19.07.2007 - Source: Hanns Seidel Stiftung

Monthly report on recent developments (June 2007); discussions over reconstruction of Mumbai-slum ("Indien Monatsbericht Juni 2007") [ID 20988]

"Eine riesige Elendssiedlung in Mumbay soll für 57.000 Familien umgebaut werden. Das fast zwei Milliarden Euro teure Projekt stößt auf erbitterten Protest. Aus einem der größten Slums der Welt wollen die indischen Behörden kostenlose Wohnungen für rund 57.000 Familien machen. Was an sich wie ein großzügiges Projekt klingt, stößt bei den Bewohnern in Dharavi im Norden Bombays auf heftigen Widerstand. In dem Elendsviertel hausen mehr als eine Million Menschen. Noch sei unklar, wo sie während der Bauarbeiten leben sollen, wenn ihre Hütten abgerissen werden, hieß es. Außerdem reichten die geplanten Wohnungen nicht für alle aus. In Zeitungsanzeigen werben die Behörden seit Ende Mai um in- und ausländische Bauträger für das geplante Projekt. Der Abriss des Elendsviertels und die Errichtung von siebenstöckigen Häusern soll schätzungsweise 1,9 Milliarden Euro kosten und in sieben Jahren abgeschlossen sein. Im neuen Dharavi soll es außerdem Schulen, Parkanlagen, ein Ärztezentrum und - selbstverständlich, aber für die Slumbewohner derzeit unvorstellbar – eine normale Trinkwasserversorgung geben. Der Regierung werden Versäumnisse vorgeworfen. Mit der Unterstützung von Aktivisten wollen die Slumbewohner jedoch gegen das gigantische Bauvorhaben protestieren. Die Regierung des Unionsstaates Maharashtra habe nicht deutlich gemacht, wo die Menschen leben sollen, sobald ihre Hütten dem Erdboden gleichgemacht sind. Den Behörden zufolge soll jede der nach Regierungsangaben 57.000 Familien in dem Slum eine kostenlose 21-Quadratmeter-Wohnung erhalten und bei Interesse zusätzlichen Wohnraum erwerben können. Das Angebot reiche bei weitem nicht für alle Einwohner von Dharavi aus. Es entsteht die Frage, was mit den anderen Bewohnern des Slums passiert. Das als “Gelegenheit des Jahrtausends“ beworbene Projekt sei bislang völlig undurchsichtig, kritisieren Aktivisten und forderten die Regierung auf, ihre wahren Absichten deutlich zu machen."

Document(s): Open document

06.02.2004 - Source: UN Human Rights Council (formerly UN Commission on Human Rights)

Report focused on human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people (summary of cases transmitted and replies recieved) ("Indigenous issues: Human rights and indigenous issues E/CN.4/2004/80/Add.1") [#20571],  [ID 8127]

Document(s): Open document

24.12.2003 - Source: World Organisation Against Torture

West Bengal: Government and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation forcibly evicted around 1500 families who were living in the canal settlements in the Bagbazar and Cossipore area, Kolkata Municipality ("India: new massive eviction, 75,000 people made homeless [Case IND-FE 241203]") [#18371],  [ID 8128]

Document(s): Open document

23.12.2003 - Source: World Organisation Against Torture

West Bengal: 3 year old child dies due to starvation/ his family is one of 7,000 Untouchables who were forcibly and illegally evicted in February 2003 from their residences ("India: Death of a 3-year old child due to starvation [Case IND-FE 240703.1, Follow-up to Case 240703]") [#18370],  [ID 8129]

Document(s): Open document

15.09.2003 - Source: World Organisation Against Torture

Maharashtra: Maharashtra State Farming Corporation (MSFC) officials destroyed five huts put up by Adivasi (indigenous) families in Rahata Taluk/ reportedly these demolitions took place in an attempt to force the Adivasis off the land despite the fact that legal proceedings, in relation to their claims over the land, are ongoing ("India: Demolition of 5 homes and continued harassment of Adivasi families [Case IND-FE 270803. 1, Follow-up to Case IND-FE 270803]") [#16097],  [ID 8130]

Document(s): Open document

24.07.2003 - Source: World Organisation Against Torture

West Bengal: over 7,000 Dalits forcibly evicted by police officers from their residences in Calcutta / the evictions took place without adequate consideration of the inhabitants' legal status ("India: forced eviction of 7000 Dalits [Case IND-FE 240703]") [#14630],  [ID 8131]

Document(s): Open document

04.06.2003 - Source: World Organisation Against Torture

Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh: As a result of a decision to increase the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada River around 15,000 families are at risk to be evicted; no proper resettlement has been planned for them ("India: risk of forced displacement of 35'000 Adivasis families [Case IND 040603. ESCR]") [#13312],  [ID 8132]

Document(s): Open document

12.03.2003 - Source: World Organisation Against Torture

Kerala: Ongoing harassment of Adivasis (tribal peoples) by the police, reported/ an important number of persons have disappeared since February 2003 in the Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary located in Wayanad ("India: ongoing harassment and disappearances of Adivasis") [#11366],  [ID 8133]

Document(s): Open document

28.02.2003 - Source: World Organisation Against Torture

Kerala: More than 1,000 Adivasis attacked by the police and the forest protection staff in order to evict them from the Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary located in Wayanad ("India: violent attack against tribal peoples [Case IND 280203. ESCR]") [#11131],  [ID 8134]

Document(s): Open document

30.07.2002 - Source: Amnesty International

Madhya Pradesh: About 400 police officers from Amjera police station resorted to beating villagers from Khedi Balwadi village who resisted their efforts to forcibly evict them from their houses and properties ("India: Amnesty International urges inquiry into reports of police brutality in the Maan valley, Madhya Pradesh") [#8070],  [ID 8135]

Document(s): Open document

27.07.2002 - Source: World Organisation Against Torture

Madhya Pradesh: Forcible eviction by the police of the members of the village of Khedi-Balwari, district of Dhar, reported/ women and even children were reportedly severely beaten up ("India: forced eviction by the police of a village against the background of the Narmada Valley Development Projects") [#8139],  [ID 8136]

Document(s): Open document

26.07.2002 - Source: World Organisation Against Torture

Human rights activist, involved in the defence of Adivasis land rights, killed/ since her death, several other activists received death threats for speaking out on the killing and for their continued work in favour of Adivasis’ rights ("Open Letter to the President of India") [#8093],  [ID 8137]

Document(s): Open document