1,200 families were evicted from the slum
The evicted residents of Ejipura EWS quarters, make do with makeshift tents and abandoned pipes for shelter (Photo: Satish.B)
Bengaluru: As rain water slowly gushes into her makeshift tent, 58-year-old Jaya Mary lifts her toddler grandson and runs to cover her tent. If she doesn’t shield the leaking tent from a heavy downpour, her ‘house’ will be inundated and washed away in split seconds. Her neighbour Jayamma, who lives inside a huge pipe, wraps many torn sheets around herself in a vain attempt to brave the chill Bengaluru breeze and monsoon showers.
For nearly 75 families in Ejipura EWS quarters, the monsoon brings nothing but a deluge of woes. Nineteen months after 1,200 families were called illegal occupants and evicted from the slum, the families, which were not allotted houses are still scrambling for help.
The shanties were indiscriminately razed , while most families were rehabilitated, a few identified as unauthorized occupants are still squatting on footpaths. Mary’s is one such case. Her seven-member family resides in the tent put up on the footpath ever since the demolition.
She says, “Every time we try to demand justice, we are merely told houses are being constructed and we will be relocated soon. But we want to know when. Nothing has happened so far. I don’t even think the government is interested in constructing houses for us.”
What worries Mary is the health of her young grandson. Denied the luxury of healthcare, these families have no liberty to complain and are expected to brave the elements come rain or shine.
“My grandson is less than two years old and the constant exposure to dust has led to various infections and allergies. He scratches himself all night due to skin allergies and can’t sleep peacefully due to breathing problems,” she rues.
The government has not offered any monetary relief and to make matters worse even their rations have stopped.
“We used to get rice, dal and other groceries. For the last three months, we are not receiving anything. Earlier, a doctor used to visit our camps weekly and hold routine heath check-ups, now the doctor has stopped coming. If we are denied every basic facility, how can we survive?” she questions.
Although these families have been given tarpaulins to cover their tents, they hardly serve the purpose as the sub-standard quality tarpaulins tear within a short span.
When asked if they have approached any elected representatives, she replies, “We don’t even know where to go. What can we do? Will we even get justice?”
These families have pinned all their hopes on getting a home, irrespective of where or how it will look.
“I don’t mind traveling a long distance as long as I get a roof over my head. All we need is a better place to live in and some basic shelter,” she sighs.
( Source : dc )
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