GBGB: First Convention at Azad Maidan - 1

Duration: 01:00:49; Aspect Ratio: 1.333:1; Hue: 358.753; Saturation: 0.112; Lightness: 0.569; Volume: 0.344; Cuts per Minute: 28.094; Words per Minute: 83.394

On June 2nd 2008, thousands of urban poor of Mumbai representing more than 7000 members of Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan converged at Azad Maidan to participate in the first convention of the Andolan. Women in large numbers and in majority, attended the convention that began at noon went on till 7 p.m. to discuss and strategise on issues ranging from right to housing to the encroachments of the elite, right to basic services including water, health, education and food, and the obstacles in realising the same. The Convention had attendance of unorganised sector workers, slum dwellers, fish workers, hawkers, and infrastructure project affected persons.

The convention was inaugurated by Justice (Retd.) Suresh H, and addressed by Laxman Gaikwad-leader of the Denotified Tribes, Medha Thatte (Shramik Mahila Sangathan, Pune), Neera Adarkar(Girni Kamgar Sangharsh Samiti), Shailesh Gandhi(NCPRI) Right to Information Activist, Shaktiman Ghosh(National Hawkers' Federation), Seemantani Dhuru(Avehi-Right to Education Campaign), Adv. Shakeel Ahmed, Neha(CEHAT), Anand Patwardhan (Documentary Maker), Sambaji Bhagat (Cultural Activist), Medha Patkar (Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan- NAPM, NBA) and others.

While inaugurating the convention Justice Suresh raised the question 'what right does governments have to demolish the houses of the poor when right to housing is part and parcel of Right to Life guaranteed under the Constitution of India?' He declared the policy of Government of Maharashtra of applying cut-off date as inhuman, illegal as well as violation of the Constitution. He gave the call of raising struggles at multiple fronts to oppose the anti-people policies of present day governments, be it setting up of SEZs or repeal of Urban Land Ceiling Act.

Neera Adarkar, an advocate supporting the mill-workers denounced the Government's policy to misuse and misappropriate mill land neither caring for the heritage nor the labourers. She spoke for the struggle by slums against the elitist urban renewal which is inequitous.

Government Policies
Opposition
Protest

Azad Maidan
Builders
Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao
Land Ownership
Movement

(People are entering Azad Maidan)

(People are entering the pandal)

(Cutaway to scene inside the pandal)

(Cutaway to people lining up and giving out hand outs outside the pandal)

(Cutaway and zoom in on the banner saying 'Atria is an illegal mall').

(Cutaway and zoom in on the banner of 'Ghar Bachao, Ghar Banao Andolan').

(Cutaway to scene inside the pandal. People have assembled and settled down).

(Cutaway to scene at the entrance of the maidan. A crowd has gathered and its entering).

(Cutaway to scene in the maidan. Hustle and bustle of people.)

(Cutaway to scene in the pandal. People have assembled. Mike check.)

Speaker: All our honourable guests have come here in 5-10 minutes. Please welcome them by clapping for them! And let's cheer for them, 'All of us are one! We will fight and win! Those blinded by enjoyment, we will awaken them!'

(Cutaway to scene of guests discussing something amongst themselves).

(Cutaway to scene outside the maidan where the camera pans the banners put up all over).

(Cutaway to a 'Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan' banner).

(Cutaway to a banner saying 'Where is the SRA plan heading?'

(Cutaway to a scene where another banner is being put up).

(Cutaway to a banner saying 'Those dwelling on the footpath have only this to ask for: Go ahead with the task of rehabilitation').

(Cutaway to a shot of banners lined up outside the pandal).

(Cutaway to a scene inside the pandal where people are still settling down and assembling).

(Cutaway to a shot of newspaper article cuttings put up).

(Cutaway to a scene in the pandal. A huge crowd has gathered and assembled).

(Zoom in on the flag of GBGB).

