Lesson learnt from the Slum up-gradation under
JnNURM Scheme
Empirical evidences in Surat city of Western India
Arjun Patel,
Centre for Social Studies, Surat, Gujarat, India.
drarjunbpatel@gmail.com
3/22/2016
1
Abstract
• Based on few case studies ,the SMC documents and relevant secondary study
materials on Slums of Surat city, the present paper tries to evaluate the Slum redevelopment program in Surat and tries raise some of the issues for discussion.
• Surat, a historical city in Western India, emerging as one of the fastest growing
cities of Asia, particularly in the wake of new economic reforms in post 1990s
has experiences many urbanization and environmental problems.
• Surat city is selected as a `model city' under a climate adaptation strategy and
under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM)
Program.
• Project proposal sanctioned under the JnNURM title includes Slum up-grading
or making the slum as pucca residential unit.
• The study observed the kind of displacement and resettlement process are going
on and how it has resulted in marginalization of the urban poor.
• The Slum dwellers felt that the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has
`cheated’ them by pushing them out at the distance places in the name of
development or under the excuse of reviving the city heritage.
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2
I
Introduction
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3
Structure of the Paper
• I Introduction
• II Industrialization, Population Growth and
Housing question in Surat city
• III CDP, Slum up-gradation Program under
JnNURM
• IV Characteristics of Slums and Slums dwellers
• V Demolition, Protests, violation of Human
Rights
• VI Marginalization of Slum dwellers
• VII Concluding Remarks
• VIII Issues for Discussion
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4
Rationale of the Study
• More than ten million of urban poor have been reshuffled under the
slum up-gradation project in India just by adopting guide line based
on State Regulations (SRs), which has no legal binding to the
authority and were evolved just for facilitating the administrative
procedure, .
• Due to the policy laps, as described in the text lot many risks the
poor people living in the Slums have faced.
• In absence of this the affected population came on road often to
solve this problem but it has not yield fruitful result.
• Social Scientists have yet to engage with this problem which has
larger ramification on the life of millions of the urban poor.
• In this context, the author has carried out the pilot study to
understand the nature of Slum redevelopment program in Surat,
Gujarat, India, where Slum re-development program has been going
on
war footing.
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5
Objectives of the Study
The objectives of the study were to
• To explore the kind of Slum evacuation and
resettlement process that has been going in Surat;
• To identify the livelihood problems encountered
by the affected people during the process;
• To analyze the factors responsible for weakening
the ideas of the program;
• To raise some issues for discussions based on the
study.
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Methodology of the study
• Based on broad talking points the Case studies
and FGD were attempted to look in the
context some of the guiding principles
enunciated in the policy statement, such as :
• -adopting a humane approach towards urban
poor,
• - incorporating social justice and gender
equity,
• -ensure community participation and
• -creating enabling conditions for the poor.
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Instruments of data collection
The study used both primary and secondary sources of data collection.
• In all, total 21 Case studies of the Slum dwellers were held.
• Through the help of talking points, 10 FGD were conducted
wherein, total 100 people took part.
• Interviewed few SMC officials.
• Two types of talking points were prepared; related to Slum locality(old as well as relocation site) and related to the respondents.
• Along with the socio-economic background of the respondents they
were asked opinion about the JnNURM scheme, their experiences of
displacement and resettlement.
• The secondary information were collected though the used the
records/ documents of the SMC, Newspaper clippings,Petition filed
in the Court., the memorandums / applications submitted by the
22 March dwellers.
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2016
8
Slum
II
• Industrialization, Population Growth
and Housing question in Surat city
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9
2.1. Industrialization and Urbanization in Surat
• In the wake of new economic reforms third world
countries have adopted industrial path of
development and gave impetus to the process of
industrialization for which it has liberalized their
developmental policies for attracting the national
and international capital.
• As per the Industrial Entrepreneur Memoranda
(IEMs) filed, the total investments during 19811988 and between 1988-97 were INR 33,251
Crores (USD 7.92 billion) and INR 35,975 Crores
(USD 8.57 billion) in Surat and its adjoin areas.
22 March 2016
Large /Medium Scale Industrialization took place in and around
Surat in the wake of post liberalization era
The SEZs (9)
• Industrial Estates SURSEZ Valod
Surat,
•
Apparel SEZ Khatodara,
• Gems & Jewelry SEZ Bardoli,
•
Essar Hazira SEZ ,
•
Gaviyar-Magdalla Essar Power SEZ,
• Olpad Hazira(GSPCL)
• Katargam Surat ,
•
Ichhapor Bhatpor (IOC)
• Apparel park and Hazira Doshwada
have came up.
Industrial parks (7)
•
Pandesara Industrial Parks /
• Developers Hazira (Reliance)
• M/s Gujarat Eco Textile Park Ltd.
Surat.
• SachinM/S Fairdeal Textile Park Ltd,
Surat
• Ichhapor BhatporM/s Shri
Laxminarayan Industrial Cooperative
• Sachin (DGDCL)Service Ltd, Surat
• M/S Surat Super Yarn Park Ltd. Surat.
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•
•
•
•
•
•
There are over 41,300 small scale
industries (SSI) functioning in Surat
district.
