SLUMS ARE HUMANS
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- Title
- SLUMS ARE HUMANS
- extracted text
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siums are humans
CO1*’ ' !'”TY HEALTH cell
SLUMb ARE r,JMAl
A.
AIM INITIATION
A.1. The Context
A.2. The Enquiry
B.
A DESCRIPTION
B.1. The Category
B.2. The Patterns
B.3. The People
C.
A DEMOLITION
C.1. The Bangalore-Slum
C 2. The Operation
C.3. The Re-habilitation
D.
A REACTION
D.1. The Protest
D.2. The Demands
D.3. The Authorities
E.
AN ANALYSIS
E.1. Socially
E.2. Economically
E.3. Legally
E.4. Ethically .
E.5. Politically
E.6. Comprehensively
F.
A THEO-REFLECTION
F.1. The Social Sin
F.2. The Social God-Spell
F.3. The Social Exodus
F.4. The Social Mystery
F.5. The Social Responsibility
G.
A THEO-RESPONSE
G.1. The Realism
G.2. The Government
G.3. The Strategy
G.4. The People of God.
H
FOOTNOTES & QUOTES
A RELEVANT HUMAN RESPONSE TO *
SLUM-DEMOLITION-CONTEXT
A.
A.
1.
An Initiation
The Context:
1985 May onward, an eviction of slum dwellers in Ban
galore, Mysore and other cities of Karnataka (also in other states)
is launched. In case of Bangalore (the Focus-city of this
Micro-study), this operation-domolition is carried out by the
State Development Agencies: Bangalore Development Autho
rity ( B.D.A. ), Bangalore City Corporation (B.C.C) and Karna
taka Slum Clearance Board (K.S.C.B.)
A.
2.
The Enquiry :
"Strength of character is what we lack in India, People
are not outspoken enough, questioning enough!" laments and
thus invites Prime Minister Mr. Rajiv. (1) In this perspective
of questioning the following pages are an out-burst of enquiry
with some definition of what a slum is, some description of who
the slum dwellers are, some analysisof slum-demolition-context
some reflection on this human problem and also some orienta
tion toward a relevant response. ...
B.
B.
1.
A Description
The Category :
A slum is an inhabited uninhabitable habitation. The
category of area is one of substandard housing (generally) within
a city/town. Self-sustenance and struggle for survival is the
main feature of slum-situation. (2) Basic facilities like ade
quate air, water, lighting and other sanitary facilities are mostly
wanting there. Slums are usually areas of filth and marsh which
are breeding places of disease carrying germs. Educational and
recreational facilities are conspicuous by their absence.
a slum mocks upon all forms of settled life.
B.
2.
Thus,
The Patterns:
Slums are housing of a sort. There are three patterns of
slum-settlement. One, characterised by the emergence of
sprawling "industrial-slums" located in and around major
industrial areas, and socond, "service-slums" located in and
near residential areas and housing domestic workers, hawkers,
peddlers etc. The third one is" temporary-housing-for-construct sites.
B.
3.
The People
Slums are people. In many third world countries, where
as the overall growth rate of national population is between 2
to 2.2 per cent and metropolitan cities are growing at about 4
per cent the slums are multiplying at an astonishing rate of
around 8 per cent. (3) They constitute a sizeable portion of
India's urban population. Anywhere between 25 to 30 per cent
of the country's 156 million urban people already live in slums.
And by the year 2000 A.D. approximately 35 per cent if no
more (about 350 million) will be slum dwellers, unless
something is done radically.
What an inhuman existence, pities the recently-retired
Chief Justice of India, C.J. Chandrachud, adding the following
description (4): "These people in slums (and in pavements)
exist in the midst of filth and squalor, which has to be seen to
be believed. Rabid dogs in search of stinking meat and cats in
search of hungry rats keep them company. They cook and
sleep where they please, for no conveniences are available to
them. Their daughters, come of age, bathe under the nosy
gaze of passers-by, unmindful of feminine sense of bashfulness.
The cooking and washing over, women pick lice from each
other's hair. The boys beg. . .."