(Cutaway to a scene right outside the pandal in the maidan. Handouts of GBGB are being distributed).

(Cutaway and focus in on a handout saying 'Beyond Gandhigiri').

(Survelling pan showing the other handouts- 'The Movement of India', 'Dalit Assertion', etc.)

(Cutaway to a desk showing badges being sold).

(Cutaway to a crowd of women gathered in the pandal).

(Cutaway to a crowd of men gathered in the pandal).

(Cutaway to the crowd of women which has gathered in the pandal).

(Cutaway and focus on a part of a banner showing the state of street dwellers).

(Cutaway to another part of the banner showing the stark contrast between the state high rises and the state of slums).

(Cutaway to show the whole banner of GBGB).

(Cutaway to a scene inside the pandal where Simpreet is talking to the guests and music is being played).

(Cutaway to a shot of people in the pandal and the hustle and bustle going on).

The crowd loudly cheers 'All of us are united!'

Speaker: All of you are requested that we will now start of with a round of applause and cheer.
(Crowd:) All of us are united!
Speaker: Women's power is great!
Crowd: She is the woman of the new age!

Speaker: Women please get louder! Women's power is great!
Crowd: She is the woman of the new age!
Speaker: We all ask for our rights!

Crowd: We don't beg!
Speaker: If we are not begging then raise your hands! We all ask for our rights!
Crowd: We don't beg!
Speaker: Raise your voice!
Crowd: We are united!

Bharat (India), our great land, listen to its story, O brother, listen to its story!
At its pinnacle lie the majestic Himalayas; the rivers Ganga, Brahmaputra, Godavari, Krishna, when you sow a pearl, you harvest gold!
Listen to the story of our great country India, listen to its story O brother, listen to its story!

First verse of the song:
The storehouse is filled with grains, the seeds have been sown,
but we go to sleep hungry, along with the guests at home. Why are people hungry and naked in this country which is apparently blessed with plenty of water and food? Listen to the story of our great country India, listen to its story O brother, listen to its story!
(Cutaway to the audience).

Second verse of the song: When a rupee was of the value of 80 paisa, we used to trust agriculture. Agriculture trusted water, water trusts the clouds. The clouds always betray one's trust (?)

Third verse of the song: The cow is worshipped here (x2). The door is the dog's house, the cat hid the mouse, people believe the urine of the cow to be pure and decorate the courtyard with cowdung. Why are people hungry and naked in this country which is apparently blessed with plenty of water and food? In this country apparently blessed with plenty of food and water, why is the farmer believed to be an untouchable?

Speaker: Raise your voice!
Crowd: We are united!
Speaker: We will fight!
Crowd: We will win!
Speaker: We ask for our rights!

Crowd: We don't beg to anyone!
Speaker: We ask for our rights!
Crowd: We don't beg to anyone!
Speaker: We will fight!
Crowd: We will win!

Speaker: Save houses!
Crowd: Build houses.
Speaker: Save the country!
Crowd: Build the country.

Woman in the crowd: The unity of us, the poor, is unbreakable!

Woman in the crowd: The power of the woman has come. It has brought a new light with it.

Speaker: We will fight!
Crowd: We will win [x2].
Speaker: Now (?) has come.
Crowd: There is a war further.

Song:
The world is trembling
The mountains tremble, the rivers and ponds tremble
The havelis tremble, the tall, royal palaces tremble
There is a wave emerging in the sea...the world is trembling. [Twice] .
2nd verse: The kings and sires are all gone. And the queens are rolling in the dust. The world is trembling.

3rd verse: The administration is trembling, the military is trembling. The plunderers of the society are shaken. The world is trembling..
4th verse: America is trembling, Europe is trembling. [x2]. (?) The plunderers of the locals are trembling. The world is trembling.
5th verse: The workers are fighting, the farmers are fighting. The adivasis are fighting, the slum dwellers are fighting.

