Showing posts with label miserable millions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label miserable millions. Show all posts

Sunday, July 21, 2019

Approved Slums of Delhi


Approved Slums of Delhi

 Though these ‘unauthorized approved colonies’ are in Delhi, unlike DDA’S well-planned colonies, they have  their own world; no master plan is applicable; no SC or NGT rulings matter
By Mukesh Sharma

With over 895 unauthorized colonies scattered through the length and breadth of this sprawling Delhi where DDA/MCD rules seldom matter, and the proud owners of so-called residential structures ranging from 25 sq yds to 250 sq yds erected in zigzag dingy lanes with varying width from 4ft to 15ft., are approved slums in Delhi; and the proud house owners are the slum lords.

Reasons for growth
Though a few colonies are as old as 40-50 years, the most of colonies have mushroomed in the last 15-20 years. The reason of the growth of such colonies is steeped in corruption. As per available datas, there were approx. 209  villages in Delhi. Then authorities concerned handed over the adjoining lands for agriculture purpose to villagers centuries ago. With the course of time, these farmers stopped cultivation. Furthermore, such lands were acquired by DDA for planned residential colonies in order to meet the demand of ever increasing population. However, some lands couldn’t be developed for a long time for the reasons best known to the authorities. These abandoned parts of land were re-sold by the land owners illegally. Later the land which were not acquired, were also sold out by the paper owners. Furthermore, woken up after decades, the authorities concerned could not remove such unauthorized constructions for political and other reasons. Such colonies fall under the category of PRIVATE COLONIES.

Unique features
Though the most of such colonies are unauthorized, some 40-50 years old colonies have been surprisingly,  re-categorized with the well-coined nomenclature “unauthorized approved colonies”. Such colonies have unique features.

No conveyance deed
Taking advantage of the ignorance of unsuspecting buyers, the ‘ownership’ of the plot/flat is transferred through notarized GPA (General Power of Attorney)   not a valid conveyancing instrument.  Thus stamp duty/taxes are evaded comfortably   no mutation, no registered sale deed.

Construction on Khadar Land
What is more, unmindful of consequences and, allegedly, in collusion with the local authorities so called  owners  erect 4 storey structures even in 5-10ft. narrow lanes. Needless to say, in the event of any fire incident or any unforeseen natural calamity, no help can reach the trapped victims. The situation of the most of colonies standing on ‘khadar’ land nearby Yamuna river is very vulnerable where foundation is laid on loose sand. But who cares? Authorities get wiser only after the event in India. So rampant unauthorized constructions are going on for the reasons best known to all.

Approved Slums of Delhi


Sewer and water lines
Yet another catching feature of these unauthorized approved colonies, is sewer and water line run parallel in all the streets/lanes. When water pumps are used to draw water from main line to fill the overhead water tanks placed on the rooftops of 4 storey houses, it sucks the dirty water from ever full and seeping sewer line. Interestingly enough, nobody cares for the rules/ by laws. What is more, to replenish the water supply to overhead tanks, in the event of non-supply of tap water, the people use submersible pumps to extract water from earth with scant regard of NGT rulings -  there is provision of 50k penalty for unauthorized pumps. In fact it is common knowledge that no construction is possible without the soil water. So almost all the houses have submersible pumps with 'good' understanding with local police.

Flowing nullah
As far as the drains running through the street line of each serpentine lanes are concerned, it mostly remains  choked. It is not easy for the MCD workers to take out the muck and clean it. So they just sweep the streets as they wish and enjoy the salary without doing the required work. As a result, during rainy season, the waterlogged streets look like a flowing nullah. Furthermore, it is ‘customary’ in such colonies that the proud house owners stick out the ramp at the exit gate of their houses to nearly the middle of the narrow street; they take pride and pleasure in causing the inconvenience to immediate neighbors and passersby.

Stray dogs and pigeons
There is no park or any recreation centre in these colonies. But each such colony does have a religious place according to the majority of populace, and these places are,allegedly, used for meeting and other non-religious activities. Such colonies are also 'sweet home' for stray dogs, for, they are permanent residents by birth. Even MCD respects their birth right. These dogs  are unchallenged  rulers of each street. And flock of pigeons  reigns the roof tops of each house. These colonies are ideal place where the man and animals live happily.

