Slum Dwellers Protest Eviction Drive

A meeting of the Jhuggi-Jhopdi Union, Jainagar (Bihar) was organized on 10 October 2019 at the Bus Stand complex which strongly condemned the notice issued by the Railway administration IOW Madhubani for eviction without alternative arrangements of the landless unemployed poor who were living with their families and children on footpaths in hutments on railway land. They resolved to resist eviction unless alternative arrangements were first made for them.

Addressing the meeting, Jhuggi Jhopdi Union Divisional Secretary Bhushan Singh said that the government has failed in its promise to generate employment and give 5 decimal land to the landless; and now the Railway administration is breaking the law and going against the Supreme Court order. The administration has issued a notice that the hutments would be broken 20 days from the date of issue of the notice without alternative arrangements being made. The Jhuggi Jhopdi Union demanded from the Government of India, Bihar Government, Jainagar Divisional officials, DM Madhubani and the railway officials that the jhuggis and hutments of the landless poor should not be evicted without alternative arrangements. The Jhuggi Jhopdi Union Jainagar and CPIML have announced to resist this eviction drive. The demand for alternative arrangements a mass protest dharna was organized on 15 October 2019 at the Jainagar Railway Station complex. The slum dwellers have appealed to the representatives of the Nagar Panchayat and Gram Panchayats, all political parties and trade organizations to support them in their struggle.