Simpreet: We will answer this challenge by raising our hands. [Slogan]: All of us are united. So friends, with the songs composed by the youth wing of the movement we have inaugurated today's programme. First I will call upon... the honorary, who is also our friend, who we have with us here today, to come upon the stage on behalf of our movement. First of all, among us we have, or ex-magistrate, Justice Suresh .. which is a very delightful thing ... I request him to come on the stage. And let's all clap and welcome him.
(Audience shouts slogans as the guest goes upon the stage).

Simpreet: After Justice Suresh I will welcome Smt. Medha Thate who has come specially from Pune and who is working on the struggle of the women over there. Smt. Medha Thate.
(Audience shouts slogans as the guest goes upon the stage).

Simpreet: After Smt. Medha Thate, I will welcome Shri. Laxman Gaikwad who not only now, but also earlier had extended his help when movements had taken place in settlements on the issue of the government. So, let's welcome Shri Laxman Gaikwad by clapping for him.

Simpreet: Going further from that, we have from Mumbai, our friend and leader, Smt Neera Adarkar who enthusiastically participates and helps in making successful issues of slum dwellers or roadside peddlers, or be it a fight for their rights.
(Audience shouts slogans as the guest goes upon the stage).

Simpreet: And accompanying further will be Shri Parveen Omkar, Amit Maru. Wherever they may be, they may please come up on the stage. Shri Aidari Maham, our friend and colleague Mohan Chavan, he too is sitting here.
(Audience is shouting slogans)

Nasreen: Here on this stage... I ask for the co-operation of all my brothers and sisters who have come from afar. This is the first convention of Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan. And with their presence, it will become bigger one day.
(Nasreen shouts slogans and exits).

Simpreet: Brother Santosh will welcome Sister Neera.

Simpreet: Sister Nasma will welcome Shri Gaikwad.

Simpreet: I will request sister Nasreen to welcome Shri Parveen again.

Simpreet: I request all my friends that... please make place for others who have come in from Mumbai city now that they have a place for themselves.

Simpreet: With a loud song...I request everyone to sing loudly. (The lamp is lit. Everyone starts shouting slogans loudly.)

Song: Look torches are burning amongst people my friend ! Till when will people be plundered and looted my friend? (Twice).

Simpreet: Driving people out of cities and terming it as making Mumbai into Shanghai, and in this process, more than 3 lakh people have been rendered homeless in 2 months... and against such an unacceptable act, the struggle and protest which emanated, which includes people, women, children, elders coming from each house, who went to their lanes, and then went to settlements from lanes and who went to not just lanes, sidewalks but they went upto Delhi; that very protest has been named 'Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan'. (Starts shouting the slogan of 'Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan').

Simpreet: So today we have amongst us guests and friends who will guide us. Today the whole day's programme will continue in which we will not only talk about the injustice which has been meted out to us, but we will also discuss how that injustice was fought against, how we got down to the lanes, how the battle in the court was fought, how the corruption was revealed. From education to health, from water rights to the government's policy- we are going to discuss all of that today.

Simpreet: ...In which, Anand Patwardhan, Sambhaji Bhagat and many other young friends will also join in. So, the whole day this programme will go on. So, continuing that very programme I will firstly request Justice Suresh to come and give the inaugural speech and initial guidance of today's programme.
(The audience shouts slogans).

Justice Suresh: I have come here to join your voice. (Audience claps and cheers him). While coming I was thinking, what lecture should I give? Not only now, but I have given a lot of lectures for the rights of the poor, for the rights which they ask for, for housing rights, for the right to live.. but now-a-days what is happening?

Justice Suresh: Thinking about that I thought, what is the use of giving a lecture? I can lecture, I can write an article, I can participate with the people but in the end, what is happening in our India? That's what I thought. You spoke about struggle. It doesn't happen just now. When we got independence, in 1947, from then, now it will be 70 years. And what is the condition of the poor people?
(Audience claps).