Slum dwellers are the workers who are involved in
building up a city with their sweat and blood, constructing the
roads, institutions, etc. They also work as domestic workers,
scavengers, sweepers and casual labourers. (5) They are thus,
like any other people, productive citizens, the backbone of the
entire urban economy providing cheap labour in large numbers
and keeping the machine of a city-society functioning.
CC.
1.
A Demolition
The Bangalore Slum
Two-thirds of Bangalore slums are "service-slums and
the rest is "temporary-housing- for-construction workers". There
are about 600 slums in the city of which, close to 240 are
recognized ones.(6) Recognition of a slum is not done gene
rally on any valid criteria but on the basis of political associations
and contexts of the slum-dwellers. (7) Recognised slums, in
principle stand freed from demolition and if demolished stand
assured of alternative arrangements. But in practice, even those
slums, which could very well be "recognised for the simple
solid reason of being-existing-for a period of 1 5 years and more,
are demolished already or served notice for demolition recently.
C.
2.
The Operation-Demolition
In what appeared to be a well-planned and efficiently
executed operation, the demolition of slums is launched in
Karnataka (8) In Bangalore alone, recently 20 slums and more.
The squards would arrive suddently, unannounced, at times
even at night. No prior intimation is given. No eviction notices
are issued, No alternative accommodation is offered. Neither
any arrangement is made to transport them - a benigh courtesy
offered sometimes by executioners of such operations - nor any
emergency relief provided to these unfortunate citizens, leaving
the people hungry, dazed, shocked and gripped by fear besides
their demolished huts.
C.
3.
The Re-habilitatlon
Only some of those displaced from Banashankari and
Jayanagar areas (south-end circle slum dwellers) have been
given alternative sites in the Kumarasamy lay-out. About 500
families. The BCC and BDA have provided- transport for
allotters. The Karnataka Electricity Board (KEB) is busy erec
ting street lights. 4 borewells are dug for drinking-water
facility. The people have to pay back but only later, in a
phased-out manner. (9) So far, so fine! But a crucial reve
latory information: "Only the betteroff slum dwellers (economi
cally and politically) have been provided for I "
The re-habilitation project taken up on the 60 acre land
. at Laggore village years ago is progressing at snail's pace (10)
Not a single family has been rehabilitated over there. About
250 one-room-tenants constructed in 1983-84, have not been
given out for occupation as water and electricity have yet to be
extended.
D. 4 Reaction
D.
T.
The Protest
Victims of tne operation-demolition are mostl/unorga
nised ones. (11) Yet some voluntary agencies and animators
actively engaged in welfare and development work among the
slum-dwellers for the past many years mobilised the victims
and other slum-dwellers for a protest against "this sudden in
discriminate and inhuman damolitions and evictions".
(12)
To list a few major voluntary agencies that have taken
up this task of political conscientization and social organization:
Karnataka Kolageri Nivasigala Samukta Sanghatana (K.K.N.S.S.)
Karnataka State Construction Workers Central Union (K.S.C.)
W.C.U.), Women ‘s Voice, Association for Voluntary Action and
Services, Conference of Religious India (C.R.I.), Centre for
Non-formal and Continuing Education (C.N.F.C.E.), etc. Asa
further step toward a just solution, these agencies filed a writ
petition in the Supreme Court of India, No. 8975 of 1985,
July 13.
Against the State Government of Karnataka.
On 18th July, the Supreme Court has extended a stay-order
Karnataka and adjourned the nearing
to all demolitions in
to 28th August.
D.
2. The Demands;
The slum dwellers' demands presented to the Govern
ment more than once, has the following majorones: (a) Provide
pattas (legal documents) to all the slum-dwellers; (b) enu
merate and recognise all the sli/rns in Karnataka;- (c) provide
basic amenities; (d) conduct panchayat elections; (e) eradicate
all the laws, rules and regulations which act against the
interest of the slum-dwellers; (f) representatives of the slum
dwellers in the concerned boards which deal with slums;
(g) implement the urban land ceiling act effectively without
any favouritism; (h) give long-term loans to build own housesD.