Most of the small scale industries are located
at talukas such as Choryasi (Western Surat),
Mangrol (Northern Surat), Olpad (Northern
Surat), Mandvi (Central Surat) and Palsana
(Southern Surat). Source: Surat District
Profile 2006-07.
More than 20 large and medium sized
industries are located in Hazira village,
including Bharat Petroleum Corporation,
Cairn Energy, Essar Power, Hindustan
Petroleum and Larsen & Toubro, Reliance,
NTPC among others.
In 2004, Shell established an LNG
Terminal at Hazira.
In a recent development, Hazira Port Pvt. Ltd
and PSA Ltd, Singapore has signed a Heads
of Agreement for development of a Container
Terminal at Surat City Hazira Port.
A steel plant established by Essar Steel Ltd.
in Hazira port is the Hazira largest steel
manufacturing facility on the western coast
of India. ( Source: The Ports of Gujarat,
Gujarat Maritime Board ,2005-06 33 ).
11
Large /Medium Scale Industrialization in and
around Surat
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Essar Power
Hazira Naphtha
Indian Oil Corp. Limited
Choryasi Motor Spirit,
Naphtha, Diesel Indian Oil Corp. Limited Bhatpor
LPG
Krishak Bharti Cooperative Limited (KRIBHCO)
Hazira Ammonia,
NGL
Larsen & Tubro Hazira
LPG Equipment,
Liquid Oxygen
National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Kawas,
Hazira Chlorine,
Naphtha Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)
Bhatpor
LPG,
Propine,
ARN/NGL,
Ethol Marcaptan
Reliance Industries Limited Bhatpor
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•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Benzine, LPG, Naphtha, Chlorine, EDC, EO,
Ethylene Hindustan Petrochemical Corporation
Limited (HPCL) Choryasi
MS, HSP, Naphtha, SKO Indo Burma Petroleum
Limited Choryasi
SKO, High Speed Diesel, Motor Spirit
Essar Steel Hazira Liquid Oxygen, Aargon,
Ichhapore Essar Power & Steel Suvali Indian Oil
Corp. Ltd.
KRIBHCO
Larsen & Tubro Bhatpor Magdalla
NTPC
Port Hazira
ONGC Reliance Industries
Choryasi Palsana HPCL Indo Burma Petroleum
Ltd.
Garden Vareli
Gujarat Hira House
Cairn Energy
British Gas
ABG Shipyard
Ambuja Cement
Welspun
(Source: Surat District Profile 2006-07).
12
2. Surat city, Population Growth and
Housing Question
• During 1991-01, the Surat city
experienced an exceptionally high
decadal population growth rate of
85.09 percent.
22 March 2016
Table 1. Population and Area Growth in Surat City
Particulars
1961
1971
1981
1991
2001
2006
2009
Surat Municipal Area
Area (sq. km)
8.18
33.85
55.56
111.16
112.17
326.51
326.51
Population
288026
471656
776583
14988817
2811464
3440838*
3884599*
Decadal Growth
Rate (%)
29.05
63.75
64.65
93
85.09
NA
NA
Population
Density (in sp.
Km.)
35211
13934
13977
13489
21677
11691
13853
Sex Ratio
915
887
857
839
774
NA
NA
Surat Urban Agglomeration
Population
_
493001
913806
1518950
2811464
4055288
4776016
Decadal Growth
Rate (in %)
-
-
85.36
66.22
85.09
NA
NA
Source:
City Development Plan (Revised), SMC/SUDA, 2008, 2013. p.16.
22 March 2016
Table 2. Decadal Growth Rate of Major cities of Gujarat
during 1990-2001
City
Population
Decadal Growth Rate
in percentages
Ahmadabad
4527198
36.44
Surat
2811464
85.09
Vadodara
1492398
32.44
Rajkot
1002160
53.12
Source: City Development Plan (Revised), SMC/SUDA, 2008-2013.
22 March 2016
Immigration to Surat
• Rapid inflow of population is continuing.
• Industrialization and urbanization has led to influx
of thousands of people to immigrate in Surat for
search of employment.
• Surat is a dominant player in the textile sector.
• At present, there are about 6 lacks power looms,
450 Process houses, 100 and above textile markets,
50000 and more embroidery machines in the city
region and the sector provides total employment of
over 1.2 millions people.
• In 2006 there were about 1 million migrant
workers working in the textile sectors, of course the
numbers have slightly decrease thereafter (Table:
3).
22 March 2016
Table 3. Migrant Workers in the textile sector
of Surat
Unit
Before
2006
2007
2008
2009
Power loom
750000
675000
645000
540000
Processing
150000
134000
115000
100000
Texturising
50000
44000
35000
32000
Embroidery
100000
98000
89000
80000
Workforce
1050000
951000
884000
752000
Source: Federation of Indian Art Silk Weaving Industry, 2009
22 March 2016
Physical Expansion of Surat City
• Surat is expanding in both the ways horizontally as well as vertically.
• To cater rapid urbanization in peripheral
areas, Surat city area expanded about six
times from 55.56 sq km to 326 sq km.
during the period of 1981 to 2009.
