After demolition of 16 huts on 06th November 2019
It’s true that the water logging has become a big issue for Patna, but somehow the brunt of it has fallen on the urban poor. These are communities who were forced to flee their villages due to floods and famine way back some 5o years ago and are residing along drains and Hume pipes, under bridges and along the roadside. Their poverty does not permit them to procure land or even hire a room to rest at night. Being daily wage earners who work for 15 days and then have to stop work, their income is very minimal, it’s sufficient to keep their body intact and provide education for their children. These communities should be admired for their value but due to encroachment they are being harassed to leave their homes as they are considered to be encroachers. Such myths that fill the minds of the officials deny the poor a voice, to raise their issues before the appropriate fora.
16 huts were demolished by the JCB, there was a marriage to take place on the 22nd, the parents begged to give them time. The heartless officials did not pay heed to anything but in their face destroyed everything. When we approached and tried to intervene we were threatened to be arrested and an FIR to be lodged against us. So unjust and insensitive are officials that nothing matters to them. Strategies are being worked out, so as how to oppose this operation and ensure that people are safaeguarded.