents cried for mercy when the bulldozers came, because he was unable to move elsewhere. But the bulldozers still ran over, and it was only due to the instantaneous rush by Project Vijay members that he could be lifted out in time.

 

At 4:30 am the same morning, a 22 year old woman, Haida had given birth to a baby. When the bulldozer starting running over the house, the members of Project Vijay stepped in front of the bulldozers and stopped it before it could run over human lives. However, the roof and walls were already damaged and the newborn lay exposed to the scorching heat of the sun with his ailing mother. When the Project Vijay returned to check on the baby in the evening, his condition was found to be critical and he was given every possible assistance and medicines etc. on behalf of Project Vijay. But unfortunately, the little life was declared lost around midnight the next day.

 

Another pregnant resident, Gudiya lost her baby before it could see the light of the day due to the sheer shock of homelessness and loss of means of livelihood. Similarly, they were many more horrifying incidents and misery that cursed the lives of the slum dwellers.

 

People have been unable to go to work for 3 days now, since their homes with all their belongings were razed to the ground. Most of the daily wagers did not even have enough savings to last over a day or two and the slum is now hunger-struck. With no assistance from the Government, whatsoever, the future seems bleak for these pitiable slum dwellers. On questioning officials, they had no answers to give with regards to compensation and rehabilitation.

 

This sad story of the downfall of an entire community of deprived humans at the whims of an inconsiderate administration and corrupt sycophant officials is a wake up call to US, the citizens of India. No doubt, the darker side of the Government needs a much louder roar, and maybe a few brazen kicks to bring itself out of its blinding deep intoxication with greed, inefficiency and corruption. But it is only we who CAN and MUST do this. Today it is New Gandhinagar and the LDA, tomorrow it maybe another name, another official, and the same old Indian drama like the eternal TV soaps that we never get bored of watching over and over again. It is time to end this vicious cycle. If the Government itself does not follow its laws, who will? YOU will. Until such time that the administration is good enough, we must take control of our lives and our surroundings- You dont need to be a superhero social worker for this. Stop giving more bribes, stop TAKING them, stop sitting back at home during elections and in effect voting for the wrong officials and stop being the typical lazy chalta-hai pessimist. Let us join hands in this fight against inhuman acts of the Government and try our best, in our own small way, in our own small localities and ensure that such incidents do not repeat themselves- anywhere, anytime.

 

We must also remember that incidents like this do not mean that every official is an unselfish brute. It is with these honest and hardworking men and women that our hopes rest; and this petition is an effort to encourage one such leader, Shri Amit Kumar Ghosh to bring justice to the oppressed people of the New Gandhinagar slum.

 

If you as an individual wish to help the affected people in any way- as a volunteer or donor, please contact the Project Vijay members at the numbers given below. Thank you for your time and cooperation!

 

Mahendra- 91-9415509920

Himanshu- 91-9305963744

Ashish- 91-9198864150

Abhishek- 91-09919767128

 

Please go through the links to know more about the incident and the slum.

People's reaction to the incident

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rzm_O7h2Muk

Slum lady's opinion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0iMKAngvKM

What Project Vijay member, Himanshu had to say

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXDtsgiIy4w

Project Vijay School

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n2cOdMQgSg