• Since the 90’s the city has been growing
rapidly on the eastern, southern and south
western sides wherein large chunks of
residential localities were developed under
the SUDA area.
22 March 2016
Unprecedented growth of Surat has posed numbers of
other Problems to Surat city
The Population density has created a pressure on the
existing infrastructure of the city.
It has created the problems related to:
• Drinking water
• Drainage
• Water logging
• Transport
• Traffic
• Environment degradation
• Pollution
• Health
• Hygiene
• Unauthorized construction
• Climate related issues have emerged.
• Patterns of Rain, temperature, etc have
changed.
• Flood becomes frequent phenomenon in
Surat.
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•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Shortage of potable drinking water
Frequent overflow of the shock pits
Breeding ground for Mosquitoes
Slum People generally go in open place for
defecation
Heaps of Garbage found at many places
Pigs/ cattle found wondering here and
there
Stagnation of rain water
Congestion of traffics
Parking question
Proliferation of Slums
Unhygienic living condition
Shortage of footpaths
Shortage of traffic islands
Shortage of recreational amenities
Shortage of accessibility of drinking water
Shortage of Amusement park, etc.
19
Housing Problem of Urban Poor in Surat
• In post 1990s, illegal or unauthorized construction
activities going on large scale in Surat.
• The Population density has created a pressure on the
existing infrastructure of the city. (Table: 5)
• E.g. there was saying in the vernacular languages that:
`Suratma Rotalo Male Pan Otalo na Male’ (you will
get the employment in Surat but not the resident).
• Total 15.03 million houses needed for fulfilling the
current housing backlog and the future housing
requirements for the increasing population by the
year 2022.
22 March 2016
Reasons for aggravation of Housing Problem of
Urban Poor in Surat
• The housing problem gets aggravated due to:(1) Nonfunctioning of the Gujarat Housing Board (GHB) which
has not built a single house between the years 2005 to 2012.
Not only that the staff of GHB was deputed to the other
departments.
• 2) Acceleration of land and house prices from 2005
onwards.
• (3) Private builders have neglected to build house/flat
for the lower and medium income category people.
• The table below shows the total shortfall in the number of
housing units for the total population in Surat city in coming
years:
22 March 2016
Table 6. Projected Housing Shortfall in Surat City
Particul 1991
ars
2001
2009
2012
2017
2022
Population
1,499,560
2,876,374
3,884,599
4,363,913
5,210,969
6,196,870
Total No. Of
houses
681,750
752,441
814,236
838,696
881,106
925,661
Total Houses Residential Use
436,744
477,508
512,842
526,756
550,791
575,922
Total Vacant
Houses
99,267
117,236
133,926
140,781
152,993
166,264
Housing
Requirement
299,912
575,275
776,920
872,783
1,042,194
1,239,374
Surplus
136,832
97,767
264,078
346,026
491,403
663,452
Shortfall
Source: City Development Plan (Revised), SMC/SUDA, 2008-2013.
22 March 2016
Problem of Density and climate related issues
• Unauthorized or illegal constructions found in all parts of
the Surat city.
• The density of Slum population is extremely congested,
which is 20,000 persons per square kilometers.
• Due to above characteristics the health condition is quite
vulnerable, it invites all kinds of diseases.
• All these have created a mess in the city.
• Climate related issues have emerged. It has changed the
patterns of rain, temperature, etc. Flood becomes
frequent phenomenon. Shortage of potable drinking
water, frequent overflow of the shock pits, provided
breeding ground for the mosquitoes.
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III
• CDP, Slum up-gradation Program under
JnNURM
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24
3. Surat after Pneumonic Plague
• Pneumonic Plague broke out in Surat in 1994. It
had paralyzed the city for days together.
• Surat got `bad’ name worldwide due to this
incident. It has disclosed the limitation of the city
administration.
• Plague had created panic situation for days
together.
• Even the doctors have run away to save their life
from the Plague.
• Of course, the city administration had not
accepted the defeat and decided to convert
adversity into advantages.
22 March 2016
3.1 CDP, Slum Up-gradation Programme under
JnNURM
• After the incident of Pneumonic Plague many changes took
place, but three points needs to be understood:
• Initiative efforts taken by enthusiastic SMC Commissioner
Mr. Rao. To demolish the illegal encroachment, regular door
to door check up of potable drinking water, started regular
spray of the smokes to check the mosquitoes, sending the
health worker to collect door to door blood samples, etc.
• The SMC, Surat has prepared an elaborated Corporate City
Plan (CCP) in 1999, and drew up the vision 2020 for
making Surat 'Global City-Global Standards' in 2004.
Series of city consultations were done in the year 1998 and
subsequently in 1999, 2000 and 2001.
• Meanwhile the Central government announced the
JnNURM scheme in the year 2005 to give new look to the
Indian large and medium size cities, the Surat city in its
CCP extensively introduce this Program.
22 March 2016
‘Urban renewal’ under JnNURM
• ‘Urban renewal’ is one of the major the thrust areas of the Central
Government.
• Under JnNURM, the Central Government of India had declared
housing schemes for families living below poverty line (BPL)
and economically weaker section of society, on 3 rd. December
2005.
