TOI : Slum-dwellers air grievances at SRA public hearing : Sept 13, 2007

Slum-dwellers air grievances at SRA public hearing
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai: A banner at the entrance shouted, "From Narmada to Mumbai, the
struggle is the same'', summing up the sentiment as various groups-from
slumdwellers to social activists-came together at a public hearing to
highlight the problems in the Slum Rehabilitation Authority scheme on
Wednesday.

    Twelve groups of affected people who united under the SRA Sangharsh
Manch, spearheaded by the Medha Patkar-led NAPM, showcased how the SRA wasn't
as much about rehabilitation as about corruption.

    "In our area, old residents with photo-ID proof weren't allotted
alternative accommodation, while bogus allotments flourished,'' said Praveen
Yerunkar of Gandhinagar, Worli.

    The scene was no different in Andheri's Amar Welfare Society, Tardeo's
Tulsiwadi or Saat Raasta from where slum-dwellers alleged how builders
rigged the mandatory 70 % consent to their advantage. Other groups from
Mandala and Indranagar in Kurla asked which scheme they belonged to.

    A panel comprising former municipal commissioner S S Tinaikar, Justice
(retd) H Suresh and journalist Bharat Kumar Raut listened to the grievances
of the people. They decided to draw up a report and a list of
recommendations, which will be forwarded to the government for
consideration.

    "SRA is a money-laundering exercise and you'll understand that even your
appeals are made to people who have a vested interest,'' said IPS
officer-turnedlawyer Y P Singh.

    Patkar voiced a common demand when she suggested that they demand the
setting up of an independent panel to probe cases of corruption in SRA
schemes.

Publication:Times Of India Mumbai; Date:Sep 13, 2007; Section:Times City;
Page Number:11

URL :
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDA3LzA5LzEzI0FyMDExMDU=&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom