Year after, Dharamshala slum evictees await rehabilitation

DHARAMSHALA: One year on, several slum dwellers in Dharamshala, who were evicted by the municipal corporation, still wait for their rehabilitation. They have also renewed their demand for the same.

Around 1,500 slum inhabitants, who lived in Charan area of Dharamshala town, were evicted in a demolition drive carried out by authorities on June 17 last year.

The evicted populace was mostly ragpickers, street vendors, daily wagers and their families.

Under the banner of Charan Khad Basti Punarwas Samiti and assisted by Kangra Citizen’s Rights Group, the affected slum dwellers held a series of photo exhibition in key parts of the towns, besides staging peaceful protests.

Photos depicting the plight of the people after eviction were displayed at the photo exhibition held at War Memorial, Kachehri, and McLeodganj on Friday and Saturday.

“The eviction drive impacted the lives of the slum-dwellers badly. Children had to be pulled out of schools, many of them lost their source of livelihood, while 45 families are still struggling to get rehabilitated,” said Manshi Asher of Kangra Citizen’s Rights Group.

“MC calls the rehabilitation impossible, stating that settlement at Charan Khad was not declared ‘slum’ under the Slum Area Act and inhabitants were migrants, who were encroaching government land,” Manshi said. HTC