Sambalpur: Instead of going to schools the children of Gaudapada and Guahalapada slums near Kacheri Square were seen staging a demo in their uniforms demanding rehabilitation Monday. What worries them is that their houses will be pulled down in the city beautification drive.
The administration had issued a notification October 7 directing the residents of Gaudapada and Guahalapada slums to vacate within 15 days. As the deadline ended Monday, the slum dwellers staged a demonstration demanding rehabilitation.
Around 60 families have been living in these two slums for 45 years now. The bread winners of the families are mostly labourers. They do not have land and are not capable of buying land. They are now worried about their ailing, aged family members and children.
If the slums are demolished chances are high that the children may lose education facilities. Fearing that they would lose their dwellings and education facilities, the children holding placards urged the administration to take steps for their rehabilitation.
The government has a number of schemes and programmes for landless people. They are given title deeds and houses under the Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. And for city dwellers, there is Urban Awas Yojana which would benefit 22,224 beneficiaries in 86 cities. At a time when the government is providing houses to landless people, the administration’s eviction drive has surprised many.
Additional District Magistrate Trilochan Majhi said the beautification and expansion of the Ring Road and Nelson Mandela Chhak will start soon. So the slum dwellers were issued notices 15 days back. “If they find any suitable place and bring it to our notice necessary steps would be taken,” he added. PNN
