MUMBAI
As far as work is concerned, the opportunities are few and far in between. Some men have become daily wage labourers and do whatever work they receive at the Ganesh Mandir Naka, while the women do odd jobs sometimes.
Balaji Ram Chauhan, who looks towards the sky every day in hope to see some clouds, lives in a house that has no roof or walls, only a number. His 'jhopdi' no. 60 is, in fact, a small section of ground with two bamboo sticks demarcating his territory.
And he is not alone. A community of approximately 700 drought-affected people, mostly farmers, are living literally on a land of sewage and muck at the Dattaji Sadwi ground in Barwenagar, Ghatkopar (W). The camp was set up by BJP MP Kirit Somaiya, where 212 families live under the open sky, amid boars and mosquitos.
As many as 160 families have a placard documenting their identity, whereas others have smaller IDs, which do not guarantee them ration. Though Somaiya's workers frequent the camp to contribute in whatever manner possible, it does not change the bigger picture.
Most of these families have been living at this location for at least a month or two, unlike the migrant farmers in Thane and Navi Mumbai. "As many as 20-30 families have been coming to live here every year for the last two years, during the summer months. Last year there was little water, but this year, there is absolutely none. Almost half the people from my village are here right now," said Chauhan.
Chauhan and his family of three are from Nanded. Almost all other families also come from that district. According to them, they are facing terrible woes but anything is preferable to lack of water. A BMC tanker comes to the camp everyday, and people collect water in empty oil containers. "We do not have a lot of utensils. We definitely do not have buckets and mugs. A few families that do bought them by putting together their savings," said Koshabai Shankar Rathore, whose primary requirement is a toilet.
Shankar Rathore, a resident of jhopdi no. 100, owns an acre of land in Nanded, where he used to grow hybrid jowar till two years ago. "Without sufficient water, the harvest is terrible. I was reaching the point of debt, so I stopped," he said.
"There are 700 people here and more are arriving daily, but we don't have a single proper washroom. My three-year-old child runs around in this muck and we have no soap, to wash our bodies, utensils or clothes," said Koshabai.
"This is no condition for human beings to live in," said Abhishek Bharadwaj, founder of NGO Alternative Realities. "The state requires emergency shelters to deal with people who are practically refugees of natural disasters such as drought." Bharadwaj is mobilising resources from Navi Mumbai's housing societies to aid the farmers living there. Whitfield Cooperative Society of Hiranandani Meadows in Thane (W) has also raised funds to provide clothes at Navi Mumbai.
As far as work is concerned, the opportunities are few and far in between. Some men have become daily wage labourers and do whatever work they receive at the Ganesh Mandir Naka, while the women do odd jobs sometimes. The children, however, bear the brunt of this lifestyle, often falling ill with malaria and other diseases.
"This community needs to be moved to a sanitary shelter. A mobile creche or Anganwadi is also the need of the hour," said Bharadwaj.
Meanwhile, in the spirit of philanthropy, environmentalist Elsie Gabriel will soon be providing 300 solar lanterns to the people who do not have a single source of light. "Women and children are the worst affected. After visiting the site, we decided to help with the safety aspect in an ecologically friendly way through the lanterns," she said. NGO Earth 5R also arrived on April 25 to provide training to the women and children to make paper bags.
Also, Nirja Bhatnagar, regional manager at ActionAid Maharashtra, who has already conducted an outreach programme with the farmers in Thane and Navi Mumbai said, "We will provide relief packets to the people at Ghatkopar, which will include nutritional food, multivitamins and mosquito nets. We also request Eknath Shinde, guardian minister of the district, to provide aid to those in Navi Mumbai as well, instead of doing so just in Thane."
Bharadwaj also suggested that a city-wide census of these temporary migrants be conducted, so that aid reached all, instead of just those living in Thane.
IND vs NZ, 2nd Test Dream11 prediction: Fantasy cricket tips for India vs New Zealand match
How To Prepare For The UPSC CSE 2025 Exam?
'India supports dialogue and diplomacy, not war': PM Modi at BRICS Summit
This woman lost in Dubai's desert orders camel via Uber, netizens say 'your camel has arrived'
Good news for Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Paytm gets NPCI nod to..., shares surge over 7%
Fan requests Rohit Sharma to deliver her message to Virat Kohli, here's how Indian captain responded
Rajkummar Rao recalls being scammed in Delhi during struggle days: 'The man had...'
