Members of Asha Niketan, a 40-year-old care-giving home for people with special needs here, are staring at a bleak future as a proposal to construct a bypass road cutting through their premises is threatening to turn them homeless.
The new alignment for the Nandhi-Chengottukavu bypass road will lead to the demolition of their hostels, day-care facilities, vocational training centres, office, and staff quarters, apart from filling their water resources. Asha Niketan, started by Canadian humanist Jean Vanier in 1977 in Kozhikode, now has 46 members in the 14 to 77 age group, who are attended to by volunteers and their staff. The institution is entirely dependent on donations for its functioning.
E. Sreedharan, chairman of the governing council, Asha Niketan, told The Hindu on Saturday that the design of the previous alignment of the bypass road was less harmful. “We knew that we were going to lose some land and buildings, and a new structure was constructed in preparation of the eventuality. Unexpectedly, officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) landed here on December 26 to mark the new alignment, which will necessitate the demolition of most of our buildings, including the new one, and filling of three wells,” he added. Mr. Sreedharan pointed out that the proposed alignment would cut through the premises, and that the facilities would get fragmented. As the buildings are located on a sloppy terrain, some of the remaining buildings will be situated on different levels, making the movement of the members impossible. “It will also lead to the filling of our drinking water sources. We managed to find water in those wells with great difficulty as this is a hilly terrain,” he said.
T.K.G. Nambiar, governing council member, alleged that the consultancy firm deputed to redo the alignment had not even visited the premises before doing its job. The existing buildings had been designed in such a way to help people with special needs. “Constructing new buildings will take time. By then, how will we rehabilitate the residents, some of whom are bed-ridden and wheel-chair bound?” he asked.
Mr. Nambiar claimed that the new alignment had been prepared to save a place of worship in vicinity. When the governing council members met the NHAI project director, he promised to look into the matter. Mr. Sreedharan, however, said no one knew who had a final word on the issue as the NHAI was unlikely to change the alignment proposed by the consultancy.
Murali, 54, a resident of the home for over 30 years, summed up the residents’ sentiments: “Our house is going to be demolished. My parents are no more, and I have nowhere else to go.” Those who share his fate include 77-year-old Lancy, who is wheelchair-bound, and Jayamithran, the first resident.
The governing council is now planning to approach the Kerala State Human Rights Commission.