• The basic objective of JnNURM is holistic. Slum development
ensuring healthy and enabling urban environment by providing
adequate shelter and basic infrastructure facilities to Slum
dwellers.
• It has mainly three components; Slum improvements, upgrading
of existing Slums and relocation projects. under three heads: a)
Housing b) Physical Infrastructure and c) Social infrastructure.
• In Gujarat, JnNURM
has been under implementation in four
major cities; Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Rajkot.
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27
Infrastructure development in Surat under
JnNURM scheme
After introduction of JnNURM project like many large size cities , infrastructure development
works can be seen every corner of city; such as ,
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Fly over.
Drainage network
Strom water
Bridges
BRTS
Traffic Inland
CCTV Camera
Traffic signals
Parks/Garden
Malls/ Super Markets
Door to Door Garbage Collection
Garbage container free city.
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•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Fountains
Expansion of road
Road construction
Pedestal
Jogging area
River front scheme
Amusement park
Food zones
Hawkers’ zone
Sulabh
Sauchalaya(
Community Latrine)
28
Table 5. Summary of Investment Requirements for SMC (Figures in Rs.
Lakhs)
Name of the sector
2009*10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
Total
Water supply
14473
S2607
11125
10150
0
48355
Sewerage
9706
23545
23545
23545
0
80142
Storm water drainage
5574
6813
6869
6869
4579
30704
Solid waste management
1285
1285
1285
0
0
3856
Transportation System Roads a no bridges
13025
52223
2100
0
0
67349
Transportation System "
Urban Transport (BRTS)
8200
27500
11202
0
0
46902
Housing/ E.W.S (VAMBAY)
5390
23236
2622
0
0
31250
Social
Development
Central Science Centre &
-High-tech entertainment
Flood protection and
Disaster management a Tapi
River Front Development
737
1475
I475
0
0
3687
3560
570
0
0
0
4130
Total
61950
149 257
60223
40564
1579
Source: City Development Plan (Revised), SMC/SUDA, 2008-2013.
22 March 2016
316573
Slum up-gradation scheme under JnNURM
• The cost of the dwelling unit will be shared on the
proportion of 50:20:20:10 by the Central
Government and State Governments/ SMC and the
beneficiary respectively.
• Surat stands in the list of leading cities in
implementation of JnNURM projects worth Rs.
24,289.9 million.
• In last two years time, Surat city administration has
incurred the expenditure of Rs. 6184.4 million for
constructing total 44,396 dwelling units for urban
poor.
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30
The Policy Statement on Slum development by the
State Government
• The Gujarat government has lays down ten key governing
principles of Slum development . They are:
• Planned growth
• Recognition of Slums
• Humane Approach towards Urban Poor
• Equity and Social Justice
• Gender Equity
• Promoting Partnerships
• Networking of various agencies
• ULBs’ lead role
• Community Participation
• Financing mechanisms for provision of services to the
Poor
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IV
• Slums and Slums dwellers
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4.2 Types of Land ownerships of Slum locality
• Three types of land ownership found in Slum;
government land, SMC land and the private
land.
• The Slum dwellers have occupies 94.31 lac
sq.m. land in the city.
• Table 8 shows that the slum covered about 94
million sq. lands in the city and it has 91000
huts and 4.97 Lac population in the year 2001
(Table:8).
22 March 2016
Table: 9 Land ownership wise number of Slum settlement,
households and Slum population
Much(70% to 80 % of the total) of the Slums located on the SMC land and government
land (Table:9)
Land
Ownership
No. Slum
settlement
No. of Slum
household
Slum
Population
Govt. Land
122
21801
177600
SMC Land
146
46576
213210
Private Land
138
30720
201190
Total
406
99097
592000
Source: City Development Plan (Revised), SMC/SUDA, 2008-2013.
22 March 2016
Slums population in Surat
• In 2007 total Slum population in Surat was 5.92 lac, consists around 99
thousand households distributed in 406 Slum localities in the city.(Bio
Matrix Survey, SMC).
• Prior to the Gujarat Assembly last elections in 2012, Congress party offered
to provide the cheap urban-houses to the urban poor women, total 28 lacs
woman applied for the house. (link).
• In response to this the Chief Minister of the present ruling party has
announced the promise of building 50 lac low-cost houses in the state in the
next five years (Jul 18, 2013, 01:20PM IST ),
• After winning the election he
announced `The Swarnim Jayanti
Mukhyamantri Shaheri Vikas Yojana’ with a total outlay of Rs. 15,000 corer
and also reactivated the GHB.
• Zone-wise numbers of population shows that the Slum population is
not distributed evenly in all the seven zones.
• North zone has the highest numbers of members in a family whereas
central zone has lowest.(Table:8)
•
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35
Table 8. Zone wise Slum Population
Slum No. with
zone code
Name of the
Zone
No. of Huts
No. of Families
Population
Area of Slum
in sq. m.
W
West Zone
11197
11197
68912
548593.47
C
Central Zone
5211
5211
28502
532874.43
N
North Zone
6454
6454
37187
488545.17
E
East Zone
13918
13918
69818
627317.02
SE
South East
Zone
26255
26255
154707
3745817.18
S
South Zone
20438
20438
87927
2799771.25
SW
South West
Zone
8056
8056
50283
688926.88
Source: City Development Plan (Revised), SMC/SUDA, 2008-2013.
