The Hindu 21.10.2010
Slum dwellers stage demo against eviction drive
Staff Reporter
IN AGITATION MODE: Members of the ‘Maa Tarini Basti Unnayana Sangha’ staging a demonstration in front of the BMC office in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday.
BHUBANESWAR: Hundreds of slum dwellers on Wednesday staged demonstration in front of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation office demanding that the administration should refrain from eviction drive.
Slum dwellers under the banner of Maa Tarini Basti Unnayan Sangha took out a rally during the day and resorted to sloganeering in front of BMC office.
“On Monday, BMC officials along with local corporator served ultimatum to leave the houses. When people were engrossed in festivity of Dushera, the approach of administration had sent shockwaves,” said Chhabirani Sethy, who reside in Maa Tarini slum near Pokhariput area.
She accused that even after 11 years of rule, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik never attempted to rehabilitate slum dwellers.
No BPL cards
“Many of us have not received cards of Below Poverty Line which would have helped us access to many welfare schemes.
Meanwhile, prices of other essential commodities have gone up beyond our capacity. In these circumstances if our houses are razed, where we should go?” she questioned.
Slum dwellers demanded the State government should provide records of rights on land to people in the slum. Moreover, people who had come from villages in search of jobs should be properly rehabilitated.
Those, who participated in the demonstration threatened that if BMC administration tried to evict dwellers from the slum, they should not be held responsible for any law and order situation.