3. The Authorities:
"All this is to beautify the garden city" is what the
authorities in-charge of demolitions say, though in many
words and ways. (13) The Government is also currently taken
up with the project of Bring-Beauty-Back to Bangalore
(B.B.B.B.) The Chief Minister, Mr. Ramakrishna Hegde added
the following as the one more important reason: 'Health and
sanitation in which certain minimum standards had to be
maintained". (Appendix VII - "slums have to go" - Indian
Express, May 28, 1985, Bangalore, p. 1. Columns 4-6J. Again
in his letter to the organiser of K.K.N.S.S. dated 1.6.1985,
Mr. Hegde complains '* the pollution created by the slums
affects the health of millions of people in the city". Hence,
the proposal cooly made by none other than Sri Prakash, the
Commissioner of B.C.C. and Sri T. Krishna, the Chairman of
K.S.C.B. is: "should go back to wherever they come from".(14)
E. An Analysis
E.
1. Socially:
Slum demolitions destroy people. Every evicted slum
dweller is a new orphan of the city society. Majority of the
victims are scheduled castes and tribes, migrants from the
districts of Bidar Bijapur and Gulbarga. (15) Are people
resources or burden?
E.
2. Economically:
Slum demolitions is a war against the poor, (16) Even
in a better-off city like Bombay, about 79% of slum- house
hold belonged to low-income group with Rs. 600/-per month.
(17) Each razed settlement is a story of untold stories
The crude argument that demolition will prevent more and more
people from coming to the city (enunciated by Mr. Ramakrishna
Hegde) smacks of elitist thinking. Can the Government do
anything about the rich people from other places buying lands
and building houses in the city and settling down here. (18)?
Can cities exist and carry on as " islands of wealth and pros
perity?" Is Bangalore only for the rich?
E.
3. Legally:
The Operation-demolition by the Government is arbitrary
and unfair insofar as without discharging its obligations and
complying with the duties under the following relevant
status (19):
a)
Karnataka acquisition of land for grant of house sites—Act,
1972, "for weaker sections of the poor".
b)
Karnataka Slum Areas—improvement and clearance-Act
1973 (amended by Act No. 21 of 1979 and Act No. 19
of 1981), "for the living conditions of the slum dwellers",
c)
Karnataka vacant lands in urban areas—Act 1975, "for
prohibition of alienation".
In the eyes of the law, the slums are illegal encroach
ments. On the files of the police they are dens of criminal
and anti-social, elements. In the view of the rich and the elite,
the slum dwellers are destitutes, and like rats. And for the
State (Bureaucracy included), they are an "eye-sore" to be
hidden or got rid of.... I (20) Then what happens to Article
21 which guarantees that no one should be deprived of his/her
life and right-to-livelihood? (21) Is slum clearance Board the
provider of shelter to the poor, or its destroyer? Is the City
Corporation there to give services or to suck the blood of the
slum dwellers?
4.
Ethically:
Slum demolition is a denunciation of all declarations of
human rights and dignity.
It is a negation of the capacity and
will of an elected government toward 'humanization' of the
context in which “everyone should have the right to liberty and
security of person" (Article 3 of Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, 217 .A/lll, 1948, December 10). Morality lies at the
heart of not only legitimacy but competence too. (22) By
systematic way of the inhuman operation-demolition, the
governmental departments not only have caused a decay of
political morality, but also sapped the moral fibre of the slum
dwellers. [Is this a valid accusation "that men folks in slums,
without occupation are chain-snatchers, pick-pocketers, goondas and^criminals. . . . ?" (23)]
E.
Politically:
Slum-demolition highlights the political contrast that
exists between those who are highly privileged and thosewho
have no privileges at all. Political parties manifest that they are
for removing poverty. That is before any general election. They
only proceed to remove the poor. This is what happens once
the elected comfortably get settled in 'the chair'. In Bangalore
city in this year 1985 it self, just before assembly election, some
slums which are considered to be vital vote-banks were all of a
sudden declared recognised and thus provided with water and
electricity! (24)
E. 5.
Comprehensively:
Slums are humans. Slum-demolition Is just hiding the
ugliness but not removing the cause which have made .such
ugliness to surface. (25) These slums are there not out of choice
but compulsion, and that they are manifestions of societal injus
tice, exploitations, and inequalities on one hand and poor plan
ning and inept management of our urban settlements on the other.
E. 6.
F. A Theo-Reflection
F.
1.