22 March 2016
Profile of Slum Dwellers of Surat
• Slum dwellers form the major portion of urban poor,
• They come from Socially of lower communities,
economically poor and educationally illiterate background.
• Mostly they found engaged in the unorganized sector.
• Large numbers of them are from the lower income earning
groups.
• Out of total 98039 Slum families,
- 41% were earning less than Rs. 5,500/,
- 36% were earning between Rs.2500 to 5500/.
- Rests 16% were earning more than Rs. 5500/ @ month.
- Overall, nearly 50 per cent of the households living in
Slums were of BPL.
- The Slum Families found dependent on both; primary as
well as the secondary sources of income.
- (Source : Bio-matrix survey, Surat).
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Table 7. Slum/Slum dwellers’ Profile of Surat City
in 1973-2031
Particulars/
Year
1983 1992
2001
2005
2007
2009
2012
2017
2022
Population (SMC)
8.50
15.70
28.7 6
34.23
35.8 3
38.85
43.6 4
52.1 1
61.9 7
Total slum
population
% of total
population
No. of slum
settlement
identified
Slum Settlement
area (Ha)
1.87
4.34
4.91
5.69
5.92
2.94
1.03
0.18
0.03
22%
28%
17%
17%
17%
8%
2%
0%
0%
307
333
406
Slum pop. density
(PPH)
483
_
_
1017
579
1179
1022
_
Source: City Development Plan (Revised), SMC/SUDA, 2008-2013.
22 March 2016
4. Characteristics of the Dwelling
Units
• It shows that majority Slum dwelling units consists of
ground floor, Kachcha by type, used mainly for
residential purpose and interestingly 6 out of 10 were on
rental basis.
• Numbers of floor wise classification shows that majorly
89 percent Slum dwelling units had ground floor.
• 9 percent houses had first floor and only 1 percent houses
had second floor.
• The types of Slum dwelling units shows that only 12
percent houses were pucca, 29 percent semi-pucca and
majority 59 percent houses were kachcha by types.
• 88 percent of the houses used for residential purpose
while 7 percent as commercial purposes.
• Surprising 36 percent huts were on ownership basis
whereas 64 percent were on rental basis.
22 March 2016
4.1 Profiles of Slum dweller of Surat
• The classification of data gathered about the Surat Slum
through Bio-Matrix Survey by SMC, shows that
majority of them belong to socially lower communities,
economically poor and educationally illiterate.
• Mostly found engaged in the unorganized sector.
Majority of them are from the lower income earning
groups.
• Overall, nearly 50 per cent of the households living in
Slums are BPL.
• Out of total 98039 families, 41 percent were earning
less than Rs. 5,500/, 36 percent were earning between
Rs.2500/- to Rs.5500/-. Rest 16 percent were earning
more than Rs.5500/- @ month.
22 March 2016
V
• Demolition, Protests, violation of
Human Rights
22 March 2016
3/22/2016
41
Towards achieving the goal
•
SMC started relocating Slum
dwellers to EWS houses since
2010 on war footing and cleared
the major Slums by 2013. .
•
It has demolished all kinds of
Slums; big, medium, small in
terms of size, old or new in terms
of its duration, etc.
•
•
•
It has concentrate on demolition
of the Slums located on the SMC
and Government land.
It is to be noted that 268 out of
total 406 Slums built on the SMC
land and the Government land
and total 70377 people resides on
that land.
The SMC has cleared about 35 to
403/22/2016
22 percent
March 2016Slums of the it.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Total 1.53+lac sq. mts. lands were purchased.
Total 34,222 homes are already constructed.
In all, Rs.1546 corers were spent for Slum upgradation; of which Rs.650 corers spent for
relocation Rs. 834 corers for redevelopment and
Rs. 112 corers for up-gradation are spent.
Today, Surat stands in the list of leading cities in
implementation of JnNURM projects worth Rs.
2428.99 Corer.
Statistically it looks very attractive from officials
point of view but the affected people have
different views to share with.
It was observed that in the case of Slum
evacuation all the differences based on part line
has totally blurred.
On e would finds a unique kinds of a unanimity
among the concerned parties such as Police,
State and Central government, ruling as well as
opposition party, SMC, media, Civil society, etc.
42
6.2 Police force were used
intensively
• In order to prevent the agitators police force
were used intensively.
• There was hardly any Slum in which the polices
were not called.
• In many sites police parade was launched in order
to send a massage that the administration takes
stern action against the agitators.
• The role of police in the whole Slum evacuation
process provides fascinating area of the research.
22 March 2016
7. Power of `Eminent domain’ reflected
among the authority
• In some cases displacement of Slum people
remained objectionable.
• Two Representative cases were prevented here
which were shows, the kind of treatment given to
the people during demolition.
• Two cases; first, related with the locality Gopitalav
and another related with a person named Mr. Vitthal
Panpatil.
