Medha Patkar demands constitutional, consent-based rehabilitation for Bhimnagar residents, condemns corruption in SRA schemes, and warns that bulldozing without dialogue violates rights and crushes the Constitution’s spirit.
Anshu Kashid
Pune | May 19, 2025: Emphasising that their rehabilitation must take place on the same land, with their agreement, and in keeping with constitutional norms, veteran social activist Medha Patkar firmly stood in support of Bhimnagar people. She asked the Pune Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) to revoke the eviction letters they had sent to the occupants right away.
Patkar visited Bhimnagar following an invitation from Republican Yuva Morcha president Rahul Dambale. During her visit, she interacted with locals, understanding their concerns and the emotional toll of the SRA’s action. “These families are not fighting against development — they are demanding dignity, justice, and their constitutional rights,” said Patkar.
She strongly criticized the corruption in slum rehabilitation projects, especially in the misuse of Transfer of Development Rights (TDR). “If housing societies can redevelop themselves, why can’t slum communities be given the same right?” she asked, blaming the nexus between politicians, officials, and builders for exploiting the poor.
Quoting a thought-provoking song — “With bulldozers from door to door, you, when you proceed, render the producer homeless; the constitution is trampled. — Patkar condemned the manner in which vague notices were served through newspapers and demolition of houses without proper public sanction or debate.
She emphasized, “We never resort to criminal means or violence. Our struggle remains within the limits of law and humanity.”
Several local leaders, including Devidas Oval, Alka Gaikwad, Leelabai Dhok, and Rajnanda Jaunjal, echoed similar sentiments, expressing frustration over the neglect and injustice faced by Bhimnagar residents.
The struggle of Bhimnagar is not merely about land — it’s about the right to live with dignity. Medha Patkar’s intervention highlights how forced evictions without dialogue mock the spirit of the Constitution. This is not resistance to progress; it is a demand for inclusive, transparent, and humane urban development. Bhimnagar’s stand is a constitutional alert — a reminder that real development must respect the people it claims to uplift.
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