No master plan applicable
Since the much touted master plan is not applicable to these colonies of ‘special status’, they are the favorite hunting ground for running any kind of business; one can run government approved primary or secondary school, any factory or any other business even in narrow lane, if one is prepared to pay for convenience.

Vote bank
Braving all the pertinent problems, the slums lords (house owners) who live by rental income, continue to enjoy inhibited life. It is alleged that these colonies are veritable vote banks of the netas; authorities concerned continue to maintain the status-quo. Though these unauthorized approved colonies are in Delhi, unlike DDA’s well planned colonies, they have their own world; no master plan is applicable; no SC or NGT rulings matters.

Saturday, January 5, 2019

Living Beyond Time


Living Beyond Time

They live by hours and day. Their day begins with rising sun and ends with setting sun. To these hopeless and hapless millions, no month or year exists beyond the devil day

By Mukesh Sharma

The millions die unborn in India. Lucky few come out in fullness of time. Out of this flock, only a few blessed are able to live in time. The majority of unblessed ‘breathing’ human beings are caught in time-warp. To these teeming millions, the time doesn’t move; the time doesn’t exist. The miserable millions are born out of circumstances; they survive in circumstances; their days are numbered in circumstances. To these children of poverty, roti is a luxury; a sound sleep is a celebration. They live by hours and day. Their day begins with rising sun and ends with setting sun. To these hopeless and hapless millions, no month or year exists beyond the devil day. As the stream of the Ganga can’t be divided into time, there is no old or new year in their lives. These calander-less people live beyond time.
Living Beyond Time

According to the Lancet, a global health medical journal, 15.6 million abortions take place every year in India, and 81 per cent of it at home. Of course, unofficial figures are enormously high. Though the unfortunate mothers of these unborn children are mere victims, their fathers are poverty, disease, and illicit relations. Each abortion brings a death to the unborn and the mother is reborn again for another onslaught. No new year exists between a death and rebirth.

The International Children Charity reveals that there are over 20 millions street children in India; these orphans, children of single mother ‘penury’ fight for every crumb of roti (bread) on the busy roads of cities and at railway stations where they wait for the trains for the leftover food. Always busy in roti-hunt, these forlorn kids have no time to look back to old year or look forward to New Year. They continue to wriggle between old year and New Year; the old year never ends and the New Year never sets in.

As per Ministry of Women and Child Development report, there are 3 millions female sex workers in India; 36 per cent of them are yet to attain the age of 18. Since this ancient ‘business’ of flesh trade has gone hi-tech with the advent of internet, the unofficial figure may be four times high. The reported and unreported alleged cases of sexual abuse of minor girls in shelter homes and other ‘centre’s so called Nari Niketan etc. are not being counted here. To these daily ‘wage’ earners, the day begin with the setting sun and ends with the rising sun; it is difficult to distinguish between the rising sun and setting sun. These unfortunate women live on night-to-night basis. Their ‘dayless’ life has no year.

Going by the international poverty line yardstick, 60 per cent populace in India i.e. 763 million live on $3.30 per day or in other words, is below the poverty line. Reported deaths due to starvations and suicides across the country, are the tell-tale sign of crushing poverty in India. These miserable millions can’t see life beyond ‘roti. They are destined to live on day-to-day basis. They can’t think of life in terms of years.

Now the pertinent question is who is responsible for this sorry state of affair. People allege it is grasping netas. The most of the netas are getting richer and richer. The politics is the most lucrative business in India. The Corruption has become a business culture.

In his write up entitled Equal Distribution, published in Harijan Bandhu, Mahtma Gandhi says:
“The rich cannot accumulate wealth without the co-operation of the poor in the society.”

Needless to say, New Year may be matter of celebration for the handful of ‘children’ of Power and Pelf only. To the vast number of ‘kids’ of Hunger and Penury not only in India but across the world, NEW YEAR is just a phrase. They live beyond time. Robert Burns rightly says:

“Man’s inhumanity to man,
 Makes countless mourn”

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