The Social Sin:
Slums are symptoms of deeper sinful societal set-up
which generates needs for all but satisfies only those of a
selected few. (26) The value-system that is being propagated
and promoted here by the sinful social structures is one of
aggressive individualism rather than integral humanism,
ruthless exploitation of natural resources of the earth (urban
land) for greater profits (27) rather than social responsibility
towards the limited natural resources, rugged competition rather
than harmonious co-operation, consumption rather than shar
ing, controlled discipline rather than co-ordinated participation
and financial progress rather than human hopes and aspirations.
Slum-demolition is not a human solution but only an
acceleration of the sorry situation of the sick, sad and suffering
poor. Poverty as of slum-dwellers is a social sin. It is an
organised violence. (28) Poverty as the lack of means to produce
and reproduce life with a minimum of human dignity is the most
painful and bloody wound in the history of humanity. This
stigma, instead of lessening, is aggravated by the methods of
capitalistic production by private, elitist and exclusive owner
ship of "urban land". Humanity enjoys more than enough
technology to overcome this chronic illness of poverty. In spite
of that, there is an impasse that results from politio-cultural
factors linked to the meaning of life crystallized in the system
of modernization and beautification of the cities-meant-forhigher-ups only.
F.
2.
The Social God-spell:
"Doomed is the man who builds his house by injustice
and enlarges it by dishonesty; who makes his countrymen work
for nothing and does not pay their wages. Doomed is the man
who says, "I will build myself a mansion vvith spacious rooms
upstairs". So he puts windows in his house, panels it with
ce'dar.and paints it red. Does it make you a better king if you
.build house of cedar, finer than those of others. ..? Give the
poor a trial, and all goes well. That is what it means to know
the Lord. But you can only see your selfish interest, you kill
the innocent and violently oppress your people
" (Jeremiah
22/13-16) (29). Here the Philippic against Jerhoiakim by
Prophet Jeremiah could well be hermeneutically said against
today's societal set-up that wants to build a mansion with
spacious rooms... painted in red and gold ... beautified with
flowers and parks... comforted with five-star hotels and bars...
with flood-lighted stadium after stadium... with fashion-shows
and beauty -contests.... and what not I I
History carries the mystery of God as liberative presence
and action for justice for the poor (30) who are multi-dimensionally oppressed in a slum-context: In an economic sense,
they stand as ones exploited by the rich; in a cultural sense,
they are illiterate as opposed to the educated; in a hygienic
sense they are unclean and "creating pollution" (Hegde)
distinct from the healthy; in a religious sense, they are numbers
and the taught; in a geographical sense, they are illegal settlers
in a social nobility-sense they are rurals ("go where they come
from") and in a political sense, they are the bonded and the
ruled in opposition to the’ powerful.
F.
The social Exodus:
God-of-Bible is God-on-Earth who, with his poor
people, is bent on ’breaking the rod of the oppressor' (Isa 9/4).
His disclosure-in-history is an exposure-in-love. His love-in
action is life-in-struggle for liberation of the least, the lost and
last. For, His creation of the land and all, is meant for one
and all. He has given the land to Man-kind "to live all over
and to cultivate and guard it" (Gen. 1/28, 2/15). By forming
mankind "out of some soil from the ground" (Gen. 2/7) He has
extended an eternal relationship between the total human
family and the whole land. The earth is a common property,
to be made available equitably to every person. But when a
self-chosen race proceeds to appropriate the earth for its own
selfish concerns (Amos 1/6 9), also Micah 2/1-5) the Lord
proceeds to choose a race for himself: "My people. .. slaves
of Israelites. . . (Ex. 2/25). . . slum-dwellers. . . . 1"
3.
God now will not rest (which he does only when he is
pleased with what he sees. . . and makes). . . (Gen. 1/4-2/3) till
He organises "the exodus" of the slum dwellers bringing them
out of "Egypt of demolitions" and taking them to "a land of
fertility" (Ex. 3/17) where "the milk of freedom" and "the
honey of fellowship" will flowl
That being the revelatory involvement of God-in-the
slum context, the responsory commitment of us the people of
God should correspond to the prophetic voice of Moses against
all the Pharoahs of operation-demolition.
F.
