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Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
Delhi home minister reviews preparations ahead of Kanwar Yatra
Delhi home minister Ashish Sood on Thursday held a meeting to review preparations for the Kanwar Yatra that begins next month. Sood said that Kanwar organising committees will be provided with all necessary administrative support at a single window system. 'A single-window system will be set up at the district magistrate offices to facilitate approvals and permissions from various departments in a streamlined manner. The safety, service, and convenience of hundreds of thousands of devotees entering Delhi during the yatra will be a top priority,' he added. The Kanwar Yatra is a religious tradition where millions of devotees collect water from the Ganga at Haridwar, Gangotri and other sacred places to offer at Shiva temples in the month of Savan. Every year, thousands of kanwars pass through Delhi en route to other states. Sood said all departments have been directed to ensure that pilgrims face no inconvenience on their designated routes. 'Arrangements related to sanitation, drinking water, uninterrupted electricity supply, and traffic management will be made in a timely, coordinated, and effective manner. We have instructed power department officials to ensure that any issues related to electricity disruptions or leakage risks during rains are addressed promptly during the Yatra days,' he added. The meeting was held with representatives of the fire services department, police, Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board, power department and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Sood also directed police to monitor sound systems in camps located near residential areas and ensure that devotional songs played over loudspeakers are limited to permitted hours to avoid disturbing local residents. Police personnel have been asked to politely request pilgrims to avoid playing loud music late at night. Coordination with police forces of neighbouring states has also been advised to ensure the safety and welfare of pilgrims. The Delhi Fire Services has been asked to prepare a plan for deploying small fire tenders near Kanwar camps to respond quickly in case of fire-related emergencies and prevent any mishaps.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Uninterrupted power, extra police personnel to ensure smooth journey for Kanwar yatris: Delhi Home Minister
Home Minister Ashish Sood said the Power department has been instructed to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply along the yatri camps during the upcoming Kanwar Yatra. On Thursday, Mr. Sood chaired a review meeting at the Delhi Secretariat to take stock of the preparations for the pilgrimage. The Yatra is expected to begin from the first week of July. 'The meeting was held with representatives of the fire department, the police, the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board, the power department and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi,' Mr. Sood said. He said a single-window system will be set up at the District Magistrates' offices to facilitate the approvals and permissions the Kanwar organising committees would need for the pilgrimage. Mr. Sood also said the Delhi Fire Services have been directed to deploy fire tenders near yatri camps to ensure quick response in case of fire-related emergencies. The Delhi police has been ordered to deploy an adequate number of male and female personnel along the route to maintain law and order, he added. The Minister said the police have also been asked to monitor the sound systems in the camps and ensure the yatris do not play loud music at night. The Capital is coordinating with the police forces of the neighbouring States to ensure that the Yatra is celebrated smoothly, as the Kanwar Yatra is the first event to be celebrated in the city since the BJP government came to power, he added.
India Gazette
07-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Delhi Police files FIR against 'anti social elements' for spreading rumours on demolition drive
New Delhi [India], June 7 (ANI): Delhi police have lodged an FIR against anti-social elements involved in spreading misinformation about the demolition drive on the basis of a complaint filed by the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), a release said. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta had earlier issued an order to take strict legal action against those spreading misinformation about the demolition drive. The complaint highlights that a list of 675 JJ Bastis, which is publicly available on the DUSIB website for informational and administrative purposes, is being falsely circulated as the list of slums slated for demolition. This misinformation is creating panic, fear, and unrest among residents of vulnerable areas, the release added. The DUSIB has categorically clarified that no such demolition action has been taken so far by the department. Only those JJ bastis have been identified for rehabilitation under Policy, against which directions has been passed by Court, the release added. 'The misinformation being spread is baseless, unverified, and malicious, and could lead to law-and-order issues. In light of the same, Station House Officer is requested to take action against those anti-social elements who are spreading such baseless rumours and file an FIR accordingly,' as per the complaint. The CM has directed officials to maintain open communication with JJ residents and also urged citizens not to fall prey to such fabricated claims and to verify all information through official channels. CM Rekha Gupta reaffirmed her government's commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of slum dwellers. She emphasized that Delhi belongs to all its citizens, and every effort is being made to build an inclusive and secure city. Chief Minister assured that no slum will be demolished without providing them Pakka Makan. As per the release, CM Rekha Gupta further said, 'Our government believes in inclusive governance. Spreading fear among poor families by misusing public information is not just irresponsible but criminal. We will not tolerate any attempts to incite unrest. The Delhi Police has been asked to take swift and strict action against such anti-social elements.' (ANI)