Justice Suresh: 10-15 days back, I went to Orrisa. There is a backward district called Kandhamal. Adivasis, poor people and Dalits stay there. They were attacked. The BJP, police all attacked them. I went and saw that in a relief camp there was an open space which was very hot, and that 500 families were staying there since 4 months.

Justice Suresh: The government wasn't doing anything. They weren't given any money. They were building some 10-15 apartments out there. But where would these 500 families go? Now the monsoon is approaching. But it's the government's responsibility. The government doesn't shoulder it. That's the saddest thing for us.

Justice Suresh: They are breaking your footpaths, hutments. The question arises is whether they have the right to demolish it? A law is needed to allow anyone to demolish someone else's house. The government says that they have the law, they have schemes? What is this law? Where is it written that one can demolish a house of the poor? It is not written in any law.

Justice Suresh: The government says that the houses made by you are illegal. That it is the law, an act of the municipality. The law of the municipality is to make a plan, buy a piece of land, measure it, call the engineer, make a contract and make a house. But how can the poor make such houses? This can also be a house but what law is there for a poor to make it? There is no such law.

Justice Suresh: This is a very sad thing. But the question arises that whether they have a right to demolish a house. If you make an illegal house- you make a hut by the foothpath, in a corner of the footpath- they say it is against the law as the footpath is for people to walk. The government asks that who has the right to make a house? The government itself has to bestow the right. But what does this mean?

Justice Suresh: You don't have money. You yourself can't make a house. You all don't have land. None of you can take a house on rent. That's why, the concession that must be given to you for making a house.... which law has that? This is the responsibility of the government. But the government does not shoulder it.

Medha Patkar: (Slogan): The land which is of the government!
Crowd: That land is ours!
Lady on the stage: Government of Maharashtra wake up!
Crowd: Wake up! Wake up!
Lady on the stage: How much is the right of the poor?
Crowd: Give us the account! Give us the account!

Justice Suresh: The law which is above all law is spelled by the constitution. In that there is an article, the 21st article , 'Right to life'. What does the right to life mean? The court says that right to life does not mean living like a mere animal. Living means living with dignity, pride, self-respect. Everyone has the right to live with their head held high, with dignity. That means that everyone must get the right to live. That does not mean pertaining only to houses. It does not mean just physical existence. Right to Life includes food, clothing, housing, education, health, it includes everything, The Supreme Court has said this.
(Audience shouts slogans)

Justice Suresh: That's what the Supreme Court has said for 20-25 years. That no one has the right to take away the right to life. Be it even a poor person, who are termed as 'landless people', they cannot be thrown out. But what is happening nowadays? Nowadays you go to the government and it refuses to listen. A separate body called as 'Human Rights Commission' has been set up for protecting the rights of people. If you go to them, they also don't listen to you. If you go to the court, the court doesn't listen. The court gives a judgment, then too people don't agree. That's our condition today. That's why I think these days, what should I do? They talk about 'Mumbai Vikas'. What is the development for? It's for the rich.

Justice Suresh: They don't ever give, that's what's happened. 601 acres of mill land was given by the British Government to mill owners 100 years ago, on rent. Why? To run the mills. But after the mill has been shut, where does the question of running the mill arise? The government could have taken back that land. But the government didn't take it. The government gave it to them. The Supreme Court ruled out that this land belonging to the poor is our own.

Justice Suresh: This is the land of all - the poor and those who have been staying on it later. (Audience shouts slogans - Jo zameen sarkari hain, vo zameen hamari hain, builderon ki jaagir nahi, netaon ki jaagir nahin ). Now the question is, that your land is being taken away from you. The land is yours and it's not being given to you. The land is yours and you are not being given the apartment. They give the apartments for free but it is not free!

