Slum dwellers turn up in droves at booths to vent ire at legislators
MUMBAI: Mumbai slum dwellers once again turned out in large numbers, but this time their ire was directed at the ruling party’s legislators. Most of the common complaints were the lack of basic amenities and the large-scale irregularities in the slum rehabilitation scheme.
Right from 8:30 am, voters from the slum pockets of Filterpada, Gautam Nagar, Phule Nagar, Jai Bhim Nagar and Passpoli in Andheri (East) lined up to cast their votes. According to locals, Suresh Shetty, the state health minister, has been unable to cater to their basic demand. “We have to go all the way to Saki Naka for decent treatment, as there is no basic health-care facility near Saki Vihar Road,” said Dharmesh Kamble, 30, a daily wage worker in a diamond assortment unit.
Similarly, at Bharat Nagar, a huge slum at Bandra (East), residents were angry with sitting Sena legislator Prakash Sawant for failing to protect their structures. “Our MLA did not stand by us when it was needed. So many homes were demolished and people were left on the roads,” said Gaffar Ahmed, 40, a resident of Bharat Nagar.
More than 50% of Mumbai’s population live in slums. Some of the biggest slums in the city include Dharavi, Ganpat Nagar at Dahisar, Geeta Nagar and Ambedkar Nagar at Colaba, Ambujwadi at Malad, Ramabai and Kamraj Nagar at Ghatkopar and big slum pockets at Mankhurd, Marve, Antop Hill and Worli Village. The slum dwellers are huge vote banks and politicos woo them with gusto before the polls. Except some pockets, the slum-dwellers Congress and Shiv Sena.
Both Ramabai Nagar and Kamraj Nagar saw a good response from the residents. However, the residents rued that politicians had let them down. “It has become routine for us to vote, but once they get elected, we are left to fend for ourselves,” said Mohan Shelar, who has been residing in Ramabai Nagar slum for the last four decades.
This is also the complaint of slum-dwellers in Ambujadi, which is spread across 23 acres in Malad. “We do not have roads, water connection or sanitation and every five years all the candidates promise to get us water connection. I hope this election changes our condition,” said Moinuddin Khan, Ambujwadi resident.
In the Bandra area, Nargis Dutt Nagar and Berhampada also witnessed brisk voting, mainly by members of the minority community.
Meanwhile at Dharavi, India’s largest slum, voters turned up in large numbers in the last two hours, and when voting closed, the turnout had increased to 53.5% from the dismal 39% of the 2009 Assembly polls. “For the last one decade, the redevelopment of Dharavi has only been discussed, while we continue to suffer in inhuman conditions. We just want a change,” said Laxmi