1. Request the Government to help rebuild the demolished
houses of Mumbai slum dwellers to protect them from the
vagaries of nature.
2. Request the Government not to resort to police action as
was done in Mandala, Mankurd, Mumbai and allow the people
to live like human beings.
To:
Mr. Vilasrao Deshmukh,
Chief Minister of Maharashtra,
Fax - 022- 22029214 / 23631446
Phone: 23634950:
Email: chiefminister@maharashtra.gov.in
R.R. Patil, Deputy C.M., Maharashtra
FAX: 022 - 22024873
Phone: 22022401 & 22024300
Email: deputychiefminister@maharashtra.gov.in
Subject: Appeal for realizing the basic human
rights of slum dwellers in Mumbai.
Dear Sirs,
We feel agonized to write to you after the
unprecedented calamity that has hit Mumbai and
Maharashtra. We know the pressure and challenges
you are going through trying to deal with all kinds
of needs and requirements.
The actual calamity now known to be unprecedented
because of the unplanned development in Mumbai
obstructing natural waterways and drainage systems
and did not differentiate between castes, class and
gender.
The worst affected however are those who are shelterless
facing the torrential rains or live in such shelters, which
do not stand such calamities.
The families whose houses were demolished in the recent
drive number around 70,000 who were in the open or in
houses, which were flooded. The whole of mumbai understood
the value of shelter the people in the demolished slums
had to face the rains with no shelter of their own.
Thousands are living in such conditions bringing shame
not just to the government and country but to whole of
humanity. Many of them live without a roof over their heads
or under very temporary structures that too under the
constant threat of demolition.
The conditions are such that, any out break of diseases
will lead to an epidemic with water logging, lack of sanitation
and drainage. The demolished slum dwellers need your care and
support and more importantly a roof over their head. Every
human being have a basic right to shelter as part of their
right to life and livelihood.
We request you under this circumstance of extreme suffering
and trauma to allow the slum dwellers to rebuild their houses
which could protect them from the vagaries of nature.
We also request you not to resort to police action as was
done in Mandala, Mankurd, Mumbai and allow the people to
live like human beings.
Yours sincerely,
[The Undersigned]
