So, what is a resettlement colony and what is it like living there? Everybody kept mentioning, that out of 150,000 displaced people, 20 percent would be relocated. I decided to visit an 'established' resettlement colony, in Holambi Kalan, a few kilometers away from Bawana; where Yamuna Pushta residents were to be shifed. These residents of Holambi Kalan, in the name of resettlement had been dumped on a barran piece of land in mid 2000. This is what I witnessed.
In Holambi Kalan
Mohan Lal, was earlier living in Bapudham, when his home was demolished and he, along with thousands of other residents was shifted to Holambi Kalan, a resettlement colony. He served in the Indian Air Force, till he retired and was elected as Pradhan (local leader), Read more...
"Since years I have not been able to work. I'm unemployed since the shift. I'm physically handicapped and so is my wife. For years we are at home. There are no facilities. Even the schools for children are not good.There is a great language problem." Read more...
"The Government has just thrown us on this piece of land as though we are some garbage. So many of our young people have died while trying to go to work in these packed buses. If you manage to get into the bus, you can't get out of them and they have to jump out." Read more...
"Over here, there are no provisions. The water is yellowish in color. Why don't they just bomb this place and kill us all, once and for all. That will take care of our suffering and the authorities won't have to bother with people like us. Will people take care of their children..." Read more...