Delhi NGOs petition President over country-wide displacements

New Delhi: Nearly 2,000 people marched on Friday in the heart of Delhi to protest against government policies causing displacement of people all over India. They later submitted a memorandum to President APJ Abdul Kalam seeking stoppage of construction work on the Narmada dam till people are rehabilitated and making a national law that prevents displacement of people without rehabilitation. A child stands beside ruins. © Mark Bushnell / Oxfam Great Britain The marchers braved the summer heat to walk a distance of about four kms. Many had come from the Narmada Valley while a majority was from slums in different parts of Delhi. More than 20 Delhi-based groups – that includes NGOs, movements and social organisations - had organized the protest to show solidarity with the people of the Narmada valley in central India who have been forced out of their houses and farm lands without being rehabilitated. The Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) agitation has spurred Delhi NGOs to highlight the bigger cause of the marginalized getting homeless because of beautification drives in cities and setting up of industrial projects in rural areas. The Delhi NGOs have aligned themselves under the banner of Delhi Support Group for NBA. A slum goes hi-tech © Katha Sri Prakash from the Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF), which is part of the DSG said: “All that we want the government to do is to be more humane in its approach. If displacement of people has to be done, it should not happen without proper rehabilitation.” The marchers wore slogans on their bodies and carried large banners – No Land No Dams, Just No Dams and walked under the hot sun shouting slogans and singing songs. Kamla Bhasin from the South Asian Network of Gender Activists and Trainers (SANGAT) said: “We believe that big and centralized projects do not benefit people. These benefit governments, big technologies and bigger people. Smaller projects, particularly those related to water, are ecologically sound, people-centred and work for the benefit of communities.” Forest tribal in Orissa © Centre for Science and Environment Shivani Chaudhry from the Housing and Land Rights Network said: “All over the country it is the same issue. Farmers are being removed from the Narmada Valley, tribals are being displaced from the east Indian state of Orissa and slum dwellers’ houses are being demolished in Mumbai. This kind of development is perverse development.” The marchers gathered at Raj Ghat – where the leader of the Indian freedom movement Mahatama Gandhi was cremated – as a symbolic gesture. One of the speakers shouted over the megaphone: “We are starting the protest march from Raj Ghat because Mahatama Gandhi was a leader of non-violence and advocated democratic protest.” A number of women’s organisations have joined the DSG including Jagriti Mahila Samiti, SANGAT and Jagori. Abha Bhaiya from Jagori said: “We are part of the women’s movement and women have always been part of the NBA struggle.” Indian villagers watch as their land is submerged The memorandum submitted to the President said: “The poor citizens have left their native villages to come to Delhi and Mumbai in search of a job, shelter, education for children and a minimal home. Now Delhi wants to become a Paris and Mumbai wants to become a Shanghai. Everywhere the poor citizens of India are being swept off into the dustbin of history. Where can they go, for a second time?” In their appeal to the President, the groups have said that there should be an immediately halt to the demolitions of slums in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. The government should also allow people their age-old traditional livelihood alternatives like local bazaars, weekly bazaars and vendors without these being considered a blemish on the new Master Plan.

User comments

There are no comments

 Printable version