By Raja Chowdhury
Around 25 families belonging to the Micro-Minority Anglo Indian Community in Allahabad will turn homeless in October. While the nation will be busy celebrating Navratri, houses of several Indians will be demolished by the Uttar Pradesh Government on the name of Beautification for Kumbh Mela and Smart City.
The fate of 25 families living on plots called the Anglo Indian Domiciled Trust Property (AIDTP) hangs in balance mostly of whom have been living there for more than three generations now. The AIDTP was established in the early nineteenth century for retirees and widows.The first lease was renewed timely, but due to apathetic attitude both of the Trust Committee and the Government officials, the second renewal could not be carried out.
An order in this regard released by the District Magistrate on August 31,2018 mentions that the lease of land measuring 11 acres or 203 square feet or 44683.69 expired in May 1997 and as point no 9 on paper number 4 of the lease deed the state government has the right to aquire the land for public work.
The order also mentions that as a part of the ongoing smart city project the land on Nazul plot is required for developmental work. A proposal in this regard was sent to the Yogi Adityanath government which cleared it through its order on August 28th, 2018. While other files, related to pension woes, salary woes and inter departmental documents travels year after year in the state government offices, this file went from one department to the other at a rocket speed.
The order also directed the president of the trust to ensure that the property is vacated within a month after receiving the letter and upon completion the DM has to be informed in written. In case of non compliance, the buildings will be removed by force.
The most surprising element is the speedy movement of department officials in this case raising a serious doubt on the intention of the State Government.
According to sources,the land is now proposed to be turned into a Parking space destabilizing 25 families mostly of whom have devoted their life in nation building. Most of the residents here are teachers in minority institutions or are senior citizens.
One of the residents on condition of anonymity says:" We belong to the Anglo Indian Community which is a Micro-Minority community in India.We are citizens of India and holders of Aadhar and voter ID cards. We too have voting rights according to the Constitution of India and utilise it too. We are an integral part of India and its community. Our community has served this country in the railways, airforce, army, schools,telegraphs and the electricity department apart.We still serve in the field of education and are the leaders in the education field. Most of today's bureaucrats and politicians are from Anglo Indian Schools and taught by Anglo Indians. Such a shame we are being treated in this manner. We have served this country well and given our all to it".
The District Magistrate of Allahabad, Suhas LY says: "I have nothing to do with the order as the department of Urban Development has cleared the proposal. I do not remember issuing any such particular order. Order for 15 or 16 such properties were issued.This must have been one of them". The DM said to a newspaper.
Another resident adds: "How could the government take such a step without realising the repercussions of this huge decision. Most of the people who live here are old and sick and want to spend the last days of their life in peace instead of being harassed and rendered homeless.They will probably die if they were shift from here. It is not fair. They should have thought about this very seriously. They send their children to our schools to be educated in English and learn good manners and treat us like dirt. We are not going to be trampled upon and neither let the government take away our fundamental rights. We will utilise our fundamental rights to the full come what may".
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| Copy of the Govt Order |
The community which are more into academics than political activism, are falling prey to the suppression tactics. Even their representation to the district authorities before and after getting the vacation notices have gone unheard.
The MLA from the Anglo Indian Community in Uttar Pradesh, Denzil John Godin says: We will take up this matter of urgent importance with the Chief minister Yogi Adityanath to find a amicable solution to the crisis like situation. The Anglo Indian community in Allahabad has done a lot for the society and they cannot be deprived of their rights like this. I am sure the Chief Minister will do something in this regard".
Godin further adds: "Around 25 families will become homeless and most of them are senior citizens. No steps have been taken all these years by the district administration to renew the leased land on pretext of a new law framed. But the people who live here from so many decades cannot be turned homeless just like that.
Sources also inform that a few residents are moving to court to get stay as they cannot wait more. They have no trust left on the committee which used to look after the trust affairs. "The lease should have been turned into freehold a long back. We are paying the price for the wrong approach of the officials. This situation has arose only because of them", says one of the residents.
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