Building Pavement Dwellers Movement

SENSITIZATION OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS ON EMPOWERMENT OF PAVEMENT DWELLING FAMILIES

Introduction:

Sensitization of Civil Society Organisations on Empowerment of Pavement Dwelling Families was held on 24^th March 2010 at ICSA, Egmore. Totally 20 NGO representatives from 15 NGOs and 28 representatives from Pavement Dwellers Association (PDA) of five pavement areas participated in the sensitization meeting. The details of the NGOs participated are as follows

S.No	Name	Designation	Name of the Organisation
1	Mr. S. Thomas Jeyaraj	Director	CCRD
2	Mr. Ossie Fernandes	Director	HRF
3	Mr. Susai Raj	Director	Jeeva Jothi
4	Mr. N. Vidhyadharan	Director	Grass Root Foundation
5	Mr. A. Samipillai	Coordinator	UDAVI, Anna Nagar
6	Mr. M. Muthu	Coordinator	UDAVI, Anna Nagar
7	Mr. K. Suji	Programme Officer	COIAC
8	AVK. Tamilvaanan	Coordinator	FACE
9	Ms. Lakshmi Gopal	Executive Member	BMRF
10	Ms. B. Janagalakshmi	Organiser	Nesakaram Seeds, Nungambakkam
11	Mr.J. Amaladoss	Project Coordinator	ICCW – TN
12	Mr.S. Arul	Assistant Project Coordinator	Jeeva Jothi
13	Ms. C. Valarmathi	Education Organiser	Arunodhaya
14	Mr.K. Palani	Project Coordiantor	ICWO, Anna Nagar
15	Mr.N.P. Sarathy	C.F.F	ICWO
16	Mr.V. Kumar	Project Officer	Asha Nivas
17	Mr.K.A. Mathews	Coordinator	HRF
18	Ms. V. Indira	Coordinator	HRF
19	Mr.J. Justin	Coordinator	Bro. Siga Animation Centre
20	Mr.Selva Kumar	Project Coordinator	Society for Education Action (SEA)

Welcoming and Introduction:
The Director of Karunalaya Social Service Society welcomed all the NGOs and the community representatives for the sensitization meeting which was started at 3.15 pm. He requested Mr. Thomas Jeyaraj, Director of Centre for Child Rights and Development (CCRD) to Chair the meeting. Following the request he chaired the meeting and considered the agenda. The Chairman gave an opening remarks with an introduction about the meeting and explained the situation of the pavement dwellers, who are living a difficult life and survive on the pavements without any basic facilities. This is a step forward to bring all the NGOs together who are working for the empowerment of disadvantaged community and think about what can be done considering the issues and problems faced by the pavement dwelling families. Later he invited the Director of Karunalaya to present about the issues and problems of pavement dwelling families.


Presentation on Issues and Problems of Pavement Dwelling Families:

Dr. N. Paul Sunder Singh explained who are these pavement dwellers? And how they started life in the pavements? And the issues and problems faced by them in the pavements using few pictures and statistics. He narrated the survey done by CMDA in the year 1989 – 1990 of how many pavement dwelling families live in Chennai. It was told that as per their survey there were 40,763 people including 40.2% of children live on pavements in Chennai. As per the survey done by Action Aid in the year 2003 there were 40,500 homeless people in Chennai. He said that it is evident that there is no clear statistics about pavement dwelling families in Chennai.

Further he explained about the Pavement dwelling families in-secured life which they live on the pavements. It was stated that they face physical, economical, social and political insecurity. He also explained about the issues such as alcoholism, broken families, domestic violence, debt burden, etc.

There has been quite a few initiatives for pavement dwelling families by NGOs for Housing rights, Medical Insurance, health care, Education of pavement dwelling children, Vocational training, Child protection and rights, Sanitation, Solidarity during Crisis etc. All this efforts taken by NGOs has not brought lasting benefits for the pavement dwelling families. They continue to live an insecured life. This may be because the NGOs work is donor driven, Project oriented, not long term, not aimed at empowerment of the people, welfare approach, and people dependent on NGOs and mostly without coordination.

The Lessons learnt from the efforts made by NGOs are:

• The people were not empowered by these efforts.