Justice Suresh: After moving to a place, tax has to be paid for it. And after that you need to go to the seventh floor, for which a lift is needed. For the lift, electricity is needed, who will provide that? For running the lift, a liftman is needed, who will provide that? If the lift fails to work you need to repair it, who will provide for that? In a water tank, the water should come from above, you need to make a tap for that, you need to pump it from below. This means that they are lying to you.

Justice Suresh: They are saying that they will give you an apartment for free but this is a lie. They are not giving it to anyone for free. They collect money from you, they take money from you. If you can't pay Rs. 500/- or Rs. 6000/- for the apartment, the builder himself...

Justice Suresh: It so happens that a piece of land amounting to 1 crore comes benefits them when they take it from you. All these schemes mean that. (Audience shouts slogans). I know that we have to fight. I have met Medha Patkar many times, I have heard what she has to say, and so I am here. But this struggle, had passed by in our times, but probably in your times it will continue. (Audience shouts slogans).

Justice Suresh: I will just say one thing, and by saying that I will inaugurate the course of the commitment to struggle. It is formal. The real inauguration has happened many years ago. Struggle comes with the poor. It troubles the poor a lot. There is only one way out of it now. Raise your voice, act upon it, we cannot predict what will happen in the end. But anything can happen in the end, even a revolution.

Justice Suresh: Now only one question remains, revolution in the sense... the question of violence and non violence. Violence can happen which can be threatening for us. That's why we are saying to the government that think about it now. The time has come for you to think. Don't throw out the poor, help the poor. Saying this much, I ... (folds his hands and exits).
(Audience shouts slogans).
Sangharsh karenge jeetenge
Aage badhte jayenge
Kitni lambi jail tumhari
Dekh liya hain dekhenge
Ladenge jiyenge ladenge jiyenge

Simpreet: This is that very person speaking who once used to sit on that chair, that very chair under which for the past three years, all of us in Mumbai had been going to get justice.. sometimes with the prayer of the encroachment upon our lands. First of all, I, here, will request all the volunteers to focus on the seating arrangements. For those who are coming in now...
(Audience shouts slogans).

Simpreet: I will request sister Nasreen to welcome him. With him we have Khayyam coming in. Brother Shakeel has also come. Welcome them with claps. Friends have come from Latur too. We will welcome them by clapping for them. "Who are the encroachers of Mumbai" presenting this question and the many facts related to it, the book which is being released today and also alongwith that, a newspaper, "Voice of the movement" which has been made by the volunteers of the Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan staying in that very settlement, that is also being released today. For that I will request Shri Laxman Gaikwad and Smt Medha Thatte to come and release it.

Simpreet: Please clap loudly. I will request Shri Laxman Gaikwad to open the cover and release the book. Please clap loudly. More loudly! (Audience shouts slogans).

(Smt. Medha Thatte opens the cover of the newspaper and releases it. The audience cheers by shouting slogans).

Neera Adarkar: When it is the question of the house then women stand up in larger numbers, that is our experience every time. Be it poor, or middle class, the question of house pricks mostly in the heart of a woman. I will tell you a second story which is of the mill workers of Mumbai. All those who have come down to the streets to fight for their house, their struggle occurred just 5-6 days back,

Neera Adarkar: ...and struggling thus, they decided one day that we won't quit, but we will go to the house of the Chief Minister who has been cheating them by lying to them and causing them great trouble. And they showed it. Inspite of all the police barricading, all the mill workers went to the bungalow 'Varsha' on Malabar Hill and they shouted slogans there as you are shouting slogans here. You are shouting here, they shouted there.

Neera Adarkar: It was their land. On that land, the mill workers have been working there for more than 100 years, their forefathers have worked here before them.And this land was given by the British government to the mill owners just for running the mill. Then what happened 10 years back? The mill owners said that they don't want to run the mill. We want to shut the mill, because we do not earn any profit out of it.

Neera Adarkar: The truth is that the mill owners understood that if we sell this land, and construct big towers there, we will earn more money out of it. So, we better not run the mill. They had nothing to do with these people who were there since so many years, working hard...the money they made by running the machines with their own hands, with their own power, and making cloth...that very money was taken by the mill owners.

