THE STATE OF RURAL MIGRATION INTO DELHI FROM VARIOUS NEIGHBOURING STATES
Migration from villages to towns/cities is a historic quest for peace, progress and prosperity through the times. Limited livelihood opportunities in rural areas and the prospects of relatively more opportunities and better life in urban centers attract people en masse. Rural migration towards urban centers is still prevalent, and to great extent, the urban-centric politico-economic policies of the government of the day are responsible for ever-burgeoning human-exodus from rural areas to urban places.
Consequently, while the villages in country sides have been gradually disappearing, that in urban areas, villages and slums have been gregariously and haphazardly growing, mostly in the backyard of posh residential places or quarters. They have, definitely, been growing at alarming proportion, and are, virtually, coming up in any or every open space, either in the outskirts of the cities or any barren patch, even in the periphery of high-rising enclaves of rich and affluent of the town. For instances, Delhi, capital of India is home to 3 million persons living in slums & 45% of its population lives in unauthorized colonies, Jhuggi Jhompris & urban villages. Delhi witnesses net addition of around 4 lakhs settlers every year, who migrate from various parts of country in search of livelihood. From 12000 slum dwelling units in 1951, the official figure for these units is expected to reach 0.3 millions in 2005.
These slums are, mostly, unregistered and illegal settlements, which, by virtue of this fact, often, are the most deprived and neglected section of the urban populace. Residents survive at bare minimum civic amenities. Dilapidated and crowded houses made of heap of bricks, suffocating lanes, unhygienic and choked drains, erratic and scanty water-supply, uncanny electricity, among others are what constitute their dwelling environment. Besides, the fear of being evicted and uprooted by the administration constantly haunts them, time in and out. In addition, unemployment as well as tempting glow and luster of city life suck them to the core. They are, really, one of the most disadvantaged beings.
“We come here in search for livelihoods and to seek better life; but the hardships follow-through,” lamented Kalabati, a middle-aged woman of the slum near Priya Cinema Hall at Vasant Vihar. This slum had come up way back in 1969. Since then it has been occupying the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) land illegally. It is peopled by around 150 families, and the earning members are engaged in various activities: some are employed with government in group D level, some in part-time clerical job in small private companies, many others as daily labourers.
The authorities demolished their rickety huts twice before, the latest being in1999. They live in perpetual fear, henceforth. “We can’t really live in peace; the fear of eviction by the authorities any time, being run-over and ransacked by speeding lorries during nights, especially winter always worry us a lot,” the Pradhan of the slum said.
This slum, obviously, has a myriad of problems. The most aggravating problem is the provision of clean drinking water. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) provides a tanker for drinking water every day. The tanker arrives at such wee-hours at 4 o’ clock in the morning, and it doesn’t really quench the thirst of many a people.
Consequently, while the villages in country sides have been gradually disappearing, that in urban areas, villages and slums have been gregariously and haphazardly growing, mostly in the backyard of posh residential places or quarters. They have, definitely, been growing at alarming proportion, and are, virtually, coming up in any or every open space, either in the outskirts of the cities or any barren patch, even in the periphery of high-rising enclaves of rich and affluent of the town. For instances, Delhi, capital of India is home to 3 million persons living in slums & 45% of its population lives in unauthorized colonies, Jhuggi Jhompris & urban villages. Delhi witnesses net addition of around 4 lakhs settlers every year, who migrate from various parts of country in search of livelihood. From 12000 slum dwelling units in 1951, the official figure for these units is expected to reach 0.3 millions in 2005.
These slums are, mostly, unregistered and illegal settlements, which, by virtue of this fact, often, are the most deprived and neglected section of the urban populace. Residents survive at bare minimum civic amenities. Dilapidated and crowded houses made of heap of bricks, suffocating lanes, unhygienic and choked drains, erratic and scanty water-supply, uncanny electricity, among others are what constitute their dwelling environment. Besides, the fear of being evicted and uprooted by the administration constantly haunts them, time in and out. In addition, unemployment as well as tempting glow and luster of city life suck them to the core. They are, really, one of the most disadvantaged beings.
“We come here in search for livelihoods and to seek better life; but the hardships follow-through,” lamented Kalabati, a middle-aged woman of the slum near Priya Cinema Hall at Vasant Vihar. This slum had come up way back in 1969. Since then it has been occupying the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) land illegally. It is peopled by around 150 families, and the earning members are engaged in various activities: some are employed with government in group D level, some in part-time clerical job in small private companies, many others as daily labourers.
The authorities demolished their rickety huts twice before, the latest being in1999. They live in perpetual fear, henceforth. “We can’t really live in peace; the fear of eviction by the authorities any time, being run-over and ransacked by speeding lorries during nights, especially winter always worry us a lot,” the Pradhan of the slum said.
This slum, obviously, has a myriad of problems. The most aggravating problem is the provision of clean drinking water. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) provides a tanker for drinking water every day. The tanker arrives at such wee-hours at 4 o’ clock in the morning, and it doesn’t really quench the thirst of many a people.
posted by Nyal Lee | 10:21 AM
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