4. The Social Mystery:
Jesus, at a deeper level, is the social mystery of the
historical God. His is an incarnational life-strategy with a
preferential option. For those who-have-nothing and against
those who-have-everything (already, yet engineering to create
many-more-things!). Emptying himself (Phil.2/7) he became
like a slum-man who has "no place to lay his head on I"
"No room to stay in the inn" was His birth-experience itseif
(Lk. 1/7). "No site to live in the city" seems to be the birth
right (or wrong?!) of the poor-in-slums!
The world was created through Him. The Word was in
the world. But when he came to his own country, he was
rejected by his own people. . . (Jn. 1/10). This experience of
that poor Man of Nazareth is being re-lived today by the poor
of the city-slums. The beautiful garden city with all its high
tower sand huge 'churches, tall theatres and multi-storied
shopping complexes, tarred-layouts and flower.-ful greeneries,
"is not made without" (Jn. 1/3), the slum-person who is
readily available as a cheap-labour. (31) Yet, today his own
people (who are better-off due to his 'vote', his sweat, his
skill. .) want to 'evict' him inhumanly, un-announced and un
provided.
Jesus' culture was not one of silence or submission.
Though personally was rejected he proceeded to proclaim power
fully liberty, life and love to the rejected (Lk. 4/18). He cast his
lot with them, promising to pull down the corrupt temple and
to build a new city of Jerusalem where there would be no new
temples but only a new people with equality and fraternity.
He had cautioned against any building and beautifying on
sand of power, prestige and possession but had compulsively
concerned with building and beautifying on the rock of people,
poor and powerless'. (Mt. 7/24-27; Lk. 6/47-49) .
The social mystery of Jesus is a radical challenge, for he
was all against any elitistic, exclusive and private property(the
rich man: (Lk. 10/17-22). He did not own even a tombl
When buried in a borrowed one, he emptied it at the earliest!
His judgemental criteria is already made public: "I was stran
ger and you welcomed me not in your homes. . . (Mt. 25/3 If...
I was a slum-dweller and you..........I"
F. 5. The Social Responsibility:
"In memory of me, do this" (I.Cor. 11 /24) inviting thus,
Jesus has made the new covenant, a social responsiblity. The
bread and the wine are to be shared. The land and resources
are to be shared. The city and the facilities are to be shared.
The Triune God is the embodiment of subsistential rela
tionships. One sharing in the other. It is not a mere peaceful
co-existence . But essentially being-related with one another.
Skyscrapers and slums cannot exist side by side. Also cannot
be made to exist at a distance from each other, as cities for
one and far away vil lages for other, Both are men, women
and children. Both together only make a society. Both are
related humans. A context like slum-demolition, then is for
both, a dehumanization. Both sides live full of fear: the poor
because of the continuous.threats and the rich, because of the
vindicative rebellion. Humanizing this situation then resting
on all would call for a demolition, but of a different pattern:
Demolition of domination and discrimination! This demands a
value-based fundamental societal change, economically, politically and culturally, personally and communally, making inter
dependence of thelTrinity a reality in-the-daily-life-of-humanity.
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G.
1.
A Theo-Response
The Realism
"Delhi - 2001 is destined to have innumerabla slums.
They can only be improved, not removed .... Delhi can no
longer be a sprawling green island of the affluent" says Sri.
Premkumar, Chairman of Delhi Development Authority. (32)
A stand taken with realism!
As we move on to work out a relevant response, certain
key facts and features have to mark our approach:
a.
Slums are people. A human solution to this human pro
blem (urban land) is what we seek.
b.
Response should be value-based, guaranteeing that all
humans are born free and equal in dignity and rights. (33)
c.
The earth and all natural resources are a mass-property, to
be made available equitably.
d.
'Slums' cannot be viewed against the micro-backdrop of
"a city" but the macro-backdrop of "a country". (It is very
crucial in the context of an-economically-pluralistic Indial)
e.
The problem calls for everybody's (not just the official
Government's) attention-ful action towards solution that
is all-round meaningful.
Speaking on the 38th Independence Day 1985, Sri Rama
krishna Hegde himself observed: "Either the Prime Minister or
the Chief Ministers alone cannot solve the problems that con
front the country but only with the participation of everyone
in the task (34).
G.
2.
The Government
The elected apparatus of the State should have the will
and the commitment to provide a better deal to its poor citizens.
Politics cannot be without masses; neither masses without the
poor. (35) Hence the political responsibility of the government
is preferentially toward the poor.
Bull-dozing the unauthorized settlements is a futile
approach. (S6) Immoral too. Providing pucca houses to all
would be an unbearable burden on the state exchequer.
Building houses cheap enough to be affordable by the poor
would also be unrealistic. Nobody likes an ugly city. What is
asked for is a meaningful and realistic solution.
a. The Government, hence, should apply itself seriously to
"the Environmental Improvement and'Sites and Services'App
roach". (37) In the 7th Five Year Plan, an approximately 30 per
cent (33,800 crores of rupees) is earmarked for urban housing.
Prime Minister Mr. Rajiv in his Independence Day address from
the historic ramparts of Red Fort has indicated a further change in
the 7th Five Year Plan for the progress of the poor. (38) As
tuch, the Government should take the lead (since compared to
sother metropolitan cities in India, the slum-problem is stil
manageable in Bangalore. (39) to provide basic environmental
services and amenities to low-income urban settlements and
make available a large number of serviced land plots to help
poor put up their own shelter. (40)
. Keeping the needs of a habitable environment and the
b.
proximity to place of work, (41) the slum families should by
granted "secure land tenure (patta)" of lands on which they
are living at present and helped to get loans from banks. The
City Development Authority itself can proceed to extend "loans'
as a part of the urban housing project. (42) The slum clearance
board can extend basic "infrastructural services" and the City
Corporation can render all assistance to "motivate" people and
organise construction through "self-help".
c. The Hyderabad Urban Development Community Project
(HUDCO) has done this way, helping 1 5,000 slum dwellers.
In Madras, in the last 8 years or so more than 20,000 families
have been provided services with sites. Ahmedabad Municipal
Corporation has started a similar 5 Year Project for 80,000 slum
households. Bombay which has more than 4.0 million of. its
8.7 million habitants living in slums, is about to launch a 250
crore World Bank aided project for, to begin with,80,000 slum
households. (43) If so, why not Bangalore?
<3. 3. The Strategy:
The above proposal would be only of curative strategy.
To tackle the problem effectively and humanely, a combination
of (i) curative; (ii) preventive;(iii) futuristic strategies is needed.
(44) The futuristic strategy embraces spheres of balanced
regional planning;-proper industrial location, job creation and
infrastructural development policies; plans and resource allo
cation to strengthen rural economy; (45) and upgrading small
and medium towns to alter migratory trends.
The preventive strategy would include making large
chunks of serviced land available for housing using provisions
of the urban land ceiling act; (46) re-examining city develop
ment plan in recognition of needs and limited paying capacity
of low-income urban households; re-orienting existing housing
supply agencies to adopt schemes and strategies in accordance
with affordability limits and paying capacity of the low income
populations and initiating sjtes and services schemes on a larger
scale. (47)
As such, the State cannot and should not penalise its
people for their poverty and helplessness. (48) The slum
demolition does not speak well of a state-power. The demoli
tion of the poor is a satanic power. As a democratic, just
egalitarian and progressive seat of the people, the Government
has the sacred duty of empowering the poor to fight and over
come the "adharma" of poverty.
G.
4. The People of God;
The Christian Churches as a people of God of justice have
the historical mission of the Kingdom-on-earth.(49) They have
to be "the conscientizers" of the world-community. In a de
humanizing context like slum-demolition, the followers of
Jesus cannot opt for neutrality which would amount to siding
with the brutality of the evil.
-
Analysing the current anti-poor, anti-change and anti
people political situation, the chuches should take a decisive
step toward the humanization which is at once, divinization.
(50) The Churches' responses to the slum-demolition should
then be critical, courageous and creative. (51). The Churches
should stress on political awakening of the people, of each
one's dignity and,rights, (a) To the poor and the slum
dwellers, the Churches should render a sense of hope, of
optimism, of motivation, of organisation, and of mobilisation
of their power-in history. (52) (b) To the rich and the au
thorities, The churches should extend a challenge of societal
change, against elitistic values, capitalistic attitudes, economic
injustices, cultural dominations, legalistic controls and inhu
man conditions, (c) To the policies and programmes, the
churches should render a critique to make them more and more
context-based, value-concerned and people-centred. Thus the
churches have the urgent obligation of denouncing the inhuman
eviction of the slum-dwellers and that of announcing the good
news to the slum-poor.
The Christian communities are called upon to make
Christ’s love real to those in the country who are victims of
discrimination and injustice in whatever form. In spite of
certain achievements in our country, staggering millions still
live below the subsistence level. The overwhelming majority
of the total population lives in rural areas and among them,
malnutrition, illiteracy, landlessness, economic debts have
increased so that a very small precentage of I he population
really shares in the benefits of modern civilization. Tha
heavy migration from rural to urban areas therefore continues.
Rapid uncontrolled urbanisation and a capital-intensive indus
trial pattern bring in their wake problems of unemployment,
pavement-dwelling, slums, as well as of consumerism and the
accumulation of wealth in the hands of a few. So the Church
is called to preach Christian justice by underlining the need for a
radical change in economic and social planning (also at inter
national level) that the fruits of development be equally dis
tributed and rural Infrastructure created to give the poor a
a chance to help themselves by increasing their ability to pro
duce and enabling them to have more of the goods of the
world (CBCI, 1974, on Evangelisation, Justice and develop
ment.)
This, in a final analysis, would be a task of all citizens :
To say a big "NO" to the slum-demolition, solidarily operating
toward an integrated human-construction!
I
FOOT-NOTES & QUOTES
1.
Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's Statement reported in The
Week, August 4-10. 1985, p.6.
2.
For further definitions and kinds of slum refer to Dr.
Vatsyayan, "Urban Sociology", Kedar Nath Ram Nath,
Meerut, 1984, p. 262-3.; Also, on "Slums" by Baroda
Municipal Corporation, 1976.
3.
Klrthee Shah. 'Stop it, Mr. Hegde' " in .anopen letter
to the Chief Minister of Karnataka, "Indian Express, June
25, 1985.
4.
Justice C. J. Chandrachud. in Judgement to writ petitions
Nos. 4610-4612 of 1931 and Nos. 5068-5079 of
1981 Supreme Court of India, New Delhi, July 10, 1935.
pp. 1-2.
5.
The Statement of the Federation of Slum Dwellers of Kar
nataka circulated by Conference of Religious of India
(C.R.I ), Bangalore dated 19th July, 1985, p.1.
6.
These data are obtained from the officials of Karnataka
Kolageri Nivasigal Samyukta Sanghatana, Bangalore.
7.
For a treatment on "Slums and Politics", refer to writings
edited by Alfred de Souza, "The Indian City, Manohar,
1933, p. 238.
t
8.
Kifthee Shah, loc.cit.
9.
Indian Express, "The other side of City-beautification''
May 31,1985.
'
10.
Ibid.
11.
Deccan Herald, May, 30, 1985 "Operation-Demolition"
(editorial)
12.
Refer to ''The Memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister
of Karnataka" by all the concerned citizens and agencies,
May, 21, 1985.
13.
Indian Express, loc.cit.
14.
Ibid. And also, Anand Patwardhan's comments to Meher
Pestonji, "Getting rid of the slum dwellers is not the
solution". Express Magazine, July 21, 1985, p. 5.
15.
R. Venkataramani, Advocate of Supreme Court, "The writ
petition no.-8975/1985, July 13, p. 19.
16.
Kirthee Shah, loc.cit.
17.
Bombay slum-census 1976 (quoted by Chief Justice
C. J. Chandrachud,) op cit.. p. 27.
18.
Indian Express, loc.cit.
19.
For details, refer to R. Venkataramani, loc. cit.
20.
For further legal details, refer to 'Slums are people, not
places "(unpublished)document by the C.N.F. C E., Ban
galore, August 6, 1935.
21.
A discussion on this is found in Chief Justice C. J. Chand
rachud, op cit., p. 2f'
22.
Swaminathan S. Aiyar "Punjab: and Miles to Go"
Express Magazine August 11, 1935,p. 6, column 4.
23.
Chief justice C. J. Chandrachud, op.cit, p. 1.
24.
Indian Express, loc. cit., Also refer to Anand Patwardhan's
Comments, loc cit.
25.
