For about the 50 families living on the property of the Northern Railways for over 20 years now in the Old Seelampur Village, the absence of basic facilities such as water and toilets is something they have learned to live with. According to the rehabilitation policy of the Delhi government, they will be provided with flats or plots by the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) and only then the authorities can ask them to leave the encroached government land.
Nirale Hasan is among the many residents, mainly rickshaw pullers from Uttar Pradesh, who is eligible to get a flat from the government. According to the rehabilitation policy of Delhi government, anyone encroaching public property before January 1, 2006, will be provided with a piece of land or a flat by the DUSIB -- the only government department which can get back its encroached land.
From battling Tuberculosis (TB) to losing three of his children to the unhygienic living conditions in the area, Hasan has seen it all. Though he has successfully battled TB he doesn’t have the physical strength ride a rickshaw now.
Wait for toilets
With the lack of basic amenities, the squatters have been forced to defecate on the railway tracks which lie at a distance of about a foot or two from their make-shift houses.
“The Central government may have started the Swachh Bharat Mission, but we are still waiting to get toilets. The authorities have rejected our request for financial help to build toilets. Moreover, they also make sure that we do not build it on our own,” said Taufeeq Hasan, who has been living in the area for about 12 years now. “Every time we try to get toilets built, someone from the railways come with policemen and breaks the structure. They say if we want toilets, first get your own house,” said Nizamuddin showing the space that he has kept reserved in his house to construct a toilet.
Education
When DNA tried to look into the lives of the children living in these houses, a glimmer of hope was seen in their eyes. A mere mention of the idea of attending school brought the best smile on Farman’s face. He, along with his elder brother Salman, could not attend school as the school authorities demanded various official document which their parents could not provide.
“Whenever I see children wearing school uniforms, I pray to god to give me a chance to wear a dress like that. But for now my brother and I will work hard so that our family can get two square meals a day,” said Salman.
Blame game
A senior Northern Railways official said, “We have asked the DUSIB to provide them with flats so that we can take back our lane, but there has been no communication from their side, yet.”
Abdul Dayyan, DUSIB’s deputy director (rehabilitation and HQ) said, “If the Northern Railways want this land then we have no problem in clearing it. They first need to submit the funds for the rehabilitation of these people only then we can take any action.”
DUSIB POLICY
According to the rehabilitation policy of Delhi government, anyone encroaching the public property before January 1, 2006, will be provided with a piece of land or a flat by the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board —the only government department which can get back its encroached land.
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 "Seelampur Village")
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