Robbers pose as customers in jewellery shop, what owner did next will leave you shocked
Maharashtra Elections 2024: NCP releases 1st list of 38 candidates; Ajit Pawar to contest from…
Japanese Shah Rukh Khan leaves Bollywood Badshah's fan impressed, social media says...
Will KL Rahul be retained by LSG ahead of IPL Auction? New report provides BIG update, it says...
'Wayanad will have two MPs': Rahul Gandhi after Priyanka files nomination for bypolls
I Want To Talk teaser: Abhishek Bachchan announces his next with Shoojit Sircar, to release on...
Diwali 2024: When is Deepawali, October 31 or November 1? Check dates, mahurat timings and more
JEE Main 2025 exam date to release TODAY: Know how to register, check exam calendar HERE
Jhalmuri fever hits London: Video of British man selling Kolkata-style street food goes viral, watch
SC slams Centre as Delhi air worsens, calls environment laws...
Ex-cricketer suggests replacing KL Rahul with THIS batsman for 2nd Test vs NZ, he is…
TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee smashes bottle, hurls it towards Chair in row over Waqf meet
Know how Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani's children Isha Ambani and Akash Ambani got their names
Family finds venomous snakes under their bed, what happened next will leave you in shock
This company's Vice President gets fired after raise and bonus, reason will leave you shocked
Mukesh Ambani-led Jio Financial eyes JVs with Allianz SE in insurance sector
IMD's BIG update: Cyclone Dana forms over Bay of Bengal, to cross Odisha-Bengal coasts on...
This company gifts cars as Diwali bonus, calls its employees celebrities, is owned by…
Amid divorce rumours with Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan skips her family gathering
When Ratan Tata opened up about his parents separation, first love and childhood, he said...
Blow to Mukesh Ambani ahead of Isha Ambani, Akash Ambani's birthday, Reliance stocks...
Saudi Arabia's futuristic megacity project Neom a big threat to migratory birds? Experts say...
Apple CEO Tim Cook didn’t know about this iPhone feature, left speechless, know here
Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Jio offers superhit Diwali plan, unlimited 5G internet for just Rs...
Bengaluru Rains: Schools closed, WFH advisory for private companies as IMD issues yellow alert
Israel confirms killing of Hashem Safieddine, presumed successor of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah
Big move by Anil Ambani, his company to invest Rs 10000 crore to set up India's largest...
Meet Indian genius, who was born in small town, today leads AI innovations of Google, she is...
Woman stays at luxury resort worth Rs 3 lakh for free, claims she used...
Delhi AQI update: Air quality worsens to 'very poor' level at 349, becomes 'severe' in these areas
PM Modi to hold bilateral talks with Xi Jinping at BRICS Summit today
Odisha, West Bengal brace for Cyclone Dana: How was it named and what it means?
POCSO case: Mumbai Police ask Ekta Kapoor, her mother to appear for questioning tomorrow
Watch: Can you identify all the actors in this clip from 1991?
Priyanka Gandhi to file nomination for Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll today
Meet woman, whose father used to sell milk, cracked UPSC exam with AIR 62 to become...
Delhi: No water supply in Capital for 12 hours on Friday due to…; check list of affected areas
Salman Khan resumes shooting for Sikandar amid death threats from Lawrence Bishnoi
India, Pakistan extend Kartarpur Sahib corridor agreement for five years
DNA TV Show: What is BRICS currency? Is it possible to introduce it today?
IPL 2025: Three-time IPL champion set to join Gujarat Titans as batting coach - Reports
PM Modi, Xi Jinping to hold bilateral meet on sidelines of BRICS Summit on Oct 23, first in 5 years
New Himalayan snake species named after Academy Award winner Leonardo DiCaprio, it will be called…
Cyclone Dana: Schools closed in West Bengal, Odisha for 4 days from...
Delhi govt to provide special assistance of Rs 5000 monthly to...
Rape-accused Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein diagnosed with bone marrow cancer
IND vs NZ: Sarfaraz Khan or KL Rahul; Who will find a spot in 2nd Test? India coach says…
Mumbai Police interrogates Ekta Kapoor, her mother Shobha Kapoor in case under POCSO act
Mukesh Ambani may team up with govt to sell food products through...
Bengaluru: Several feared trapped as under-construction building collapses
Best Cheap VPS Hosting Providers: Top Picks for Hosting Under USD 10
Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal set to raise Rs 8500 crore, says it is meant to...