Neera Adarkar: And I also I want to say this, that all of you who are sitting here and you can see these towering structures around you like VT station, the municipality office, Rajabai Tower...all these towering structures are made by whose money? It is true that they are made during the rule of the British. But all the money that was procured was from these mills. The mill owners who gave the money - how did they give it? Whose money was it? Out of whose hard work and whose hardships did that money come?

Neera Adarkar: It was the hard work and money of these mill workers because of which Mumbai is standing tall today. As Mr. Suresh said, for 100 years there was no other business here. It was only the trade of mills and Mumbai has minted money out of this very business. So, when the owners said that they don't want to run the mills, then what should have been the duty of the government? The duty of the government should have been that if you are shutting down the mills...

Neera Adarkar: Just as your houses are uprooted by running bulldozers and you are thrown out, how will you get jobs? Because your house should be at the place where your job or business is. Isn't it? In the same way, they made an appeal. After arguing a lot the government said, fine, we will give you a small part of the land that includes the mill for houses. Which means, houses of the workers, for the houses of MHADA, they said. A small part of open space will be given...we need open space for ventilation right...?

Neera Adarkar: So then the High Court said - no, this is a mistake on the part of the government. The magistrate ruled that this land is for the mill workers only. This land is meant for playgrounds. But the sad thing is that the builders...(break)...At least give us that, and if the mill owners and builders are not giving it then the government should snatch it away from them. But the government is not doing that. And as the Justice has said, the constitution says that this land is under the purview of the law. The houses are illegal, yes.

Neera Adarkar: Here the mill workers have got the land as per the law. But that also the government is not giving them. That's why mill workers from different villages...from Konkan, Kankavali, Sindhudurg, near Pune, Satara.. all of them had come here. But the government and the police arrested them. They had come on 27th May. They were attacked. But as I said, 20-25 workers reached 'Varsha'. This means that, whatever rightfully belongs to someone is still not being given by the government. And to get that people have to struggle so much.

Neera Adarkar: And the government discriminates among people very successfully. Like, what will the mill workers think? That these slum dwellers are getting houses for free and we are not getting anything? The chawls we stay in...those chawls are also being demolished now and towers are going to be built on that. If I don't have a job then what should I do by buying a place in that tower? That's why all these mill workers will be driven out of Mumbai. If that's the case then they will be upset. They feel that the slum dwellers wil get jobs and businesses.

Neera Adarkar: The government is just giving you hopes and dreams. In reality what the houses will be like, even you know that. And you also know who won't get them. That's why we all have gathered here. I feel that the issues of the mill workers and the issues that you have are the same - that the land which is ours is rightfully ours and the hutments of the poor form a very important part of the map of the city. And there should be an exclusive place for this in the new plan that the municipality is making. Justice Suresh had told me something which he didn't mention in his speech. But he was telling me that in South Africa...you know Africa.

Neera Adarkar: The poor people staying in Africa had no place, no land. When they went on governmental land, the government threw them off. Then they moved to private plots. They built houses on someone's private plot. The man on whose land they constructed houses went to the court. He said in the court that this is my land, move these people out of here. Then listen carefully to the verdict that the court gave and you can also raise the question of why our courts pass such verdicts.

Neera Adarkar: That court said that ok, your property is private. If someone encroaches on that, that should not be allowed. That is agreeable. But they are there because they have no houses. They told the government that provide them with houses. Till you don't provide them with houses they will stay on the property of this private owner. But the government will have to pay the rent of this private owner.

Neera Adarkar: That means, that it is the responsibility of the government. If the kind of verdict that their court came up with, if our court had that kind of empathy then a lot of things would change. But our court is not so sensitive, our government too gives us false assurances. That's why you all have gathered here. And I hope, I strongly feel that if this movement manifests itself in different forms, like one movement is happening there another movement is happening here, a movement of mill workers is happening... but all these movements are happening to get the right to the houses of the poor. Whether the government will realize or not realize anything, we should continue struggling. Thank you.
(Audience shouts slogans).

