The Hindu : Observe 'Garib Divas', slum dwellers told

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Wednesday, Mar 12, 2003

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Observe 'Garib Divas', slum dwellers told

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI MARCH 11. The former Prime Minister, V.P. Singh, today called upon the Capital's poor living in slum clusters to come out on the streets on March 27 to observe "Garib Divas'' (The Day of the Poor).

Industrial workers of the Capital and those living in the satellite townships of Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad and Gurgaon too would go on a day's strike on March 27, he announced at a press conference here.

Mr. Singh said his Jan Chetna Manch has decided to observe March 27 as "Garib Divas'' every year to commemorate the victory of slum dwellers against the demolition of Wazirpur Industrial Area slums the same day three years ago in 2000.

Reiterating his demand for in situ rehabilitation of slum dwellers in the Capital, Mr. Singh said the poorest of the poor would come out on the road in large numbers to demand that there should be no further demolition of slum clusters in the Capital.

Mr. Singh alleged that no action has been taken to implement the decision taken by the Union Urban Development Minister, Ananth Kumar, at a meeting with him in October regarding putting an end to demolition of jhuggis and in situ development of slums. "The residents of Laxmibai Nagar slums have collected Rs. 4.5 lakhs in this regard, but the officials are yet to initiate the process,'' he said.

His other demands included issuance of ration cards to all slum dwellers, provision of quality rations at designated rates and end of contract system in electricity supply. "People living in slums are being exploited,'' he said.

Mr. Singh demanded that all government schools and colleges be run in double shifts. At least 20 per cent of seats in Delhi colleges be reserved for children of industrial workers and slum dwellers and they be provided free education. "Under economic liberalisation, higher education has become unaffordable for the poor,'' he said.

Presenting his ten-point charter of demands, Mr. Singh said the industrial workers were not paid their minimum wages. "Poor are being attacked in several ways, not only in housing but also in education. There is no one now in the Government to take care of their interests,'' he said.

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