A large number of residents protested against the UT Administration on Tuesday demanding housing facilities.
The protest was organised under the banner of Ghar Adhikar Sangharsh Morcha at the SDM (s), Sector 42 (Hockey Stadium). The protestors demanded proper and comprehensive rehabilitation of those rendered homeless after demolition of colony number 5, no further demolitions in Chandigarh, notice issued to those residing in Sector 52 must be withdrawn, amendment in Chandigarh Small Flats Scheme 2006 and facilities like proper transport, educational, medical and market facilities in Rehabilitation Colony, Dhanas.
Those protesting included men, women and children, who had been rendered homeless after the demolition of colony number 5 in November 2013.
It also included many of those whose colonies had been demolished in the earlier years. Others were from colony number 4, Madrasi COlony, Bapu Dham Colony, Nehru Colony, lBS Colony, Dhanas Rehabilitation Colony.
The protest was addressed by lawyers, students, ordinary residents along with activists of the Ghar Adhikar Sangharsh Morcha, who had organised the protest.
A delegation of the protestors also met Deputy Commissioner Mohd Shayin who heard the demands of the delegation. The DC told the delegation that action will be taken on their demands, after a meeting of all the concerned officials. In pursuance of this, he has called a joint meeting with the chairperson of the Chandigarh Housing Board, Head of the Transport Department, Chandigarh and departments relating to PDS, elections, Policing etc, on February 13.
last month also, a large number of jhuggi dwellers, including those who have been displaced by the demolition of Colony Number 5, had gathered at the DC office, along with activists from the Ghar Adhikar Sangharsh Morcha. The Ghar Adhikar Sangharsh Morcha, a collective of concerned citizens fighting to ensure housing rights for all in Chandigarh, had also submitted a memorandum to the DC on the housing issue.