Fwd: [initiative-india] Shramdan to re-build houses in Mumbai's demolished bastis begins tomorrow

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Initiative India <initiativeindia@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, May 18, 2010 at 10:13 PM
Subject: [initiative-india] Shramdan to re-build houses in Mumbai's demolished bastis begins tomorrow
To:

NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF PEOPLE'S MOVEMENTS
A Wing First Floor, Haji Habib Building, Naigaon Cross Road
Dadar (E), Mumbai-400 014 Ph. No-2415 0529 E-mail: napmindia@gmail.com
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For Immediate Release         May 18^th, 2010

MP REVISITS SLUM-DWELLERS: FACES TOUGH QUESTIONS

Mumbai's bastis immortalize Shivaji Bhutekar's martyrdom                                    with vow to struggle for justice

Meet with Revenue Minster on 21^st May: Shramdan to rebuild houses starts

The indefinite Satyagraha of thousands of the well-organized but unprotected urban poor, dalits and labourers from the Mumbai's bastis has entered its 6^th day today and the people, through their peaceful yet militant mass action, are giving a befitting reply to the brazen and bulldozing tactics of the Government. Member of Parliament Mr. Sanjay Dinal Patil who re-visited the demolition site today evening, after apologizing to the people yesterday night had to face another round of tough questioning from the women and men of Anna Bhau Sathenagar, Mandala, Jai Ambe Nagar, Rafiq nagar and other bastis. Asking him to reiterate his promise and apology, the women demanded true commitment from him and the MP responded with an assurance that,"whatever mistakes had happened would not be repeated and I would stand by the people until all their rights are realized and guaranteed".

Mr. Patil also stated that the issue was discussed at a meeting with the concerned ministers and officials today morning and a joint interface of the basti-people and activists with the Maharashtra Revenue Minister and the concerned officials is to be held on the 21^st May on the various issues flagged by the Andolan. However, the people shall not remain withdrawn, but instead take a pro-active stand and start a community led exercise of 'Shramdaan' from tomorrow morning by clearing the debris at the demolished site and begin re-building the houses at the same place from where State tried to evict the bread-winners of the city.

Earlier in the day, thousands of people bid adieu to Shivaji Bhutekar, whose death due to electrocution was primarily a consequence of the mayhem caused by the state and the negligence of the Reliance Energy, against whom legal action has already been initiated. The unforgettable farewell was given to him as per Buddhist traditions and ceremony, in which people of all castes, religions and faiths participated and vowed that they shall not let Shivaji's matrydom go in vain and intensify the struggle until all their dues – legal to human are extracted from the State.

 

The struggle of the people also received solid support from the visit of Manav Kamble, prominent social activist of Nagari Hakka Sanrakshan Samiti and Maruti Bhapkar, Corporator of Pimpri-Chinchwad, both of who, in their inimitable way, challenged the thick-skinned and non-responsible ways of the Indian State to people's legitimate struggles that are asserting their constitutional rights and stated that the issue of land and housing for the large masses of the country is the most immediate political challenge that must be addressed on a war-footing if the State is really interested in lasting peace and democracy.

 

The 'andolankaris' have also decided to take out another Visthapan Virodhi Yatra through slums of Mumbai soon and, if need be, they will also storm into high-rise buildings and towers of the city that have been constructed illegally, be it the Atria Shopping Mall or the Hiranandani Gardens, thus exposing the real encroachers of Mumbai. Amidst slogans of 'Builderon ki jaagir nahi, yeh shahar hamaara hai' (The city of Mumbai is ours, not the fiefdom of builders) and 'Garibon ka shram kitna, haq kitna, hisaab karo, hisaabdo' (Calculate and Account for the hard-work and rights of the poor), reverberating the bastis and streets of Mumbai, the struggle for equity and justice continues …

 

Santosh Thorat       Jameela Begum    Simpreet Singh     Sumit Wajale      Medha Patkar

Contact Nos: 09423965153 / 09969363065 / 09820619174

 

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Palash Biswas
Pl Read:
http://nandigramunited-banga.blogspot.com/