From: Initiative India <initiativeindia@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, May 18, 2010 at 12:40 PM
Subject: [initiative-india] MP apologises to slum dwellers - Satyagraha continues
To:
A Wing First Floor, Haji Habib Building, Naigaon Cross Road
Dadar (E), Mumbai-400 014 Ph. No-2415 0529 E-mail: napmindia@gmail.com
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Mumbai Update May 18, 2010
MP apologises to slum dwellers
of Anna Bhau Sathe Nagar:
Even offers to resign
Vows to fight for them until, their due rights are realized
Member of Parliament, Shri Sanjay Dina Patil visited the Satyagraha site of the basti-dwellers of Anna Bhau Sathe Nagar last night (17th May) at around 9.45 pm. Addressing thousands of slum dwellers in the night with folded hands he said, "it was my mistake that I was not with you, when it was required the most and thus I offer my apologies to all of you and vow that from now onwards, in this fight, I'm with you all and if need be, I'll even resign".
Jameela Begum, a slum resident questioned him about his absence and shared the feeling of betrayal, they were having against him, as when the bulldozers were ruining their houses and their meager belongings were being put on fire, he was nowhere to be seen.
He informed the people that a meeting was held in the Mantralaya in the day, which was first in the series and he was for a joint meeting in the presence of concerned officials, elected representatives and the people themselves. It still remains to be seen as to when and how such a meaningful dialogue takes place.
It is also noteworthy that thousands of slum dwellers had taken out a Yatra in Shivaji Nagar-Mankhurd area declaring that the elected representatives including the MP & MLA were absconding.
Santosh Thorat Jameela Begum Simpreet Singh Sumit Wajale Geeta Thatra Medha Patkar
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Contact us at: 09423965153 / 09969363065 / 09820619174
SAYAGRAHA AT ANNA BHAU SATHE NAGAR CONTINUES ON 4TH DAY
with support pouring in from all quarters
May 17, 2010
Slum dwellers collectively construct a house for Fatima Chand Khan, a 40 years old deserted woman
Veteran Mrinal Tai Gore and freedom fighter GG Parikh visit Sathe Nagar: Express solidarity & support: Give call for second freedom struggle
The Satyagraha at Anna Bhau Sathe Nagar entered the 4th day with slum residents from different bastis joining the protest of slum dwellers of Rafi Nagar, Shivaji Nagar that was facing an eviction today. However, with timely support and intervention, the Mumbai Municipal Corporation & Shivaji Nagar Police had to declare that they would not evict the slum forcibly. Just the day before this, more than 1500 slum dwellers had visited the slum as part of the Visthapan Virodhi Yatra that ended with a vow to challenge the illegal and un-just demolition drive of the state government.
While the forcible evictions have been stalled for the last 3 days, the absence of any sort of basic amenities starting with something as essential as a roof over the head, to water or sanitation, the condition is very deplorable. None of the government officials have dared to visit the area till date to see the condition of the people, while the basti residents are ready for a constructive dialogue, despite being betrayed and violated by the State.
Today afternoon, the residents of Anna Bhau Sathe Nagar collectively constructed a house for Fatima Chand Khan, a 40 years old deserted woman with 4 dependent children and a mother. With all her meagre belongings destroyed under the bull dozers, she has been forced to stay in the open, under the blazing sun. All the slum residents came together and helped her in constructing a roof over her head as the sun has been unbearable and many are falling ill because of the sub-human conditions that they have been forced to survive in.
The Andolan has also received support from veteran social activist Mrinal Tai Gore, who lamented the fact that slum dwellers are being sidelined due to the un-holy nexus between the government-builders-bureaucracy. Well-known freedom fighter G.G. Parikh gave a call to fight the second freedom struggle against the government, which is more brutal than the colonial state. Shri Kailash from Madhya Pardesh and Shri Prasad from Karla, Anti SEZ movement also joined the Dharna, expressing their solidarity to the struggle of the slum dwellers. It is also important to note that while the census operation (linked with the UID) is in progress, the timing of the forcible eviction raises a doubt in the minds of the residents as to whether the demolition drive was a purposeful act to deny them citizenship rights associated with enumeration and UID.
Santosh Thorat Jameela Begum Simpreet Singh Sumit Wajale Geeta Thatra
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Contact us at: 09423965153 / 09969363065 / 09820619174
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Palash Biswas
Pl Read:
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