Time of India
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Tamil Nadu govt ready to assist 'Madrasi Camp' residents in Delhi if they choose to return
A resident reacts during a demolition drive at Madrasi Camp following court demolition orders in New Delhi on Sunday CHENNAI: If residents of Delhi's 'Madrasi Camp', who are natives of Tamil Nadu (TN), choose to return to their home districts, necessary assistance shall be extended to them, the TN govt said on Sunday. A demolition was carried out at Madrasi Camp in south Delhi's Jangpura on Sunday to remove illegal settlements. The action follows Delhi high court 's directive to remove slums along the Barapullah drain. TN govt said all legal avenues available to them have now been exhausted. "Comprehensive support, including assistance for livelihood and other essential needs, will be extended to them. This assistance will be facilitated through the offices of the concerned district collectors to ensure timely and effective implementation," the state govt said, in an official release. Numerous occupants of the unauthorised settlement, predominantly inhabited by people from Tamil Nadu, expressed their opposition to the clearance. According to the govt, the Madrasi Camp comprises 370 slum dwellings and is predominantly inhabited by people of Tamil Nadu origin. Delhi high court had said the camp was an unauthorised encroachment on the bank of the Barapullah drain. "This has led to obstruction and blockage of the drain, causing significant waterlogging in the surrounding areas, especially during the monsoon season." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Descubra ofertas de voos imperdíveis Voos | Anúncios de Pesquisa Saiba Mais Undo Accordingly, the court directed that eligible residents be rehabilitated and relocated under the provisions of the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) Act and the Delhi Slum & JJ Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy, 2015. In compliance with the directions of the court, a survey was undertaken by the Eligibility Determination Committee to assess the eligibility of all residents for rehabilitation and relocation. Govt authorities posted a list of qualified families on the settlement walls on April 12. Of the 370 families, around 190 met the eligibility criteria. These beneficiaries were allotted residential units under the Economically Weaker Section category of the DDA in Narela. The court set a timeline for residents to vacate the camp between May 20 and 31, with demolition scheduled to commence from June 1. "As per the instructions of the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, the Tamil Nadu House in New Delhi has been tasked with actively facilitating and overseeing coordination efforts. Reaffirming its unwavering commitment to the welfare of people of Tamil Nadu origin residing outside the state, the govt of Tamil Nadu is in active coordination with the residents of Madrasi Camp to ensure that every possible support is extended to them without delay," the govt said. Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Delhi state president Saurabh Bharadwaj pointed out that the demolition came immediately after the Delhi CM claimed during an event to celebrate 100 days of BJP in govt that not a single jhuggi would be touched. "Within 24 hours of CM Rekha Gupta's promise, bulldozers arrived at Barapullah's Madrasi Camp and flattened hundreds of homes," he said.
India Today
01-06-2025
- General
- India Today
As Delhi slums razed, employers ask domestic helps: Why didn't you come to work?
When the bulldozers arrived at Madrasi Camp on Sunday morning, 38-year-old Pushpa was gathering her steel utensils, trying to save what little she could. Her phone rang four times. Each call was from her 'madam' in Jangpura. Each one asked the same thing: "Kaam pe kyun nahi ayi?" (Why didn't you come to work?)Pushpa says she didn't take any leave for one and a half months, knowing the court case meant trouble, and she'd need those leaves later. Even then, she kept getting calls from the kothis. When asked whether she hadn't informed her employers earlier, she responds, "Kya bolen? Woh bol rahe hain, todhne mein tumhara kya kaam? Bataiye, sadak pe ghar ka samaan chhod ke kaise jaayein? (What do I say? They (employers) are saying, 'What is your business with the demolition?' Now how do I explain that I can't leave my belongings on the streets and come to work?)"advertisementPushpa is one of the 155 families who didn't receive rehabilitation. She says those who've been moved to Narela are already anxious—there's no scope for household work there. "Kaun posh area hai wahan? Koi bartan kapda ka kaam nahi milta (There is no posh area over there that they will find work in others' homes)," she adds. No one asked if her home was still standing. No one came to see if she has a place to sleep tonight. The women who kept the drawing rooms dust-free, made the morning tea, washed the dishes, and scrubbed the marble floors—were conveniently BULLDOZER AND THE DRAIN advertisement The demolition at Madrasi Camp didn't happen out of nowhere. It was part of a Delhi High Court-ordered clearance under the Barapullah Drain Decongestion Project—a critical civic initiative aimed at preventing waterlogging and flooding in South and Central Delhi during the Barapullah Drain, also called the Barapullah Nallah, is a major stormwater channel that cuts across South Delhi—from Lajpat Nagar to Sarai Kale Khan and into the Yamuna. Over the years, rampant encroachment on its embankments had reduced the carrying capacity of this vital drainage artery. What once drained away monsoon deluges now frequently overflows, flooding arterial roads like the Ring Road, Ashram, and to the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), Madrasi Camp was located directly atop a critical section of the Barapullah embankment, narrowing the natural flow of rainwater and acting as a chokepoint. Court orders in 2023 had directed the DDA and Delhi government to clear these encroachments before the 2024 June 1, 2025, the bulldozers came—flanked by Rapid Action Force (RAF), riot control police, and civic officials. 