Fwd: [initiative-india] Baradevi Pavement dwellers demolished

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From: Mukta Srivastava <mukta.srivastava@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Jun 2, 2010 at 12:24 AM
Subject: [initiative-india] Baradevi Pavement dwellers demolished
To: initiative-india@googlegroups.com

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Urgent Action Alert | 31^st May, 2010

Baradevi Pavement Dwellers Demolished in Sewri, Mumbai

• 45 houses demolished in the pavement of Acharya Donde Marg, Sewri, Mumbai
• Government offers no rehabilitation and proper notices not served.
• Pavement Dwellers rendered homeless just before rains.

Officials of Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai demolished 45 houses at Baradevi Pavement in Acharya Donde Marg, Sewri Mumbai.  The pavement houses were in existence for the last three decades and the people were engaged in informal sector jobs like washing cars, domestic work etc.

The demolished houses were declared non eligible under the Mahatma Gandhi Patakranti Yojana which has kept 1995 as the cut off date. Many of the pavement dwellers did not posses needed documents and as a result 72% of the entire pavement was declared non-eligible.  More than 40 new roads have also been included in the Mahatma Gandhi Patakranti Yojana though only eight pavements the eligible list has been declared.  Though the scheme has been declared a vital project no efforts have been done to extend the cut off date as has been done in Airport / Dharavi rehabilitation projects.

The slum dwellers and supporting NGO's had represented to the Municipal authorities and the government regarding the high non eligibility and had demanded a progressive policy regarding rehabilitation as being done in other projects in Mumbai particularly the Mumbai Urban Transport Project.  The present policy is highly discriminatory and is violating various national and international housing and human right protocols and in particularly UN Basic Principles and Guidelines of Development based Evictions and Displacement. 

Municipal authorities accompanied by Ward Officer and Asst Engineer came with bull dozers by noon and demolished the houses without the mandatory 24 hour notice.  The Municipal authorities have also threatened to destroy all the utensils if the residents dare stay there any longer. 

Kindly send protest letters to the follows demanding

1. Immediate stoppage of forced evictions under the Mahatma Gandhi Patakranti Yojana till a proper rehabilitation policy with progressive provisions is declared.
2. Rehabilitate all whose houses were demolished in Baradevi immediately.  

Kindly send Protest letters to:

1. Dr. Kishor Kshirsagar

Deputy Municipal Commissioner in charge of MGPKYOff Nos : 23081471 Extn : (194), 23071815(P), Fax : + 91 22 23092158

2. Mr. Manukumar Srivastava

Secretary, Urban Development (II),Special Projects,
Phone: 22021444
Email : sec_ud2@maharashtra.gov.in
Email 2: manukumarsrivastava@maharashtra.gov.in
Fax: +91 22 22854573

3. Prof. (Smt.) Foujiya Tahasin Khan

Minister of state, General Administration

Phone: + 91- 22- 22029259, 22025933

Email: stmin_homeur@maharashtra.gov.in

4. Mr. Ashok Chavan.

Chief Minister, ( Charge of General Administration and Urban Development)

Phone: + 91 (022) 2202-5151,5222

Email: chiefminister@maharashtra.gov.in

 

 

------------
Maju Varghese
Program Co-ordinator
Housing Rights Programme

YUVA:Youth for Unity & Voluntary Action
New Naigoan Municipal School,
Dr. Ambedkar Road,
Naigoan, Dadar (E),
Mumbai- 400 012
Tel: 91-22-24116393/ 94
Fax: 91-22-24135314

--
Mukta Srivastava

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