Jhopadpatti Mahasangh is protesting against alleged graft in slum rehabilitation plans.
A group of slum dwellers in the city has initiated a campaign to boycott civic polls in February next year. The decision was taken by them because of alleged corruption in the slum rehabilitation schemes in the city.
The protesters are working under the umbrella organisation of Jhopadpatti Mahasangh, which has representatives of 25 slums. Shobha Jadhav, a member of the Mahasangh, told DNA that most of these slums have been selected for rehabilitation by the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA).
"Right from the word go, there is corruption in the schemes. People who have had three generations of theirs staying in the slum are termed ineligible for rehabilitation, while newcomers are made eligible. The SRA works hand in glove with builders and politicians to evacuate us from our homes," she said.
With the civic elections round the corner, the Mahasangh has decided to boycott the elections to send a clear message to the authorities about their displeasure in the way the SRA functions.
"During our fight against the irregularities in the rehabilitation process, we had solicited help from elected representatives and other politicians. However, while they showed their willingness, they did nothing," she said.
Another member of the Mahasangh, Dattu Kshirsagar, explained that they realised the politicians were hand in glove with the corrupt and thus refused to take action against them.
Their decision to campaign for an election boycott was fueled by the negative campaign being carried out by the anti-graft activist, Anna Hazare, against the Congress for their failure to pass a strong Lokpal Bill.
"We are going from door to door and urging people to boycott the polls. With slum dwellers being the vote banks of the mainstream political parties, their absence will significantly alter the elections dynamics in the city," claimed Kshirsagar.
When asked if their campaign would be able to sway the voters in the face of money and muscle power used by politicians to influence slum votes, Kshirsagar said that they are asking people to use their conscience.
"In exchange for money, our house, our neighbourhoods are destroyed and we can't do anything about it," said Kshirsagar.The Slum Rehabilitation Authority and the Pune Municipal Corporation carried out shifting of 12 families in a small slum near Sant Tukaram Paduka Chowk off Fergusson College Road on Saturday. The demolition of hutments was stopped at the behest of social activists Kiran Moghe, Ajit Abhyankar and local corporator. Deputy collector Avinash Shinde told the media that the drive has been halted as the families of those whose huts are not demolished gave a written undertaking that they would shift within the next eight days.
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