370 homes were razed. 215 were found 'eligible' for rehabilitation. The remaining 155 were OR INVISIBLE? THE REHABILITATION GAPOut of 370 structures, only 215 families were allotted flats in far-off Narela Pocket 4 and 5—over 35 kilometres away, on the city's northern industrial edge. The rest—155 families—were declared ineligible. Their homes were demolished the exclusion? Survey officials told some residents they did not meet cut-off documentation norms—such as having proof of residence before 2015, or voter ID cards linked to the address. Several residents say survey workers even asked whether they had voted in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.'They came with clipboards and asked if we had voted,' says 42-year-old Anand, who also works in four Jangpura homes. 'When we said no, they just said, 'Then you're not on the list.' How does voting decide if we deserve a home?'Anand wasn't alone in making this allegation. At least six families India Today spoke to claimed that surveyors came with printed lists and suggested their names were missing because they hadn't voted in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In some cases, families were told they had skipped two consecutive elections—which, according to officials, made them ineligible for rehabilitation.'I've lived here for over 20 years,' says 55-year-old Rani. 'Last election, I had to go to my hometown in Tamil Nadu—my mother was ill. I couldn't vote. Does that mean you'll take away my home and not give me another?' advertisementThis claim raises urgent questions: Can political disenfranchisement become a tool of exclusion in welfare delivery? With no formal mechanism to challenge survey outcomes, those left out of the list are now sleeping on footpaths or sharing tin-roof shelters with neighbours—left to wait, as fate decides the to official procedure, the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) is tasked with issuing eligibility certificates. Initially, 189 families were found eligible. A revised list has added 26 more, but that still leaves over 150 families without any alternative Delhi unit of the CPI(M) has demanded fair rehabilitation for all, raising concerns that the allotted flats in Narela lack basic facilities—such as water supply and electricity India Today reached out to officials involved in the survey, they said the rehabilitation process followed Delhi High Court orders. 'Those not found eligible were not issued certificates. Grievances are still being reviewed,' one official Madrasi Camp has existed for over 60 years. Its shift to Narela, miles away from South Delhi, has stirred anxiety—not just over housing, but livelihoods. For women working as domestic help in nearby Jangpura homes, the move means losing access to employers. For families, the concern runs deeper: around 200 children from the camp attend the Tamil government-aided school near Barapullah. With relocation, their school admissions are now in limbo. If they move to Narela, their education suffers. If they don't, life remains BREADWINNERS TO LIVES IN LIMBO The women of Madrasi Camp were part of Delhi's invisible workforce—maids, cooks, ayahs—who served the city's middle and upper classes. The posh colonies of Jangpura, Bhogal, and Lajpat Nagar relied on many of them are jobless not because their employers let them go, but because they can't afford the commute.'From Narela to Jangpura, it's 2 hours one way,' says Indra, who got a flat in Narela. 'I would need Rs 150 daily just for bus fare. What's the point of a Rs 10,000 - 15,000 salary if Rs 4,000 goes in travel?'advertisementFor those without rehabilitation, it's worse. They don't know where to go. 'I am getting calls from madams asking if I can come now,' says Mumtaz, adding, 'But I have no place to sleep. How can I go to clean someone else's house? To them, we're just hands for housework."The story is no different for Amuda, Shivgamini, and Walarmati—all domestic workers from Madrasi Camp who've spent years working in Jangpura's upscale homes. But now, with their shanties demolished and futures uncertain, what hurts more than the loss of shelter is the complete apathy from the very employers whose homes they've cared for.'Inko kuch nahi padhta humari—bas chahte hain ki hum kisi bhi haalat mein kaam pe aayein (Our employers don't care about us. They just want us to turn up for work)," says Amuda, her voice steady but her eyes restless."They don't care what happens to us. They just want us to show up, no matter what state we're in," she further Shivgamini, the pain is no different. 'Aaj Sunday hai, chhutti ka din hai—phir bhi ek din ki bhi samajh nahi. Aap hi batao, koi makan malik aaya kya humare liye? Koi khada bhi nahi hua. Unhe humari bilkul bhi nahi padhi (Today is Sunday. No one (employers) came to visit us. They don't care about us)," she pauses before adding, 'We give all our energy to their homes—I know they pay us for it. But when our own homes fell, not one came to ask, even once, if we were A HOUSE ENOUGH? WHAT ABOUT THE LIVELIHOOD?Government officials call the Narela flats a 'rehabilitation success.' But for the women of Madrasi Camp, it's displacement disguised as assistance.'Narela has factories and godowns,' says Pushpa, a domestic worker. 'There are no bungalows there. No work. No money. So what do I do with four walls and a ceiling?'For most women, the economy of domestic labour is hyper-local. They work within walking distance—juggling children, husbands, and multiple employers. Rehabilitation schemes rarely account for this reality. A 'house' 35 kilometers away isn't a solution—it's a new CLEARED, LIVES CLOGGEDThe Barapullah Drain may flow freer this monsoon. But the social cost is now writ large across Delhi's footpaths and underpasses—where women who once earned their keep now queue for rations, search for water, or wait for a text from a kothi madam who may never call isn't just about concrete and court orders. It's about people. And Delhi's latest demolition drive has shown just how quickly those people can be forgotten—until someone asks, 'Kaam pe kyun nahi ayi? (Why haven't you turned up for work?)"
