Rajya Sabha MP A.A. Rahim Urges Delhi CM to Prevent Demolition of Madrasi Camp Slum Cluster
New Delhi, 17 April 2025 — A.A. Rahim, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and a member of the Standing Committee on Housing & Urban Affairs, has written to Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, seeking urgent intervention to halt the demolition and eviction of the 50-year-old Madrasi Camp slum cluster in Jangpura.
In his letter, Rahim highlighted the plight of over 400 households threatened by eviction due to actions initiated by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB). He stressed that the proposed relocation site in Narela, more than 40 kilometers away, would disrupt the lives and livelihoods of the affected residents, including a large number of school-going children.
Rahim invoked the provisions of the NCT of Delhi Special Provisions Act, 2011, which safeguards slums established before January 1, 2006, from removal without alternative housing. He also referenced the Delhi Slum & JJ Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy of 2015, which mandates that relocation efforts align with the guidelines of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
In his appeal, Rahim called for:
- An immediate halt to demolition and eviction until a fair resolution is reached.
- Implementation of the "Jahan Jhuggi, Wahan Makaan" promise through in-situ rehabilitation, ensuring access to work, schools, and essential services.
- Social dialogue involving all stakeholders in the rehabilitation process.
- Accountability for flood management failures rather than blaming the residents.
Rahim underscored the critical nature of the issue, linking it to the pre-election promises made to slum dwellers in Delhi. He warned that failing to act would render the slogan "Jahan Jhuggi, Wahan Makaan" meaningless and erode public trust.
The letter has also been sent to the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena, and the Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Shri Manohar Lal Khattar, urging their support to uphold the rights and dignity of the Madrasi Camp residents.
