A youth leadership meeting was held at the Salia Sahi slum in the city under the banner of the Salia Sahi Samuhik Vikash Parishad to prepare a roadmap for addressing the developmental issues of the Salia Sahi and neighbouring slums.
About 78 youth leaders from Salia Sahi and other 16 slums participated in the meeting. They included 42 presidents and secretaries of 26 youth clubs presently active in the slums. Parishad chief patron Dr Sasmit Patra was the chief guest at the meeting presided over by Parishad president Alok Pariccha. Parishad secretary Alok Digal coordinated the meeting while vice-president Bibhu Ranjan Mallick gave the keynote address.
Twelve youth leaders presented their views on how to build up unity and ensure Governmental support for facilitating land rights to the slum dwellers and establishment of a high school and a hospital at Salia Sahi. The issue of BPl cards not being provided to the slum dwellers was also discussed. It was decided at the meeting to form an action committee which would draw up a series of awareness campaigns in the slums regarding the rights of slum dwellers and then exert pressure on the Government to provide basic facilities of water, sanitation, health and education, besides land pattas.
Dr Sasmit Patra said, “The time to unite is now or never. If the slum dwellers have to live with dignity then the fight has to start now.” In the coming days, such leadership meetings would be organised in association with Women’s Self Help Groups and students’ associations within the slums, Parishad sources said.