They have been living without power and other basic amenities

The residents of Indira Nagar slum, at Railway New Colony, were all smiles on Saturday. Though the slum is located in the heart of the city, they have been living without power and other basic amenities for over seven decades!They clapped in glee as the convener of the Forum for Better Visakha (FBV) E.A.S. Sarma switched on the lights and fans at a simple function organised at the slum.

The residents were doubly happy as it happens to be the 127th birth anniversary of the ‘messiah of the downtrodden people’ Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.“Our parents came here from Rajam in Srikakulam district. I have been living here since my childhood. At that time there was not much development in this area. There were only around 75 houses at that time and now they have doubled. Politicians come for votes before every election and promise to do justice to us. But, forget them after getting elected,” said Balakka, president of the colony, who says she is past 60.

Eviction threat

“An MLA came to us after the last elections and asked us to shift to another place, saying he would provide alternate accommodation. We declined the offer saying we would prefer to die here rather than shifting to a new place,” she said and broke down as she recalled their sufferings at the hands of the police for refusing to vacate the place.

She was full of gratitude to the Progressive Organisation of Women (POW), senior journalist Ramana Murthy and other media persons and organisations for standing by the slum dwellers during their hour of distress.Mr. Sarma said it was unfortunate that social inequalities have not disappeared even after seven decades after Independence. He alleged that the attacks on Dalits have increased after the BJP government assumed power at the Centre.

He commended the AP Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (AP EPDCL) for providing poles and electricity meters to the slum.He sought that the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) should also provide water tap connections and the Revenue Department should provide them full rights to them on the land.

Mr. Ramana Murthy said that the perseverance of the slum dwellers, in the face of eviction threats and by influential people, had resulted in their success.Lakshmi of POW deplored the authorities for not providing basic amenities to the slum dwellers though they have living there for several decades.