• The former case shows how the forced were used
in order to vacate the Slum locality while the case
of Mr. Vitthal Panpatil narrates what sorts of
harassment a poor Slum dweller has to face from
the authority to get the justice and fair deal.
22 March 2016
Incidents of self- immolation
• The question of leaving ones’ own houses was so
sensitive that in few cases the incidents of self
immolations were took place.
• E.g. in Ekatanagar 14 year young girl set herself
ablaze sprinkled kerosene on her body to save her
house from demolition. (Express News: April 11,
2013).
• In another incident, five Slum dwellers at Gopi Talao
tried to immolate themselves to show the protest
against demolition (DNA April 11 2013).
• Tension spread to other areas including Jalaram
Nagar where a resident attempted self-immolation to
oppose the civic body's operation to clear over 1,700
Slums in three Slums located in Tapi's riverbed.
22 March 2016
3/22/2016
45
Two cases of forceful Slum evacuation: A sheer
violation of Human Rights
• The first, related to the demolition of Slum locality named
the Gopitalav and another concerned with the individual
case of Mr. Vitthal Panpatil, resides in Mafatnagar Slum
locality.
• The former is the representative case which shows how
the Slum population are displaced involuntarily from their
habitat.
• How the whole system gets united against the poor
people.
• The case of Mr. Vitthal Panpatil shows what sorts of
harassment a Slum dweller has to undergo in order to
protect the personal and community interests.
• How he has used to Right to Information Act for his
rescue.
22 March 2016
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46
The Gopitalav Slum demolished in a ‘brutal’
manner
• For demolition of Gopitalav Slum, the
SMC has used:
- More than 800 staff,
- 500 police officers,
- 200 security guards,
- 100 vehicles,
- 40 JCB, machines,
- 8 parkland machines,
- 4 breaker machines,
- 20 CCTV cameras,
- 15 photographers, and
- 15 video systems at work place.
- SMC distributed the work with 12s
team.
- Locked up Mr. Asad Kalyani, the local
Councilor in his house through out the
demolition works. (24 May 2013
Gujarat Mitra).
- Some other affected people were put
behind the bar.
- On the following day the media,
offices, police, etc. have dubbed this
as `Peaceful Demolition’.
22 March 2016
•
Gopitalav was not an exceptional case. There were many such
cases including the Bapunagar Slum, Iqbal Nagar,
Subhas nagar, Ekta nagar, etc.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
UN-HABITAT on forceful demolition
If one compared the Slum eviction process that were
applied in Gopitalav, Surat with the spirit of the
UN-HABITAT it can be said quite ‘horrible’.
UN-HABITAT recognizes and, also advocates urban
development and planning, and acknowledges
displacement but as a last resort after thoroughly
examined all the possible alternatives.
If one compared with the ideals of the policy
statement one would realized that it is not in the line
of that ideals.
It should be implemented in accordance with
international human rights law and in a sustainable
and socially inclusive manner.
But it was found totally missing in the case of Slum
relocation in Surat.
SMC used the JnNURM Scheme as a tool for
displacing the urban poor from their valuable land for
commercial interests and Amusement for the rich.
This feeling was found common among the affected
people.
47
Forceful Demolition of Gopitalav…
•
•
•
•
•
•
The demolition of Gopitalav Slum can be labeled as brutal. For demolition of Gopitalav
Slum, SMC has used, more than 800 employees, 500 police officers, 200 security
guards, 100 vehicles, 40 JCB, machines, 8 parkland machines, 4 breaker machines, 20
CCTV cameras, 15 photographers, and 15 video systems at work place.
SMC distributed the entire demolition work to 12s team. Each of the team provided
leadership of higher level SMC officer and 80 to 100 staff.
In order to finished the demolition work without much disturbance the SMC has kept
tight watch of police cordoning the house of Mr. Asad Kalyani, the local Councilor
belongs to Muslim Community.
The way in which police beat the Slum people that was quite horrible. Police have not
spared even elderly person and the women folk.()Videos available on You tube).
He was not allowed to go out throughout the day- from the beginning to till the end of
demolition work. Some local resident who opposed the demolition work were put behind the
bar (24 May 2013 Gujarat Mitra).
On the following day it was dubbed as `Peaceful Demolition’ by the media, officials and
police. This has not an exceptional case but many such cases including the Bapunagar Slum,
Iqbal Nagar, Subhas Nagar, Ekta Nagar Slums, etc. were reported.
22 March 2016
Another case is of Hansaben Ajaybhai Pandya, aged 40 years, illiterate,
Brahmin by caste shared that she was evacuated from Ashwinikumar
Slum to the Shrijinagari area near Palnapur in Western Zone.
•
Her house was demolished on 14th June 2003 at the time the rain was
continued SMC people were after target so tightly they did not see whether it
is rain or cold or heat or social exigencies or flood etc. at the time of
demolition.
• At that time her son Suraj was 4 year old. The SMC staff came to vacate the
hut at that time her husband was not presence and she got frightened called her
husband.
• She told `how SMC can send the people by just passing an order to vacate the
house in any situation - like rain. In rain even the animal like cat and dog also
tends to stay at safer place.
