In Gorakhpur, Bansphod community to get houses
GORAKHPUR: Members of Bansphod community, who have been living on busy roads to eke out a living, will soon be shifted to houses allotted to them under Asra Awas Yojna at Millennium city and Maniram area.
District magistrate M Vijyendra Pandian inspected houses made at the two areas and directed the authorities to speed up the construction work so that they could be shifted there at the earliest.The move follows instructions from chief minister Yogi Aditynath to cover the socially marginalised community under the government-run housing schemes.
The community members are known for making bamboo products like baskets, lamps and bamboo sheets.
They showcase and sell their works outside temporary shelters on roads.
Though there were no officials information on how many members will be given the houses, sources said around 200 families will be shifted.
Several attempts to relocate the community in the past have failed as they didn’t agree to move somewhere else for livelihood. Treating them as encroachers, the traffic police on several occasions have launched anti-encroachment drive against them.
They vacate the place only to return each time.
Now when they are being shifted again, the administration has announced to cover them under Patri Vayvsayi schemes, which will ensure that their means of livelihood are not affected. “We are ready to move if they give us an alternative arrangement to sell our products,” said a member.
Mitra Prakash, a social activist who has been working for the community, said since they live on roads, every day some kid gets hit by bikes or cars.