Reported by
Published on
October 26, 2016
October 26, 2016
Updated on
October 26, 2016
In New Delhi's Kathputli colony named for its high population of puppeteers homes of thousands of folk artistes have been demolished in lieu of a contentious insitu rehabilitation and redevelopment project. Kathputli Colony is touted to be the world's largest settlement of street performers. Folk artistes from Rajasthan had settled on this land in the1950s. Soon artistes and performers from other states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh followed suit, as land became increasingly available in the area. With time, the initial temporary settlements were transformed into a colony. In 2007, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) sold the land to Raheja Developers as part of a Public Private Partnership project for the insitu redevelopment of the area. In 2009, Raheja Developers announced the construction of Raheja Phoenix, a mega skyscraper housing 54 floors of luxury flats, on the Kathputli Colony plot. According to the plan, the residents of the colony needed to be temporarily relocated. For this purpose, the DDA established 2,800 temporary houses in a camp in Anand Parbat and another 492 lodgings in NorthWest Delhis Narela, five and 30 kilometres away, respectively. Later, within a time frame of three to five years, they were to be relocated to lowcost housing in the same area (2,800 apartments in six towers of 15 storeys each), next to Raheja Phoenix. From 2013 onwards, when the residents of the colony found out about their potential eviction, they put up a stiff resistance. In March 2014, the DDA and local police forcefully entered the colony with bulldozers attempting to evict several residents. Many were injured, and the police slapped false charges on 23 people. On the night of August 11, 2014, Dilip Bhat, the chief of the colony, was allegedly picked up from his house and beaten up by the police. In 2017, around 400 _jhuggis _(slums)_ _in the colony were demolished by the DDA amidst protests by the residents. A report described the area as a "war torn" place. The police resorted to lathicharge and tear gas. According to the DDA officials, notices informing the residents of the impending demolition had been sent out ahead of time; the residents, on the other hand, denied receiving any such notification. The two controversial aspects of the conflict are the modalities of the the rehabilitation and the incorrect number of families recognised as residents of the colony by the DDA (2,800 families against the 3,500 claimed by the people). The colony continues to fight for its land. The residents have submitted numerous complaints and letters against the DDA, MLAs and MPs. After the relocation was complete in 2017, the families continued to struggle adjusting to the transit camps. Many decried the camps to be considerably smaller than promised, lacking proper water supply and sanitation facilities. In 2020, during the lockdown, the transit camps were hit by acute food shortage with residents struggling to access daily ration. While they continue their wait for permanent housing, many have been compelled to seek the help of social media to continue their performances. Others have resorted to odd jobs, unable to pursue their livelihood as artistes.
Demand for rehabilitation
Urban
Common
Non-Forest (Other than Grazing Land)
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
254.27
Type of investment:
Cost of Project
Year of Estimation
Page Number In Investment Document:
Has the Conflict Ended?
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Central/State Government Policy
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community? What was the decision of the concerned government department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Non-rehabilitation of displaced people
Forced evictions/dispossession of land
Legal Status:
Out of Court
Status of Case In Court
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
No
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Case Number
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Physical attack
Arrest/detention/imprisonment
Judicial harassment
Displacement
Lathicharge/teargas/pellets
Whether criminal law was used against protestors
Reported Details of the Violation:
In March 2014, the DDA and local police forcefully entered the colony with bulldozers attempting to evict several residents. Many were injured, and the police slapped false charges on 23 people. On the night of August 11, 2014, Dilip Bhat, the chief of the colony, was allegedly picked up from his house and beaten up by the police. In 2017, around 400 jhuggis (slums) in the colony were demolished by the DDA amidst protests by the residents. The police resorted to lathicharge and tear gas.
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Kathputli Colony
Nature of Protest
Complaints/petitions/letters/memorandums to officials
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Delhi Development Authority (DDA)
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Raheja Developers
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Hazards Centre
Image Credit:
Image Credit:
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