In the early hours of the morning, massive machines and government officials arrived, demolishing a row of tiny houses as saddened residents stood by, filled with distress.
“We were very scared,” said a 56-year-old woman named Jayanti Devi, while trying to save what remained of her things in the center of New Delhi. They broke everything. We don’t have anything remaining.
For the last 30 years, her house has been on a broken pavement, next to a dirty sewage drain, across from the large Pragati Maidan complex, which is an important meeting place in India’s capital. This week, leaders from the Group of 20 (G20) countries will gather there.
However, when US President Joe Biden, France’s Emmanuel Macron, or British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak come for the important summit, they will not see the actual residence.
Devi is one of many poor people living in New Delhi who have been forced to leave their homes before the G20 meeting. The government is demolishing houses in different parts of the city.
The government is tearing down buildings because they are considered “illegal”. They also promised to find new homes for the people who are being affected by this demolition.
However, some people who work to bring about change have raised concerns about the timing of these demolitions. They believe that instead of focusing on making the city more beautiful, the demolitions are actually a part of a plan to remove the city’s beggars and slums in order to impress important visitors from other countries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to show that India is a powerful, advanced country that leads other developing nations and speaks up for poor countries at the G20 summit. However, people are saying that the government is keeping a big problem that has been around for a long time a secret.
Social activist Harsh Mander, who helps homeless families and street children, says that he is most surprised by the fact that India, as a country, feels embarrassed about its obvious poverty. “It wants to hide poverty from people who visit. ”
In July, the Indian government said in writing to parliament that they didn’t think demolishing homes had anything to do with the G20 summit.
This city has both very rich people living in big and beautiful houses, as well as very poor families living on the streets nearby. In this city, children sell toys to people in cars when they stop at traffic lights. This city brings in a lot of business, but there are not enough jobs for everyone who wants them.
According to a report from the Centre for Policy Research, out of the 16 million people living in the capital, only 23. 7% of them live in neighborhoods that were planned or approved.
The others live in specific slums, villages, and places that were not officially approved.
In April, Savita and her four daughters felt very sad and worried when government officials came to their neighborhood, which was not approved, near the 14th century Tughlaqabad Fort, a famous monument in Delhi. The officials destroyed their small house and everything inside, erasing all the memories they had from the past seven years.
“I can’t describe how sad everyone was when they destroyed the houses,” Savita said. “Many people were shouting, crying, and pleading for them to cease. ”
According to court documents seen by CNN, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) demolished the homes of Savita and her neighbors. ASI says that Savita and her neighbors illegally built their homes on the land. According to court documents, in January the ASI told the residents to remove any illegal buildings they had built within 15 days and at their own expense.
The ASI did not reply when people asked for their opinion or response.
Savita said she knew her family was buying land in a place they weren’t supposed to when they built their home in 2016.
“We were aware of the danger involved. ” “We don’t have much money, so this is the only thing we can buy,” she explained. “Many individuals have resided in this place for more than 40 years. ” Why didn’t the government tear down these houses sooner. Why is it happening now.
People without a home or enough food to eat.
Over 100,000 people in the Tughlaqabad area lost their houses in April, as stated in a petition filed by a lawyer who is helping them, in the Supreme Court.
Many people, like Savita’s family, had to live outside because they didn’t have anywhere to go or money to rent an apartment. They had to use tarpaulin sheets as a makeshift shelter on the rough ground, even though the city was experiencing heavy rains and floods.
During the day, they asked nearby police officers for bread to split between the six of them. One night, she said that some men attempted to steal her neighbor’s daughter by dragging her into the dark woods while she was screaming.
Savita cried while saying, “We went through this tough time for six weeks. ” Her daughters were sad and isolated because they had to study next to piles of trash while stray dogs and cows searched through rotting food.
This has happened before when the Indian government removed slums before a big international event.
In 2010, when the Indian National Congress (who are now not in power) was in charge, they made beggars leave the streets of New Delhi and destroyed slums before the Commonwealth Games. This caused a lot of disruption and affected the lives of many people in the capital.
Mander, who helps people in the community, said it was not right for the government to focus on low-income families who live on land without permission.
Mander said that the government does not accept that these poor people have been made to do illegal things. This city was designed so that there are no legal places for them to live. The destructions are happening very cruelly.
The Delhi government plans to help Savita and her family get back on their feet. However, Savita hasn’t received any assistance yet and is currently fighting her case in court. Her family is currently staying with a family member in a small apartment in a crowded and cramped area.
The strong smell of cow poop fills the small streets, where many flies gather outside houses and skinny cats wander around the narrow paths.
Savita said that her kids don’t enjoy being here. “They want to know why this is happening to us. ” What should I say to them.
India, with a population of 1. 4 billion, has become a leader of countries in the Global South since becoming president of the G20. This comes at a time when people are struggling with high prices for food and energy due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Modi believes that India is a powerful and modern country, representing and advocating for those who are ignored and taking charge in the 21st century. Earlier this month, India accomplished a successful soft moon landing. This made India the fourth country in the world to achieve this.
Modi, while he was in the United States in June, talked to Congress and said that it is important to listen to and represent the countries in the southern part of the world.
As the war continues to make the global economy unstable and unpredictable, India has shown that it wants to address the various issues faced by developing countries, such as climate change problems and ensuring there is enough food and energy for everyone.
Modi said in February that the G20 has a big responsibility to help with issues like growth, development, economic strength, disaster protection, financial stability, crime, corruption, terrorism, and food and energy security.
However, people who fight for change highlight the funny part in that picture when the poorest people in India are finding it difficult to survive in their own homes.
Mander said that people are dying on the streets during the cold winter and we are tearing down homes. Everyone should have the basic right to be alive and to live with respect and honor.
Savita stood among the broken pieces of her house, which she had lived in for seven years. She said that she had many hopes and plans for her family.
I wanted my kids to grow up in this place. She said she wanted to provide them with a stable childhood.
Right now, security guards are walking around the Tughlaqabad area as workers are building a wall to close off the land. “Residents angrily asked the guards where they were on the day bulldozers took away our home. ” “Why didn’t you come to assist us. ”
Devi, who used to live in Pragati Maidan, now has to live in a temporary tent by the road because of the scorching summer heat.
She says no one has assisted her in finding another place to live.
She sells tea and snacks to make enough money to survive. She is surrounded by garbage that is rotting away and there is an open sewage drain nearby. This drain attracts many mosquitoes and flies. She feels very sad and like she has no one to help her.
Devi said that we are very mad, but we can’t do anything about it because we’re poor. “We are unable to express our opinions. ”