[Reader-list] On the situation in Nonadanga

[asit das]

 On the situation in Nonadanga - Pamphlet by Uchched Pratirodh
Committee<http://sanhati.com/articles/5004/>

*May 1, 2012*

Click here to read the original Bengali
pamphlet<http://sanhati.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/bucnonadanga.pdf>

*We Demand Proper Rehabilitation That is Fit for Human Survival for Slum
Dwellers of Nonadanga
as well as of Majdur Palli, Shramik Colony, Subhaspalli, Lakepalli,
Bhai-Bhai Colony, Bastuhara Colony.
We demand immediate release of the 11 arrested along with all other
activists.
*

The slum dwellers of Nonadanga, evicted on 30th of March, have rebuilt
their shanties. After the rallies, demonstrations, mass-protests and the 12
day long hunger strike movement, right when the slum dwellers under the
guidance of eviction-resistance committee (Uchchhed Protirodh Committee)
have built the shades over their head, the government came down again with
its brutality on the slum dwellers on the 28th of April. Eleven people were
arrested including 5 women on fabricated charges. Till date two of the
previously arrested supporters of the movement has not been released by the
state.

This movement of Nonadanga has brought to the forefront the demands related
to the condition of schools, hospitals, and drinking water along with the
general developmental needs of the entire Nonadanga region. Nonadanga’s
movement has brought to the forefront the demands - of the slumdwellers,
hawkers and small shop owners - for the right to livelihood and right to
shelter of those evicted from the fringes of Kolkata. Nonadanga’s movement
has challenged the much-touted plan of converting Kolkata to London; it has
put a big question mark on the pro-poor image of the government of *
“Ma-Mati-Manush”.*

*The state government, the ruling party and some servile media is spreading
false propaganda*

>From the very beginning, the government has tried to create divisions among
the slum dwellers. Creating a split between the dwellers of the two evicted
slums of 30th March (viz. Majdur Palli and Shramik Colony), and those of
Lakepalli, Bhai-bhai Colony and other nearby slums is the government’s
agenda. Deliberate and false propaganda is being spread that the dwellers
of the two evicted slums had obtained rehabilitation flats from the
government and after selling that off, they are suddenly squatting by
building shanties in the open field, in lure of new flats. It is also being
said that these people are actually backed by land mafias, NGOs and
Maoists. Coming from outside, these people are the ones who are trying to
disturb the peace in Nonadanga. On the other hand the chief minister is
saying that they have not and will not evict anybody.

*Is that really how it is? Or are there other things veiled behind?*

*What is the state’s plan with Nonadanga?*

Ever since the Mamata Banerjee government has come to power, among other
things they have started to utilize (!) vacant land in around the city of
Kolkata. Under the direction of the urban development minister, KMDA has
already started to sell off vacant lands in the city following the
public-private partnership (PPP) model. According to the KMDA website,
there is about 80 acres of land (along with some water bodies) in their
possession which they would like to lease out to private initiatives for 99
years. Multistoried residential complex, shopping malls, multiplex movie
halls for the privileged, entertainment centers and water parks will be
built on these lands.

The entire field, on one corner of which is Majdur Palli and Shramik
Colony, is only 19 acres. We ask – where is then these 80 acres of vacant
land in Nonadanga? By the mention of the nearby water bodies, it is clear
that by vacant land, the slums are being indicated. That is, not only
Majdur Palli and Shramik Colony, little by little, Lakepalli, Bhai-bhai
Colony, Subhaspalli, Bastuhara Colony, basically all slums of Nonadanga
will eventually be evicted. Only then 80 acres of land can be handed over
to the land sharks. They will make profits in crores by constructing
residences, entertainment centers, shopping malls, and water parks for the
privileged. And hence, those who are saying that rehabilitation flats would
be built on this land for the poor are simply lying. There’s no mention of
flats for the poor in the KMDA website.

*Apparently everyone here owns a flat!*

And that is why the government and the profiteers absolutely need this
land. That is why eviction has been started from Majdur Palli, Shramik
Colony. Others are given the false promise of “rehabilitation”. Once they
can crush Majdur Palli and Shramik Colony without providing any
rehabilitation, then the rest of the slums can be evicted following the
same path. That is why their strategy is to create division amongst us, to
weaken us and eventually to evict all of us one by one. And then, will
follow, driving out those who do not have proper documentation for their
flats. We are challenging you, do not get confused by their false
propaganda. If even one such slum dweller can be found in Majdur Palli and
Shramik Colony who has sold off their rehabilitation flat of Nonadanga and
has constructed shanties in the field in lure of a new flat, the Eviction
Resistance Committee (Uchchhed Protirodh Committee) will get rid of their
shanty. But why is it their fault, if in the rehabilitation flat, there are
four or more adult members and due to lack of space they are forced to live
in the shanties in the open fields? If you have any question with regard to
this, then come to us and tell us where are we wrong? We have kept the door
for discussion and consultation open for all.

*Again the outsiders!*

It is an irony that when Mamata Banerjee was fighting in the
Singur-Nandigram movement, the then CPIM government labeled her as an
“outsider”. Today Mamata Banerjee, her party and her servile followers are
labeling those who are supporting this movement and who are not slum
dwellers themselves as “outsiders”. This is a tragic joke in the recent
history of anti-eviction movement in West Bengal. Government of the one
time leader of ant-eviction movement is evicting or will evict a large part
of the slum dwellers of Kolkata. Is this then the road map for Kolkata to
become London?

*Life in the flats – rehabilitation or exile!*

The other thing that needs to be mentioned is the struggle in the everyday
life of the residents of the rehabilitation flats, of the small time
business owners in the markets, of the crisis in the lives of the many
other residents of Nonadanga. It is true, they have received a small flat
of 160 sq.ft., but is that enough for one family? The conditions of basic
civic services are beyond reprehensible. We do not have clean water, there
is an acute crisis of water in general. There’s no government initiated
school, college, health-center or hospital here. The small area that is
there as a playground for the kids will be taken over to build the park for
the elite. Maybe for more profit, the government will demolish even these
flats and will direct the evictees of Khalpar, Narkelbagan, and Govindapur
rail colony to move further away. Or they will be enclosed within the net
of the big plans of development. We the poor are out of place in this prim
and proper city of the elite. Today we are entrapped in this tinned
construction; tomorrow the entire Nonadanga will face the same condition.

*This is the struggle of all residents of Nonadanga, we must win this
struggle*

Friends, we are forced to enter this unequal war against the State
government, their pampered profiteers, against the false propaganda by the
police and some media, only for our survival’s sake. For the sake of a roof
over our head. But however unequal this war is, however much they try to
beat us, we have been winning. That is why they have come back to beat us
again. They are making failed attempts to get some of the government
favoured fake intellectuals riled against us. Any kind of resistance is
being labeled as “Maoist” to gather legal sanctity to repress it.

Even after all that, they have not been able to suppress this movement.
They have arrested 11 of us including 5 women under unethical and false
pretexts. And still they could not kill our movement. We continue our
movement in demand of proper rehabilitation of all dwellers of Nonadanga,
in demand of unconditional release of all agitators. Today this struggle is
not only for the Majdoor Palli and Shramik Colony of Nonadanga; today this
struggle is for all slum dwellers, for the right to shelter. We plead to
you, as a slum dweller, as a resident of this area, join us in this
struggle. Be on our side as a defendant of the basic rights. We need all
your love, help and support. Let Nonadanga be the new name for our
struggle. Let there be hope for the defendants.

With thanks,

Eviction Resistance Committee (Uchched Pratirodh Committee)

[*Translated by Atreyi*]