Delhi election: Over 20,000 people displaced by demolition drives to vote for shelter

Delhi election: Seated in her rented one-bed room apartment with her family of four, Asha Devi reflects on the dire situation surrounding her. Being forcibly evicted from their home was the last thing her fam ily expected in 2023. Yet, in Delhi’s relentless drive for urban devel opment, the demolition of slum clusters has become a grim rou tine.

In June 2023, bulldozers from the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) arrived at Priyanka Gandhi Camp, accompanied by police personnel to enforce the operation. Within hours, the entire slum cluster was flattened. The land, which had housed hundreds of families for decades, is now the site of a half-built National Disaster Relief Forces (NDRF) building.

More than 250 families lost their homes during the demolition. “The camp has existed for over 40 years. Nobody ever told us that we were living on government land, and we didn’t know any better. Politicians, both from the Centre and the state, came to us, promising welfare schemes if we voted for them. Even our councillor assured us that we wouldn’t be evicted. We all know how that turned out,” said Devi, her voice tinged with bitterness.

Also read: Exclusive: Over 200 Delhi schools targeted as hoax bomb threats escalate

Legal protections ignored

Despite legal provisions under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, which mandate the provision of alternative housing before demolitions, residents of Priyanka Gandhi Camp received no such support. Instead, they became casualties of overlapping administrative jurisdictions, neglected by authorities who failed to follow due process.

Government officials had previously conducted surveys and headcounts, assuring residents that permanent housing would be provided before any demolition began. However, these promises proved hollow. Most of the affected families possessed valid identification documents, including Aadhaar cards and voter IDs, linking them to the addresses they were forced to leave.

Rise in demolitions

The story of Priyanka Gandhi Camp is far from unique in Delhi. Earlier this year, during the monsoon session of Parliament, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs revealed that 33,477 demolitions were carried out across the national capital since 2019, affecting 20,643 individuals. The government reportedly spent Rs 103 crore on these demolition activities.

Of these, 16,138 demolitions occurred in 2023 alone—52% of the total since 2019. These numbers are closely tied to preparations for the G20 Summit, which saw a significant escalation in beautification projects across Delhi.

Beautification at a cost

Several areas—including Kasturba Nagar, Tughlaqabad, Pragati Maidan, Yamuna Flood Plains, and Dhaula Kuan—underwent beautification drives that displaced thousands. Among the worst-affected were homeless individuals, as eight government shelters were demolished during these drives. A report notes that evictions in Sarai Kale Khan and parts of Yamuna Pushta displaced at least 1,280 people.

The Housing and Land Rights Network reported that members of the Gadia Lohar (ironsmith) community lost their homes in areas such as Bawana Village, Gokulpuri, and Shahdara.

“Since Independence in 1947, ‘development’ projects have disproportionately impacted Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Of those dis placed, 40% are Adivasis/ Indigenous Peoples/Tribals, and 20% are Dalits/Scheduled Castes, with only one-third receiving any form of resettlement,” the report stated.

Administrative failures

Despite directives from the Delhi High Court to rehabilitate dis placed residents, authorities have failed to deliver on these promises. The lack of coordination between the central and state governments and overlapping policies leaves thousands in limbo, forced to endure poor living conditions with no clear timeline for resettlement.

Some families continue to live near their former homes, renting apartments or single rooms to stay close to their workplaces. Others, unable to afford rent, have taken refuge in night shelters or live on the streets, further swelling Delhi’s already growing homeless population. A few families have returned to ancestral homes in other states, but their voter IDs still bear the addresses of their demolished homes in Delhi.

Policy versus reality

“Politicians keep promising us permanent housing during election season, but we’ve lost all hope,” said Geeta Rani, a former resident of a slum cluster in Dhaula Kuan. Many demolished clusters, including Priyanka Gandhi Camp, were listed under the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) and slated for rehabilitation.

The Delhi Slum & JJ Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy, 2015, provides clear guide lines for the protection of slum dwellers. It states:

“JJ Bastis which have come up before 01.01.2006 shall not be removed (as per NCT of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second Act, 2011) without providing them alternate housing. Jhuggis which have come up in such JJ Bastis before 01-01-2015 shall not be demolished without providing alternate housing; (this is in supersession of the earlier cut-off date of 04.06.2009 as notified in the guidelines of 2013).”

Yet, the demolished houses and clusters predate 2006, with many residents living there for over three to four decades. Authorities have failed to adhere to their own policies, leaving residents like Rajabai, 52, without recourse.

“The DUSIB tells us to move to night shelters. But the family shelters nearby are overcrowded, and we had our own homes here. Why should we live on the streets again?” asked Rajabai, who now rents a small apartment in Munirka.

Also read: False promises, freezing nights: Delhi shelter board’s claims exposed

Expectation of the displaced

For most displaced families, the core concern is whether they will ever receive permanent housing. “Our vote is for anyone who guarantees us a home. At the very least, we expect to be offered housing in one of the redevelopment shelters. If we don’t like what they offer, that’s a different issue—but they haven’t even done that much,” said Prakash Kumar, 42, a former resident of Tughlaqabad slum cluster.

Kumar also stressed the importance of proximity to workplaces. “You can’t move someone 20 km away and expect them to manage. I can’t afford rent, so I sleep outside. With winter intensifying, I’ll have to move to a shelter. They take extra care of the homeless during elections because they need our votes,” he said.

As Delhi gears up for Assembly elections in February, the over 20,000 displaced residents hold the potential to sway the outcome. With their votes tied to the promise of shelter, they remain a critical demographic in determining the city’s political future.