land acquisition/sez & displacement – 2011 - Indian Social Institute

order. Each kit contains a kitchen set, two blankets, two tarpaulins, a large jerry can and cleaning andbathing soap. Deputy Head of Regional Delegation, ICRC, New Delhi, Yahia Alibi and chairman, IndianRed Cross Society, Assam State Branch, Renuka Devi Barkataki were present during the first phase ofthe relief distribution programme launched at the Kukurkata Relief Camp. The clashes caused thedisplacement of about 50,000 civilians and claimed 12 lives. In response to the violence, the Assam andMeghalaya branches of the Indian Red Cross Society started distributing emergency goods acquired bythe ICRC, said a release issued by Chandan Chutia of the Assam Branch of the Indian Red Cross. Focuson 2000 families “Our aid is focused on 10,000 people — approximately 2,000 families — who lost alltheir belongings, including their homes, in Assam and Meghalaya. Displaced communities found shelterin transitory makeshift camps, where they are now facing a difficult situation due to lack of suitablefacilities and poor hygiene conditions,” said Ms. Barkataki in her inaugural speech. She said the AssamState Branch of the Indian Red Cross Society made an assessment immediately after the incident andfound that the affected people were facing the dearth of warm clothes, utensils and some other basicneeds. ‘Happy to help' “We feel very happy to help the people here and we have been working for peoplelike you in various countries of the world,” said Yahia Alibi, Deputy Head of the Regional Delegation,ICRC, New Delhi, He also mentioned that the ICRC worked around the world on an impartial basis toprotect and assisted people adversely affected by armed conflicts, internal disturbances and othersituations of violence. The ICRC has had a permanent presence in India since 1982. (Hindu, 07/02/2011)2 lakh people in Delhi displaced due to CWG: reportAt least two lakh people were "forcibly" evicted from their dwellings in the Capital in the past six years forinfrastructural development for the Commonwealth Games without any rehabilation, a study by an NGOclaimed today. According to the report "Planned Dispossession: Forced Evictions and the 2010Commonwealth Games", forced evictions were carried out across 19 sites in Delhi for the sporting event."Based on field works and research, we found out that at least two lakh people in Delhi have been forciblyevicted as a result of CWG. The city, however, witnessed many more demolitions and evictions in the runupto the Games," the study prepared by Housing and Land Rights Network (HLRN) said. At none of thesites had people been consulted or included in decision-making processes regarding the demolition oftheir homes, the report said, alleging that authorities also did not conduct any public hearing about theproposed evictions. "The CWG-related evictions were carried out in extreme weather conditions, duringfestivals and prior to school examinations. Authorities demolished many homes across the city whenresidents were not present; several demolitions took place when people were at work or travelling out ofthe city," the report alleged. Releasing the report, former Delhi High Court Chief Justice A P Shah saidthat the right to shelter and livelihood has even been recognised by the apex court in its judgement. "Intotal violation of all human rights recognised by Supreme court and international laws, these slumdwellers were removed," he said. "Several poor people were without a prior notice forcefully evicted fromtheir so-called slums, without being rehabilitated," said Millon Kothari, the Executive Director of NGOHousing and Land rights Network. Areas of Gol Dak Khana, Lodhi colony, Pusa road and Chanakyapuriare among the 19 sites listed in the report where "forcible demolition" was undertaken by authorities.Among them, the report claimed, eight slums were demolished between January 9 to January 13, 2009during winter season thereby violating the provision of UN Guidelines about appropriate timings ofeviction. The report named Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Lt Governor Tejender Khanna amongother government officials accountable for flouting the norms for procedural eviction and violating thehuman rights of people. "State agencies have not only taken away the poor people's rights but also theirdignity in a brutal manner. It is unfortunate that no action against the responsible government officials hasbeen taken yet," Justice Shah said. (Deccan herald, 02/08/2010)Andhra Pradesh HC refuses to quash sedition case against tribalHYDERABAD: Justice Samudrala Govinda Rajulu of AP high court on Monday refused to quash the caseof sedition registered against a Koya tribal fighting against the construction of Polavaram irrigationproject. Polavaram Police of West Godavari district registered a crime case against Savalam Benerji, aKoya tribal and others under various sections of the Indian Penal Code for their alleged activity in trying tostall the Polavaram project. The tribals of this area had been complaining that the statutory procedure hasnot been followed, the required permissions have not been fully obtained and rehabilitation of the tribals,who are the residents of Protected Schedule Tribal Area, has not been finalized. In the process therewere agitations against the project. The police in their case against the agitators have included a charge