Slum dwellers organize dharna demanding homes

Slum dwellers who were evicted from their homes in Vikaspuri, Delhi are sitting on an indefinite protest dharna at the zonal office of the DDA in West Delhi from March 6th, 2007. These slum dwellers were evicted from their pitiful homes in Sant Ravi Das Camp and Indira Camp No.1 on May 4th last year. They were relocated in Bawana, a desolate area in the outskirts of Delhi wherein there is neither schooling or health care facilities, opportunities of livelihood, or transport facilities. To add insult to injury these workers have not yet been allotted plots after living over 10 months without a roof over their heads.

The Dharna is highlighting that

1. The draw and allotment of plots have not been done by DDA for the last 10 months
2. The families who are eligible for 18 sq mtr plot have been given 12.5 sq mtr plot
3. More than 100 families who are having documents for their stay prior to 31.12.98 have still not been given demand letters.

The protestors point that in this period of ten months more than 1000 children of these families who were studying in Government schools in Vikaspuri have dropped out. Due to non availability of proof of residence, the children have been deprived of schools. Thus the children have been denied of their fundamental Right to Education.

The families were drawing their food grains through the public distribution system in Vikaspuri. But due to non availability of proof of residence, the families have been deprived of the right to food.

The protestors are openly questioning the kind of democracy in place. Numerous petitions have been filed with the DDA, the Ministry of Urban Development and all the concerned state officials to no avail. They are asking “Where are our Fundamental Rights; Right to Education & Right to life with Dignity? There is ample land for the Malls, Hotels, PVRs, Shopping Plazas & that too without taxes but there is no land for the poor even in the outskirts of Delhi where there is no employment opportunity & basic amenities for these displaced urban workers.”

People"s Voice fully supports this just struggle of the workers and working people for housing and livelihood rights.