• At such time the slum dwellers are asked to take their luggage in the open truck
along with their children at unknown area and that to in the heavy rain? There
after the slum dwellers have put demand not to do demolish the house
immediately.
• They ask for more time, the staff has demolished their houses by threatening
that it is a Mayor order.
22 March 2016
• At that time monsoon season was on they have urged that where they will go
A Case of Sheer Human Rights Violations Human Rights
• If one compared the Slum eviction process that
was applied in the above cases with the spirit of
the UN-HABITAT it can be said `quite horrible’.
• UN-HABITAT recognizes and, also advocates
urban
development
and
planning,
and
acknowledges displacement but it strongly
emphasizes that such resettlement must be a last
resort after consideration of all alternatives, and
must be implemented both in accordance with
international human rights laws and in a
sustainable and socially inclusive manner. But it
was found totally missing in the case of Slum
relocation in Surat.
22 March 2016
VI
• Marginalization of Slum dwellers
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51
A Case of Viththalbhai Patil
• Viththal Patil narrated the story in which the people of Mafat nagar
lost livelihood option and the youth have pushed into the `illegal,
activities following resettlement.
• He told that many of the slum people have lost the jobs at the new
sites as they do not know the skills other than what they possessed.
• Many were allotted the houses far 10 km. (in many cases) away
from their old habitat.
• They all are facing one or the other kinds of problem of livelihood at
the new site. Many of the slum dwellers are forced to discontinue
their jobs compulsorily due to the distance.
• Viththal Patil also expressed his worries about the second
generation. He added that the SMC has yet to think of in this regard.
22 March 2016
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52
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
A Case of Viththalbhai Patil
Elaborating his self experience he told that the secondary occupation of goat rearing
activity has totally decline at new relocation site.
He told that few families at the original site were engaged in rearing the goats. He
had 8 to 9 goats.
He was saying that he was not facing any problem of getting fodder as they get it free
of charges from the nearby Agricultural Producing Market Co-operating Housing
Society (APMC) market.
He told that even at the old age he earns Rs.15 to 20 thousand per annum. Viththal
Patil further added that around 50 to 60 children turned unemployed and passing their
time without doing anything concrete.
`The people want to work but they do not have work’. Because of the unemployment
few youngsters pushed towards the anti-social activities and got indulged in it.
It was told that after shifting at relocated sites the consumption of alcohol has also
increased that has led the people indebted.
It has also gave imputes to the thefts. In absence of gainful employment the young
generations do not hesitate to do any unlawful activities to get the money.
He added that when the younger boys were living in the Slum locality they all were
under control and observation of their neighbors, elders, and relatives, etc.
But this is not in the case of new settlement has not continued for longer. In absence
of work, few of the families gone back to their native by selling out the belonging
they owned.
22 March 2016
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53
Loss of livelihood: A Case of
Jagdishbhai
• Jagdishbhai, aged of Mafat Nagar slum area, aged 32, illiterate,
originally from Maharashtra having five members in his family has
shifted from power loom worker to the paint (color) worker.
• Narrating his story he told that he was born and brought up in Surat
and staying in a Kaccha house having only one room (size 12’ x
22’).
• Initially he worked in a power loom factory but he left this job as the
new relocation site is located far off place from his work place.
• He told that many times he has to perform duty of 12 hours a day
and sometimes late night.
• During such days he finds difficultly to reach back to his home. So,
he left his job and started color work on causal basis. After coming
to the new locality his wife also lost the job as maid servant.
• He told that the most pathetic situation is that at the relocated site
both; husband and wife have lost their sources of livelihood.
• Narrating his personnel case he told that earlier he was earning
Rs.10,000/- @ month. His balance sheet got upset and he has to
incur debt from his friend.
22 March 2016
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54
A Case of Hansaben
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Hansaben and her husband both have lost the earning sources of livelihood. He told
that in the old locality her husband was working with Blue Star Company as a
Supervisor and earning Rs.8000/- per month.
From their new residence, his husband could not reach office located at Ashwini
Kumar road on time, so he was kicked out of his job. This was quite great loss for
family like him.
In the initial two years he uses to stand at the nearby local labour market called
“Ramnagar Majur Bazaar”, where usually the hundreds of casual workers used to
stand in search of employment.
She told that in those days she was unable to manage two meals in a day.
Their children were crying because of hunger and it was unbearable situation to her
as she belongs to the Brahmin caste which considered as one of the most reputed
caste in India having highest social rank and was not supposed to do such manual
work.
Even though, she wondered for around two months at the labour market but she did
not get the job. No one ready to give her work, even, people were suspicious.
Lastly, she started small grocery shop in her allotted house. The SMC staff scolded
her by saying that the houses are given for stay and not for running a shop.
22 March 2016
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55
A Case of Hansaben…
•
Hansaben was often intimated and was threatened number of
time that throwing out the goods out of her house.
• She added that she has to spend Rs.6500/- per month as against
the day to day expenses to maintain her family. She argued that
due to the demolition of house her husband lost his job of
Rs.8000/- per month.
• She told that the SMC should compensate him by giving job.
She revealed that due to the problem of livelihood her family
has gone under pressure and has passes days together in
stresses and psychological strain.
