NAPM Invitation: Mass Rally on January 2. Victory on Rajiv Awas Yojna & Years of Struggle

By Dilip -
NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF PEOPLE'S MOVEMENTS
National Office : 6/6 Jangpura B, New Delhi – 110 014 . Phone : 011 2437 4535 | 9818905316

Rajiv Awas Yojna (RAY) to be implemented in ‘M’ ward : Success of long battle by slum dwellers in Mumbai start with Mandala, end with mass-democracy.

On January 2nd, Awas Adhikar Vishal Rally after years of struggle, and victory on Rajiv Awas Yojna, in M Ward, at 11 a.m. from Karbala Ground, Mankhurd. Come in large number

It’s a victory of the perseverant fight being given by thousands of the families of the poor, unprotected workers, the slum dwellers in and slums all over Mumbai, from Mankhund to Malad, that the standing committee of Mumbai Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai has resolved that Rajiv Awas Yojana will be implemented in M ward, in the N-E suburbs of Mumbai. The dream of Govandi-Mankhund area slum free city, we assert can never be fulfilled if the brutal eviction of slums therein continues even before the RAY commence to be executed.

This scheme which was proposed as self-reliant housing with financial support from the Central and state governments has to be a substitute for Slum Rehabilitation Scheme where the builders are not only get a chunk of prime and priced land occupied many times, even created by slums but also favours and freedom that bring them huge profit and privileges as well as power to bully the poor and the powerless, the shelterless.

GBGB Andolan and NAPM have pursued it through and through mass action of thousand by filing thousands of application with the state government and with MCGM. Two fasts in May 2011 and April 2012 demanded the RAY to replace SRA projects, where fraud to forgery is dug out by common people, staking their lives. It was during 10 days’ agitation (January 1st to 10th last year) with 8 to 10,000 on the streets of Mumbai for right to shelter, that enquiry by the Principal Secretary, Hosuing was initiated and submissions and hearings of all parties are completed. It  is still on but the report is suppressed till date and eviction continued in 6 projects, full of illegalities and irregularities, exposed by GBGB Andolan (NAPM).

Today when RAY, it is decided by the standing committee through Resolution dated 26.12.2013, will be implemented in M ward, GBGB demands that it should begin with the Mandala pilot project proposed since long. Some change in land reservation, allotting 10-15 acres of land ,more than 50 meters away from mangroves, is possible and feasible in their case. We also demand that RAY should be executed with truly participatory approach involving people’s organisations and the people themselves, since the preliminary stage of survey.

The political parties must show humility and faith in democracy and not immoral selfishness. They have just begun an ‘Ray’ , by putting up their banners suddenly cropped up like mushrooms all over the area of Govandi-MAnkhund. Where were they, people ask, during demolitions and agitations to bring RAY. We warn them of disastrous consequences if they do not behave and respect people and their struggle.

Anwari Behen           Sumit Wajale       Santosh Thorat            Medha Patkar       
Uday Mohite            

Shriram                           Jamil Bhai                              Prerna Gaikwad 

Contact:   09423965153  09892727063

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