There are about 748 slums in the city, with their 9 lakh residents comprising about 40% of the total electorate in the city. Despite this large number, they continue to be a neglected lot, said former bureaucrat E.A.S. Sarma.
Mr. Sarma was addressing a meeting titled ‘Our Vote-Our Future’ jointly organised by AUTD, MNSS and the National Election Forum, here on Sunday.
The former bureaucrat said that every time there is an election, politicians visit the slums either to woo the slum-dwellers into their fold or to buy their votes, but never bother visiting the slums again once they are elected to power, at least for the next five years.
Keeping in mind the forthcoming elections in the State, the slum-dwellers, representing over 20 major slums in the city, released a charter of demands through a ‘People’s Manifesto’ at the meeting.
List of demands
The manifesto, comprising 42 demands, highlighted various issues such as recognition of slum-dwellers and unorganised sector, relocation of slums within their area of livelihood, and solving issues related to housing, water and drainage.
Releasing the manifesto, the slum-dwellers said that every time a candidate visits their slum asking for votes, they will be asked to sign the manifesto, in a show of promise that they would implement the demands listed by the slum-dwellers.
“Apart from the 42 demands, we also want that the leaders visit the slums every three months and take stock of the implementation of our demands,” said a slum-dweller from Ambedkar Colony.
“Otherwise, we will be forced to exercise the NOTA option,” she said.
No housing policy
Addressing the slum-dwellers, Pragada Vasu of AUTD said that as per the guidelines, all civic bodies are entitled to spend 40% of every rupee spent on slum development, but this is not being done.
Mr. Vasu pointed out that the state has no housing policy for slum-dwellers and in the name of rehabilitating them, they are being moved out of the city limits, miles away from their regular income area.
‘Don’t accept money’
Talking about the sale of votes, Mr. Sarma said, “Many political parties try to lure the voters in the slums by paying them ₹1,000 or ₹2,000 per vote and a liquor packet.”
The former bureaucrat advised slum-dwellers to stay away from such deals, as ₹1,000 per vote equalled ₹200 per year for the next five years, and less than ₹1 for the 365 days in a year.