Broken promises taunt Worli Dalits

If the Dalit leadership wants lessons in unity, it should take its cue from residents of 121 BDD chawls at Worli’s Ward 190.

Fed up with broken promises, residents have decided to field one of their own - advocate Rajendra Bhosle - as the BDD chawls’ candidate for the February 1 polls.
About 48,500 residents live in the chawls, which are predominantly backward caste, and the Phule Shahu Ambedkar Samajik Ekta Manch, a 350-member association with representation from the chawls, has chosen Bhosle, 35. The outfit was formed in August 2006 as a “united front” after the Khairlanji massacre.

Manch president Bhaskar Kamble, 38, says, “Bhosle was elected among 11 applicants with the maximum vote. All applicants were graduates with a proven record in social work.”

Since Bhosle has the support of 115 sports clubs, senior citizen and women’s groups in the area, he may upset the calculations of major political parties. “We will do everything to make sure the initiative triumphs,” says Bhosle, who also has the support of RPI Leader Ramdas Athawale.

BDD chawls’ residents are angry with their incumbent corporators Vanita Insulkar (Shiv Sena), Suvarna Suryavanshi (Congress), MLA Sachin Ahir (NCP) and MP Mohan Rawle (Shiv Sena). None of them reside in the area.

“Our community voted for them in the last elections, but they have deserted us after coming to power,” says SB Kankar, 75, a retired government employee.

Residents want a candidate who will fight to redevelop dilapidated chawls, solve acute water shortage, unemployment, lack of sanitation, health care and
education.

The immediate task facing the Manch is to garner funds to fight the elections. “Individually, people have donated Rs10,000,” Bhaskar Kamble says. “We need more money, but we are content we have started a citizens’ movement.”