Alfred de Souza (ed.), op.cit.. Also a memorandum to the
Chief Minister, op cit, p. 2f.
26.
For furtner details, refer to the Final Statement of(a)Seminar on "The Indian Church in the Struggle for a New
Society", NBCLC, Bangalore, 1981 (b) Colloquiem of
Jesuit Social Activists of India, ISI-Delhi, 1984.
27.
"Slums are people, not places", op.cit., p.1.: "Land is
a limited source. Its most important characteristic is
capability of being put to alternative uses. The determi
nation of the most appropriate land use is an extremely
political and social decision: Urban land is different from
other commodities in the market. Its value does not
depend on intrinisic attributes but because of its location
at a particular point of time. Speculation is high on urban
land".
28.
For details, refer to papers and publications of India
Social Institute Bangalore, Also to Torres and Fabiloa eds.)
"The emergent Gospel" Orbis; Also to Julia Santa Ana
(ed.), "Good news to the Poor"
29.
For commentary, refer to Guy P. Couturnier, C.S.C. in
Raymond E. Brown S.S., and Co. (eds.), "The Jerome
Biblical Commentary", Volume one, TP1, (1972) p. 320
30.
Jerry Rosario, "An integral approach to reality" Ignisstqdies No. 8, 1984, p. 30-1,
31.
Recall here the Supreme Court's judgement on the child
labours the adult-labourers at Asiad-1982. by Justice
P. N. Bhagawati and Fellow judge.
32.
Quoted in India Today, voices (from the Times of India),
Aug. 15, 1985, p. 14.
33.
Article No. 1, Universal declaration of Human Rights,
adopted and proclaimed by General Assembly Resolution
217 A (III) of 10th Dec. 1948
34.
Sri Ramakrishna Hegde, The Independence Day Message
reported in the Deccan Herald, Aug. 16, 1985, p.1.
35.
Seaundo, Juan, in interview with Alexandro "Faith:
conversations with leading Theologian, orbis, 1980
36.
For details, kindly refer to Kirthee Shan, loc. cit., Also to
the Memorandum to the Chief Minister, op. cit., p.2f.
37.
K. C. Sivaram. "Indian urban scene, Indian Institute of
Advanced Study, Simla, 1978, p. 74—99.
38.
The Hindu, Aug. 16, 1985, page 1.
39.
Kirthee Shah, loc. cit.
40.
Kindly refer to E.3: Legally" - an analysis in this very
paper, for "acquiring land for the poor, "(Act, 1972).
41.
R. Mahimaidasson, quoted in "Vigil India", on "Slum
Dwellers' Grievances". Aug. 1985, p.11.
42.
Mr. Ramakrishna Hegde, (C.M.) himself had indicated
the housing-scheme of BDA coming year 1985-86 for
middle class citizens, in his B.D.A. shopping complex
inauguration-address on 15 Aug. 1985- (But, what about
the poor low class citizens?), Indian Express, 1985. Aug.
16, page g.
43.
Kirthee Shah, loc cit.
44.
Ibid.
45.
"Slums are people, not places", op. cit., p. 2
46.
Kindly refer to E. 3: Legally-an analysis, in this very paper.
47.
• Kirthee Shah, loc. cit. also refer to the Memorandum
submitted to the Chief Minister, op. cit. p.2
48.
Ibid.
49.
The Second Vatican Council,
Church", 1962, Rome.
50.
Following the dictum of St. Ireneus, "Fully human is;
fully divine".
51.
. Jerry Rosario, "An open future". Talk at the NBCLC,
Bangalore, 15th August 1985, (Cyclostyled paper), p.5.
52.
For further details refer to John Desrochers, "The Social
Teachings of the Church", CSA, Bangalore, 1982,
pp. 417-422.
"Document
on the
"the joys and the hopes
the griefs and the anxieties of people
of this age, especially those who
are poor or in any way afflicted
these too are the joys and hopes,
the griefs and anxieties of followers
of jesus.
to carry out a task
for today's world, the church has the duty
of scrutinizing the signs of the times
and of interpreting them
in the light of the gospels . . .
Gaudlum at Spas, II vc. 1,4.
Catholic Religious Of India
Bangalore-Unit
C/o St. Joseph's College
Bangalore-560 001
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