Can voting help a displaced person get a homeIJ Thousands of poor people of the city’s Islamnagar and Naga Baba Kathal area who lost their homes in 2011 due to anti-encroachment drives have been asking the question to themselves. The question likely remains unanswered even in the ongoing Assembly poll.
The displaced persons have been casting vote with the hope of getting a home as assured by the political parties. “Mahua Maji fielded by Jharkhand Mukti Morcha visited our door-step with folded hands. She did not utter a single word. Sab vote maange aate hain but madad koi nahi karta (All come for votes but no one helps us). Sab dikhawa hain (It’s a mere act),” 78-year-old tailor Phool Hussain of Islamnagar said.
The displaced people here have made temporary huts with thin bamboo sticks and plastic sheets.” We are compelled to spend sleepless nights in winter season as the moisture drops of fog keeps pouring inside our room. Infants as a result, suffer from cough and cold round the year,” Pinky Khatoon holding her six month baby said. Similar was the situation of tea vendor Shajda Khatoon’s one year old grand daughter, Pinky’s neighbour. The baby girl was crying because of the chest congestion.
large population of families here has shifted to another slum of the city equipped with proper basic facilities. “We had requested Bharatiya Janta Party candidate CP Singh who was Assembly speaker four years back to save our homes from breaking. But, he denied helping. Due to his negligence, we are homeless today. Even the Congress leaders who came to support us and were arrested by cops have not visited her after the incident,” Mohammed Rajjak, an aged labourer said.
At Naga Baba Kathal, where most are milkmen, it is said that their homes were broken twice. “We had requested many party leaders to stop the administration from breaking our homes. No one saved us. Moreover, when some of our uncles tried to re-construct the houses, the administration restricted them,” Abhishek and Nitam, sons of a milkman said.
Notably, no concrete decision on cases registered in favour and against the displaced people has been taken by the authorities till date. They still hope of getting a home by casting vote for the assembly elections in the state capital scheduled on December 9.
When The Pioneer, questioned CP Singh about his action over the matter, he mentioned re-settlement is one of his agenda if he is re-elected as MlA from Ranchi. “I will campaign in these areas only if it is included in my routine,” he said.
Congress candidate Surendra Singh said that he would continue his demand for rehabilitating these homeless ones. “I had supplied relief items to people of Islamnagar and Naga Baba Kathal when their homes were broken. Infact, my one leg was injured then. Full-fledged assistance can be provided if one is economically stable. It is a hassle for netas like us,” he said.