Mumbai, Dharavi, PROUD, 31 year of struggles and results
People’s Responsible Organisation of United Dharavi (PROUD) organized 4 public meetings on Housing Rights and Pressing for the immediate implementation of long standing Dharavi Redevelopment Programme (DRP) with about 800-1000 people in each of the meeting between 8th January, 2011 to 16th January, 2011. PROUD also celebrated it’s 31st Anniversary Programme along with it’s 15th Biennial Convention.
PROUD has always been working for the betterment of people in Dharavi since 1979. Our main struggle was to stop demolitions in Dharavi and demand land-ownership for the people who with their blood-sweat effort turned Dharavi once a dumping ground into a heart-beat of Mumbai.
Brief Report on PROUD’s Public Meetings and 31st Anniversary Programme
Descent shelter with all basic civic amenities was always an everlasting dream of people in Dharavi. Although, several govts. one after another passed away and even with 7 Congress Municipal Corporators, 1 State MLA, 1 State Cabinet Minister and 1 Member of Parliament from Dharavi with same party in power at the Centre and the State, they utterly failed in fulfilling their election promises and implement Dharavi Development Programme (DRP). Whenever we approached them, we got nothing but assurances and promises. How long people can patiently wait and watch like this ? Now, we are forced to come into the streets demanding immediate implementation of Dharavi Redevelopment Programme(DRP).
More than 80% are presently living in less than 10 X 10ft. structure, everyday lining-up for drinking water and at community toilets and they all will benefit from the current SRA scheme of 270 Sq.Ft.(carpet area)homes with drinking water tap and bath-toilet. The real block for the Dharavi Redevelopment Programme (DRP) is the local politicians, bureaucrats and few business establishments who have occupied larger land space.
On one hand, people are made to suffer and have to cope-up with rocket like price-rise situation, but in some state Assemblies and Parliament, they decide best for themselves to pass project tenders/contracts and increase their own salaries & allowances into two-folds and three-folds.
40% people in our country struggling to even get one meal a day and are Below Poverty Line (BPL), illiterate, jobless and homeless, while thousands of farmers committing suicide due to the overburden-debt, hundreds are dying due to malnutrition, political scams involving crores of rupees are increasing day-by-day and in-spite of several enquiry commissions, so far no results, no punishment and no accountability.
People’s Responsible Organisation of United Dharavi (PROUD) has always been working for the betterment of people in Dharavi since 1979, PROUD is a non-political and secular which means we respect all religions and support any political party that works for the betterment of people in Dharavi irrespective of religion, caste, colour, region etc. our main struggle was to stop demolitions in Dharavi and demand land-ownership for the people who with their blood-sweat effort turned Dharavi once a dumping ground into a heart-beat of Mumbai.
If any one first fought for the basic civic amenities like drinking water, sanitation, ration card etc. in Dharavi, it is PROUD- If any one saved Dharavi slums from constant evictions by BMC, it is PROUD- Eg. Azad Nagar, SKR Nagar, Kalyanwadi, PMP wadi, Anna Nagar, Indira Nagar, Garib Nagar, Mukund Nagar, Social Nagar, etc.
People’s Responsible Organisation of United Dharavi (PROUD) organized 4 public meetings on Housing Rights and Pressing for the immediate implementation of long standing Dharavi Redevelopment Programme (DRP) with about 800-1000 people in each of the meeting between 8th January, 2011 to 16th January, 2011. PROUD also celebrated it’s 31st Anniversary Programme along with it’s 15th Biennial Convention.
The 31st Anniversary Programme started with 2 minutes silence to remember with prayers our late Mr. Rabial Mallick, chaired by PROUD’s President, Shri. Shankar A. Gopirde and a welcome address by PROUD’s Co-ordinator, Shri. Prashanth K.Anthony, Shri. Hariram T.Dilliwala, Chairman, Land and Housing gave PROUD’s report in brief.
Apart from the above, there were several distinguished speakers like Shri. Eknathrao Gaikwad, local member of Parliament, Shri. Baburao Mane, former local MLA, Dr. Jalinder Adsule, College of Social Work “Nirmalaniketan”, Director, Bombay Urban and Industrial League for Development (BUILD), Shri. Rajaram Katalkar, Gen. Secretary, People’s Organisation of Wadala for Equality and Rights (POWER).
The following demands were declared by PROUD:
1. Confrontation through more and more public meetings in Dharavi, Sit-in Dharnas, Rallies, Rasta-roko etc. pressurising govt. until the State Govt. implement Dharavi Redevelopment Programme(DRP).
2. Every structure in Dharavi whether they are under Tata power-lines, on pipe-lines, railway-lines, on road-widening, reserved plots etc. should be rehabilitated in Dharavi itself.
3. Almost every house has some economic activities or the other in Dharavi as their only source of livelihood, therefore the buildings should be designed in such a way that they are able to continue their means of livelihood.
4. All the street-vendors of Dharavi should be rehabilitated in Dharavi in a special Hawker-zones.
5. Dissolve present Expert Committee and form A Special Task-force to involve the representatives of local people’s organizations, political parties, business associations, religious leaders etc. who shall meet in regular intervals to co-ordinate Dharavi Redevelopment Programme(DRP).