• Adding to that her children are growing, the expenditure also
increased making her husband tense and sometimes he was
saying to her that ‘it is better to die then passing such
22 March 2016
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56
miserable
life’.
People felt `Cheated’ by the SMC
• The spirit mentioned under JnNURM scheme and
statement of state policy of housing that in the
exceptional cases only the Slum population should be
relocated elsewhere.
• In the rarest cases after examining all the possible
alternatives; they should be displaced and resettled at the
nearest places at their original locality.
• But this spirit is totally violated in majority of the cases.
• The SMC has displaced the slums and resettled at
distance places in many cases exceed 10 kms away.
• It has created ‘bad’ feeling about the SMC among the
affected.
• They felt that, in the name of `development’ SMC has
used the JnNURM Scheme as a tool for displacing the
urban poor from their valuable habitat for capitalist and
commercial interests.
22 March 2016
VII
• Concluding Remarks, Issues,
Points for Discussion
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58
Major Findings …
• Though, the city administration has tried to demolish the
Slums very skillfully and strategically by using one or the
other kinds of tricks and techniques as cited in the text, it has
not completely stopped the resistance of the local people.
• It was observed that unique congregation of various interest
groups; such as police, government, media, civil society,
bureaucracy, and city people, especially the middle class have
unionized against the urban poor, though not by designed.
• They are forced them to vacate the land, where the Slum
people have developed their social and cultural capital over
the years.
• Power of `Eminent domain’ reflected in the attitude often
reflected among the minds of the authority during the process
2016
59
of22 March
displacing
the people and resettlement.
Major Findings …
• In some of the cases the process of displacement has remained
highly controversial and objectionable.
• In absence of proper allotment of dwelling units the problem of
livelihood has aggravated and it has resulted in dismantling the
economic bases of the Slum population.
• It was observed that the urban poor are pushed towards the
`marginalized condition’.
• All these have further `marginalized’ the economic condition of the
urban poor who were already vulnerable.
• Few of the families have gone back to their native villages and sold
out the residential units that were allotted to them and some have
gone in the nearby cities. Question of gender become more
worrisome.
22 March 2016
60
Spirit under JnNURM Violated widely
• The spirit mentioned under JnNURM scheme and parameters shown
in the policy settlement housing violated in a major ways.
• The Slum dwellers were supposed to be displace as the last resort
and if in any cases they are to be displaced after examining all the
possible alternatives in such cases they should be resettled at the
nearest places of their original locality, so that they not lost their
socio-cultural aspects and livelihood pattern.
• But this spirit is violated in majority of the cases.
• The SMC has displaced the slums and pushed them 10 kms away, in
majority of the cases.
• It has aroused ‘bad’ feeling about the intention of the SMC.
• Majority of the Slum evacuees doubted that in the name of
`development’ SMC has used the JnNURM Scheme as a tool for
displacing the urban poor from their valuable habitat for capitalist
and commercial interests.
22 March 2016
61
Issues identified
• There are many issues involved with the Slum redevelopment.
• Few among them are listed below:
• Absence of ‘proper policy’ is one of the main responsible factor for
creating the risks.
• Surprisingly, the Slum up-gradation project dealing with the corers of the
people without policy.
• It just follow the State Regulations (SRs) and that too without any checks
on its implementation.
• The Concept of Slum up-gradation understood in a very narrow sense of
shifting dwelling units from one place to another.
• As shown in the text, the meaning of the `Space’ is quite different for the
point of view of Slum dweller.
• For them it is not just confined to just physical space but it also
encompasses their socio-economic, political and cultural spheres too.
• The Slum dwellers forced to resettle at the distance places has dismantled
their whole settled life that has resulted in public anguished in absence of
any possible scope for its proper redressed.
• Allottment of the housing units through draw system found very
problematic.
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62
Issues for discussion
• A big question that must be invoked again at the risk of repetition in
the discussion on urban renewal is the soundness of schemes like
JnNURM hat are very `ad-hoc’ and `inadequate’ as a solution to the
larger question of providing affordable housing to the increasing
number of urban poor in a situation where in-migration of the poor
into growing cities will escalate the demand for such housing.
• Why people have not shown willingness to accept voluntarily the
`noble’ objective of SMC, to move from filth localities in some
cases to the pucca house at a environmental friendly places?
• Why people did not like the idea of the SMC in spite it has some
advantages; such as legal entitlement, equipped with civic amenities,
full facilities in the house, pucca structure, locality with hygienic
condition, etc?
• What is to be done in order to make this policy/ program more
effective?
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63
Issues for discussion…
• Can one expect without knowing
the primary
stakeholder i.e; the affected people the displacement,
resettlement, rehabilitation plans get succeed?
• Without conducting SIA, do we have any mechanism to
know the potential risks in order to evolve the counter
strategies to prevent from its negative impacts in
advance .
• To what extent program imposed from the above (Topdown approach) get succeed?.
• Whether resettlement program that was not
encompassing the peoples’ needs/aspirations gets
succeed?.
• Whether the program gets succeed if no ongoing
monitoring and post work done once people shifted at
the relocation site?.
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64
Thank you, all
22 March 2016