• These efforts were not from the pavement dwelling people

• Empowerment of the people as a priority need

• NGOs to take the empowerment process with a coordinated effort in an inclusive manner

Based on the lessons an effort to empower the people was initiated by Karunalaya as a pilot effort in 5 areas aimed at promoting peoples movement.

As a result of the initiative, the people were facilitated to form an association by name “THERUVORAM VAZH MAKKAL URIMAI SANGAM”

Mr. Susai Raj, Director, Jeeva Jothi asked for a clarification on the difference of slum and pavement dwelling families. Mr. Nandha, Kalimanpuram Pavement Dwellers representative responded and said that in the slum, people live in small huts and many number of families live together. The pavement dwelling families live on the pavements and sky is the roof for them. They live a much unsecured life and they do not have privacy. Some live in the rooms built using shanty. The Director of Karunalaya said that pavement dwelling families are not recognized by the Government whereas the slums are listed as notified and un-notified slums by the Government.

Presentation on “THERUVORAM VAZH MAKKAL URIMAI SANGAM”

Later Mr. Thomas Jeyaraj asked Mr. Gnanasekar, Project Coordinator, Karunalaya to continue with the presentation on “Theruvoram Vazh Makkal Urimai Sangam (TVMUS)”. Mr. Gnanasekar explained that a draft was prepared jointly with the people representatives and Karunalaya on vision of the association, why it is important to start an association, etc. In the presentation he explained the following:

1. Vision of the “Theruvoram Vazh Makkal Urimai Sangam” is that all people living on the pavements should be treated with dignity, provided protection and lead a recognized life with respect in the society.

2. The objectives of the sangam is to Ensure rights of the pavement dwelling community, Sort out the rights based problems in the area by taking steps, Coordinate the people in the area, build cooperation among the people, avail all the government schemes, get equal respect in the society, ensure protected life, obtain permanent housing with all basic facilities, to lead a life and acquire equality without any discrimination and demand a welfare board from Government.

3. “Theruvoram Vazh Makkal Urimai Sangam” has six committees with 4 representatives in each committee. It was explained that this association does not have any leaders as such but all are representatives of the whole area people.

4. The six committees in the association are 1. child protection, 2. health & hygiene development, 3. permanent housing, 4. human rights protection, 5. family welfare & monitoring and 6. financial administration committees.

5. The functioning of six committees was explained very briefly. The specialties of the association are: this will work for the protection of people without any bias, it works for the protection of rights of the pavement dwelling communities, in this association there will be only representatives by which their will be no domination, all people are given equal importance in this association, this association works to resolve the problems at any time, collective decision is taken by the people altogether.

Queries raised and Explanation given: Mr. Susai Raj, Director, Jeeva Jothi asked that if there is no hierarchal structure such as leader, secretary, etc, there will not be clarity in the functioning of the association. To have a clear structure we can make the representatives to take up leadership positions and then they can play the role of representation, which can be trained. Mr. Nandha, TVMU sangam representative replied that they do not believe in single leadership hierarchy system as it may end in crisis such as domination, self styled functioning, no representation, etc, which they want to change and therefore they strongly believe in collective leadership and representatives system, this culture may help them to understand and experience the actual leadership with representation. The present structure of “people on the top and representative below them” is very effective and liked by everyone. Once after enrolling many people jointly when this sangam is clubbed together at that time we will have leadership with hierarchy as required for registering the association.
Some of the other organization representatives also asked about the structure of association, the Karunalaya director also made clarification that in the initial stage this association will have the structure as mentioned, later it can be formed very formally as per the statutory procedure required as mentioned by Mr. Nandha.

Short Film on Issues and Difficulties faced by Pavement Dwelling Families:
A short film produced by Karunalaya on the issues and difficulties faced by pavement dwelling families taken in the area of Barracks Road, Periamedu, Kalimnapuram and Kannaparthidal. Their real life situation was shown in the film. It was a 15 minute movie
Feedback of the NGOs:

1. CCRD Director said that the concept of forming an association for the pavement dwelling families with the facilitation support of NGOs by the community themselves is a great thinking emerged which should be taken by all the NGOs . Every NGO should not form their own sangam in their area which will again weaken the people. The pilot initiative of Karunalaya facilitated Theruvoram Vazh Makkam Urimai Sangam should be strengthened by all NGOs collectively by facilitating pavement dwellers in their respective working areas. Further he stated that if Karunalaya could give a map showing pavement dwellers areas it would be helpful to the NGOs to take up the work of forming the sangam.

