Santosh Thorat
(7th dropout) (translated from Hindi )
In 2004, fourty five working colonies in Mumbai were demolished, leading to the formation of GHAR BACHAO GHAR BANAO ANDOLAN under Medha Patkar leadership. I was a homeguard then, and I did not bother to protest until the very next day when my house was demolished.
During the last 10 years we often went to Delhi, where we met Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy, Kumari Selja, Ajay Maken, Girija Vyas and many other leaders. Each time our slogan was:
Hum Jahan Hain Wahi Basao, Uskey Liye Kanoon Banao.
Rehabiltate us where we are, for that Make the LAW
In 2009 during Congress then President Prathiba Patil’s government announced the Rajeev Awaas Yojana (RAY) which aims for SLUM FREE INDIA. Many activists from different States like Rajendra Ravi, Madhuresh Kumar, Gautam deenbandhu, Shaktiman ghosh, Simpreet Singh, Raju Bhishe, Ulka Mahajan, Surekha Dadre, Geeta, Sister Cilia and many more were involved in bringing out this yojana:
“Right to life also includes right to shelter and housing. Without that, it is meaningless”
Medha Tai’s fast for 13 days in Khar Golibar, which rallied in Mumbai on January 1st 2013 and 2014 to implement RAY and pressure BMC side by side to provide basic amenities to the working colonies, has made this survey possible today. Now national parties are relatively more active when they saw people from social movements fighting in the elections in many places in India. This has frightened them. Whether people from social movements win or lose during the elections, it is not my concern, but at least it has changed the attitude of politicians, and is still changing it.
RAY aims to give both ownership of land and home to the present tenants and owners in these working colonies. According to their livelihood, this housing yojana will be implemented. The contribution of the Centre will be 50%, the Maharastra government will give 25%, the remaining 15% and 10% will be provided by BMC and the individual, respectively.
In Maharastra, it was decided to implement this in fourty five working colonies in Mumbai. The first one will be in Sathe Nagar. We proposed the first project to be implemented in Mandala, but it is till on hold by the government. Slum rehabilitation Authority SRA was implanted to tend to the buildings themselves, but this yojana is focused mainly on public partnership i.e government and community. Here, people will decide on building works and participation of Community Based Organisations (CBOs) will be present in every step.
For the survey, local corporator Vithal Lokade had invited tender, giving it to a Kolkata based organisation. To do the survey, local organisation Annabhav Sathe Manav Vikas Sangh is giving support. The survey covers a period of 3 months and will cover all the households in Sathe Nagar. Then it will be passed on to the State and the Centre for the review.
After BJP won the election, in March 2014 Venkaih Naidu ,while talking to the leaders of the movement, supported RAY and said that his government will continue it with minor changes, like possibly changing the name. Now, with all parties involved, I hope this will get on the fast track.
HUM DEKHENGE! We will see ! –
English