‘No slums declared since 1985’

The Audit Report (General and Social Sector) by the Comptroller and Auditor General for 2014 (CAG) stated that government of Tamil Nadu notified 1,202 slums in 1971 and 17 more slums in 1985. Since then, no proposals were submitted by TNSCB for notification of slums, and so no slums were notified by the Government. 

Vanessa Peter, Policy Researcher at IRCDUC, pointed out that the TN Slum Clearance Board should start declaring slums. The absence of an official declaration means that these slums continue to remain as informal settlements with minimum services denied of their basic rights. This act has provisions that protects slum dwellers against forced evictions. But, there is no mention of housing; rehabilitation and resettlement; security to tenure and livelihoods in this act. The state does not have a policy for housing and R&R despite the government expressing the need for these on multiple occasions. Absence of policy has resulted in poor living condition of the ‘developed’ or ‘resettled’ slums,” said the researcher. 

She adds, “The government uses terms like ‘tenable’ and ‘untenable’, ‘developed’, ‘underdeveloped’ etc. Termed as ‘objectionable areas’ based on this classification, the settlements are evicted without procedure as specified under the slum act. Basing evictions on these terminologies overrides the provision of Tamil Nadu Slum Areas (Improvement and Clearance) Act. While in some cases notice is being served, many families are not given enough time to prepare their case. This act needs to be a comprehensive legislation ensuring adequate housing, secured tenure rights, protection of livelihood and extension of social welfare schemes,” she said. 

R Geetha, National Coordinator for Construction Workers Union, traced the expansion of slums. 

“There were two policies – one which built multiple tenements in-situ and another, when the World Bank came in, led to people depositing money and buying land over a period of time. But, since 1988, neither of it is happening. A GO in 1988, contrary to the law, allowed relocation of slums. Earlier, slum development came under the Labour Department, because it recognised people living in these slums, who were construction workers or domestic help. Labour was recognised and their need for housing was met. So over the years, there has been a steady de-recognition of labour as these slums are shifted outside the city. This is neo-untouchability. We want the people to provide labour yet don’t want them living within the city,” said the activist. 

Officials from the TNSCB were unavailable for comment.