Although at snail’s pace, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) continued to receive willing residents of West Delhi’s Kathputli Colony on Friday. Even as protesters were unrelenting, four families shifted to the transit camp in Anand Parbat, increasing the count to seven. Out of the 3,200 families living there, the housing authority, so far, has been approached by 60 residents who have consented to shift to the transit camps.
“The families have started shifting to the transit camp at Anand Parbat. While three families had shifted earlier, today four more have started staying there. As for the registration, we got 10 willing people who took slips today,” said a senior DDA official. Named after the colourful community of puppeteers and artists, families in Kathputli Colony earn their livelihood by practicing their arts.
Meanwhile, protesters claimed of being coerced by police to take slips, while one person even alleged of being slapped by a policeman. “The DDA today arrived with over 100 policemen to ‘convince’ people to shift to the transit camp. We, along with the residents, continued to urge DDA officials to ensure a non-coercive and peaceful dialogue but are only receiving threats regarding being implicated in false cases. People also fear the Government and police will forcefully acquire land of Kathputli Colony in a few days, if the need arises,” said Sunayna, member of NGO Hazards Centre which has been actively supporting the residents of the colony in their protests.
The DDA officials, on the other hand, said most of the families want to shift and it is only a handful with vested interest who is opposing it. “I believe some slumlords are resorting to threat tactics to stop families from moving. We are offering them clean accommodation compared to the unhygienic one-room shanties they live in. We are offering them a house larger than the average EWS scheme. Even at the transit camps, they are being given all the facilities, including electricity and anganwadis,” the official confirmed.