1. 31st May 2012
Mumbai
Subject: Consultation on the situation of Homeless communities in Mumbai
on 15th June 2012.
The recent death of Sneha Harijan an 8-year old homeless girl in Warehouse,
Andheri, highlights Mumbai government's growing apathy towards the
homeless community in the city. The family of Senha Harijan and 22 others had
been forcibly evicted by the municipal authorities from a nearby park and left to
live on a busy road that leads to the international airport. Snegha and 16 other
children in that locality where going to the nearby school and were in the middle
of their exams.
In the past there was a Supreme Court verdict that to stop slum evictions and
demolitions during exam in schools. The govt. on one hand professes to
faithfully implement RTE and does such horrible things in the name of
beautifying the city; this exposes the double-faced character of the municipal
authorities. Similarly in the recent affidavit to the Supreme Court, the
Maharashtra state promised to build 27 shelters (Rain Basera) for the homeless
citizens but till date there has not been a single shelter for the Homeless.
AAKAR Mumbai along with Bal Hakk Abhiyan, SALAH, Alternative Realities,
Sambhav Foundation, Lokanche Dost, with the help of its CBO’s has been
continuously fighting for the rights of Homeless communities. Today, they have
come together and organized ‘Beghar Parishad’ (Conference of Homeless), we
have always realized that many organizations have been working in this front;
therefore it is important that all of us come together and work for the rights of
the Homeless communities.
Agenda for the Consultation:
To discuss on the Issue of Night Shelters (Rain Basera) or alternatives for
the Homeless Communities
To discuss on the issue of forceful evictions of the homeless communities
and Right to Education for Homeless children
To create pressure groups for proper implementation of Child Rights as
per UNCRC norms
Date and Venue
15th June 2012: 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Mumbai Marathi Press Association
Mumbai
