Four hundred slum dwellers in Rajasthan, living near a national highway in squalid conditions, got a new address in a developed area, thanks to the Bikaner district administration. Their new address has all basic amenities like water, electricity, roads and toilets. Earlier, they were living by the roadside, but now these families finally have a proper residential area to call their own.
The slums they were living in earlier, near the national highway, were illegal settlements and were located right at the entrance to the city. In such a situation, it was necessary to remove these slums, but shifting the dwellers out in a respectable manner was also a top priority for the administration. After much deliberations, Chak Garbi was chosen as the place for rehabilitation of these families.
The entire exercise was taken up under the leadership of District Collector of Bikaner, Bhagwati Prasad Kalal, a 2011-batch IAS officer. Indian Masterminds interacted with the officer to get more details.
SHIFTING THE SLUMS
Shifting people living at one place for decades was not an easy task. Hence, District Collector Bhagwati Prasad Kalal started working on this scheme about six months ago and priority was given to take the consent of these families for shifting them to a new place, so that this effort could set an example. Initially, a survey was made, where 279 families were identified, who are residents of Bikaner district but didn’t own residential land anywhere. In the second phase, possible places around the city were identified where they could be shifted.
Speaking with Indian Masterminds, Mr. Kalal said, “Five nomadic tribes, namely Pashi, Kanjar, Bhats, Dholi and Nuts, were living in the almost 25-30 year old slum along the highway. About 400 families lived here in very unhygienic conditions. Efforts had been earlier to settle them somewhere else but it was not possible for various reasons, including law and order issues. When I joined six months back, I restarted the process of trying to shift them. It was very difficult to persuade them, but we managed.”
CONVINCING THEM
He said that they started off by searching for land to shift them. Then, several rounds of talks took place with them. One person from each tribe was selected along with some volunteers from outside for the frequent meetings. To convince them, the administration first got the toilets built at the new location where they planned to shift them. Then, water was arranged.
“The land was made habitable, leveling was done. Then, we started motivating the people to move to this new place. After much difficulties and persuasion, we finally managed to shift the 400 families. Each family has been given an individual plot of 15×15 at the new place. Patta (ownership of the plot) is yet to be given as the paper work is still being processed. Now, we will try to help them build houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban).”
FACILITIES
The place has all basic amenities like roads, drinking water, toilets, and public lighting. To make the area completely free from defecation and protect the honour of women, public toilets have been built with temporary water tanks. A community hall is also being built for occasions like marriages. The 400 families are happy that they took the decision to shift to their new address at Chak Garbi, a small village near the city, leaving the accident prone area on the Sriganganagar road.
Makhan Lal Sansi, who was living in the slum for the last thirty years, says that he never imagined that he would get such a big gift. He is happy that they will now be able to live in a respectable way. Ranjit Sansi, who lived in the slum for 27 years, expressed gratitude for the state government’s and district administration’s efforts to help the poor.
TAKING OATH
On the occasion of this Independence Day, the District Collector along with all the officials inspected the Chak Garbi area and interacted with the families who recently relocated here. He called for the need to educate the children and keep the adults away from drugs. At the same time, he said that the administration should ensure that the people who are eligible to avail various government schemes of social security get the benefits on a priority basis.
