Inhuman dealing with people on the periphery
On the 07, April around late evening a vehicle was announcing to the community that in two days time they have to vacate the place due to the progress of the metro work. Who is giving these orders, is not clear. But can the workers of the Metro station come and order people to vacate? This is not becoming, yet what can these people do, they have no bargaining capacity, no platform where they can keep their problems, no one to listen to. This is painful and disturbing.
After spending the entire morning visiting the community, the Executive Officer of the Kankerbagh circle, there was no respite. I was told it is the orders of the District Magistrate. When I contacted the District Magistrate, I was told this is not his jurisdiction. The Urban and housing department has the responsibility to provide alternative. The Commissioner of the Patna Municipal Corporation is also not able to handle this situation. It appears that no one is taking the responsibility.
Even as the time passes by, we are getting number of phone calls from the community; wondering what will happen at the end of the day. Whether they will have a roof over their heads, will they be living in a safe environment?
Development is important, but how important it is and who takes a call on this…..Smart Cities…huge flyovers, widening of roads. But what happens to people and communities who have been affected by this. The communities who have been residing in this spot of more than 4 decades were told to move because the metro station is to be installed. How can an entire life with its roots and history be uprooted….children’s education ended…..livelihoods snatched, without providing an alternative.
It was such welcoming news when in the morning I was told the eviction has been stalled. We continue to fight this out, by filing a writ petition in the High court of Patna…our prayer is that our people will be safe….that the people’s lives are most important, that communities have an identity, have a respect…have to be revered…sharing the good news with the people