2. Jeeva Jothi Director said that Karunalaya has taken a step forward in the formation of pavement dwellers association which is remarkable and the same concept should be taken in forming associations in the target areas of other NGOs for which Karunalaya should have a full time staff to send them to all those organizations willing to form Theruvoram Vazh Makkam Urimai Sangam to the pavement dwelling families.

3. Mr. Ossie Fernandez, Director, Human Rights Fundation (HRF) suggested that this sangam should progress in such a way, to protest eviction and file case against evictions. The government is planning to remove all slums and evict all pavement dwellers and make Chennai a clean city. He also said that next meeting should be chaired by the sangam representatives and NGOs should sit at back. NGOs should only guide the people and should not take the role of people.

4. Asha Nivas representative said that they are already working for the empowerment of pavement dwellers and trying to form associations for them but this gives them confidence to form sangams for their target people at the earliest .

5. FACE, Vedharanyam, Director said that they are working in four districts of Tamilnadu such as Tanjavur, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Pudukottai. At Nagapattinam one of their target people was labourers in the salt mine. All workers formed an association for them and claimed for their rights which were slowly ensured by the owners. Therefore this association will be successful if there is unity among the people. Also he said that he will form join all the pavement dwellers in all the districts working and form association for them as formed by Karunalaya and link the same with Chennai district association which is going to be formed.
   

6. Udhavi organization representative said that they are working at Thoraipakkam, the sangam should be strong enough to protest against eviction otherwise people will be evicted out of city. Mr. Nandha replied that all people in the sangam will join together and protest for their housing rights. Later he said that their organization will provide support in the formation of association for the pavement dwelling families.

7. Nesakaram representative said that they are willing to work in association with Karunalaya in establishing association for the empowerment of pavement dwelling families.

8. Grass roots organization Director Mr. Vidhyadharan said that they work in Tambaram and Pallavaram sub urban areas. If there is no place, no job for the evicted people, they suffer a lot.
9. Bro. Siga Animation Centre organization staff said that they are ready to work with pavement dwelling families with the help and guidance of Karunalaya, provided a residential training for two days given to the staff.

Theruvoram Vazh Makkal Urimai Sangam Representatives Feedback:
Ms. Shanthi from Periamedu shared that their parents were also on streets and now they are also in the streets living for more than 60 years. Now their children had started to question them “how long we will be here, when will we live in a house?” Further she stated that the sangam meetings are conducted every month to plan for the activities.

• Ms. Sathya from Kannaparthidal said that they don’t have enough money to take a rented house. Our demand to the Government is a safe and secured home to lead a peaceful life. She requested all NGOs to join together and support the sangam to get the pavement dwellers rights ensured.

• Ms. Dhanabakiyam from Kalimanpuram said that many people promise us that they will get house but no body taken steps. We people are illiterates so we don’t have the ability to understand what is happening around. Only thing we need is a good so that children have good environment and they can be educated well. We people are ready to stand for any demonstrations to claim our rights.

• Ms. Dhanalakshmi from Barracks Road said that Government gives houses to the people at Thoraipakkam which is very far from Chennai and there is no basic facilities ensured. We all people should join our hands to raise our voice to get all basic facilities fulfilled insitu.
  

• Mr. Nandha from Kalimanpuram said that we people should give a petition to the Government stating our demands of proper housing, standard education to our children, employment opportunities to all, etc
  

Vote of Thanks:

The representatives of the “Theruvoram Vazh Makkal Urimai Sangam” thanked all the NGOs who had come for the meeting which gives them confidence and belief that they have support. Further they had asked all NGOs to stand with them for the protest and to establish a district level association for the protection of pavement dwelling families. The Director of Karunalaya Dr. N. Paul Sunder Singh also thanked Mr. Thomas Jeayaraj who had chaired the NGOs meeting and helped to conduct the meeting with clarity. Also he thanked Mr. Susai Raj, Mr. Ossie Fernandes, Mr. Vidhyadharan and all the NGO officials for making their valuable presence for the meeting and support for the future. In addition he thanked the sangam representatives for their active participation and the staff team of Karunalaya.