Simpreet: (?) successful in surrounding him, those 25 workers, supporting them we will shout the slogan 'We all are united!'. 'Bravo! To the unity of the slum dwellers and mill workers!'. And the mill workers who were successful in reaching 'Varsha' we welcome them by clapping for them.

Simpreet: Those from the Special Branch who are sitting here and noting things I want to specially say to them that they may note everything and add a line that in the following days we will attack these encroachers and we will file a complaint for them to be captured. So are we all ready to fight?
(Audience shouts slogans).
Simpreet: So are we ready? So those who are ready please cheer with me with all your enthusiasm.
(Audience shouts slogans).

Simpreet: And now we will surely win because we have with us Shri Biskote who has reached GBGB walking all the way from Ambarnath. So to welcome him I request brother Santosh to give him the token of appreciation. Bhau Biskote who has been a tehsildar but he has attended to each and every problem in Maharashtra and has been co operative and we have him amongst us today.
(Audience shouts slogans).

Simpreet: The slum dwellers who have been struggling for years...
(Audience shouts slogans).

Simpreet: All those people who believe that we all are one, that our power and unity is one, they may tighten your fists, raise their hand, challenging this administration, cry out, 'We all are united'

Simpreet: From Pune district we have our youth volunteers brother Prasad, Palkar.

(People shout slogans and unfurl the 'Ghar Bachao, Ghar Banao Andolan' banner.)

Medha Patkar: Friends, all the sisters, mothers, children and brothers, and present on the stage, Respected Bhau Biskote, Respected friend Laxman Gaikwad, Respected Medha Thatte, Smt. Neera Adarkar, Shri Shaktiman Ghosh, and Justice Suresh who has done the inauguration, a big bravo to you. Today, 'Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao' movement is not just a watchword. It has become a war.

Medha Patkar: All everybody knows that a movement is not just an apartment. We have come with this war over here. (Everybody shouts slogans). Look, this is a movement of Mumbai. This is a movement of people in Mumbai believed to be poor. But of those people who are in slums, on footpaths, who are a prey of the despotism of the builders, who inspite being on the coast of the sea, are being deprived of their rights.

Medha Patkar: And there are also those who are victims of being thrown out for constructing an airport or a highway. And, there are the roadside peddlers who are the epitome of economy for us poor! The shopping malls which the poor don't even dare to see, these peddlers serve them. So all of us, with the slogan and promise of making houses and saving houses are making a decision to save and make food also.
(Audience shouts slogans).

Medha Patkar: After saving life and the means of life, what brother Jameel is saying, that too is our decision. Our decision is, that, that which is the power of Mumbai, of hardworking people, and the piece of land which we have, which can be found in the tap flowing in the river Mithi, to save that too. And while saving that, to save the whole of Mumbai from drowning. That is our decision.

Medha Patkar: Our decision is, that the roadside peddlers and the able labourers working in small scale industries, who are not poor, who are blessed with skill, whose hardwork is their capital and prosperity, if they are not saved, then the whole of Reliance and Ambanis will be challenged that they may drive out these peddlers and workers if they dare to. We won't allow them to be drive out.
(Audience shouts slogans).

Medha Patkar: By just saying that 'Mumbai is ours' no one can be challenged. If Mumbai is our, then we have the right to each nook and corner in Mumbai. Who will develop the employment in Mumbai? We have the right to ask this. Remembering Babasaheb in the Constitution, we read that in Act 243 it has been written that every village will arrange for its employment.

Medha Patkar: Mumbai, every city, every ward will arrange for its employment. Then, getting together all those plans, the district of Mumbai, or any other district can be organized. Otherwise it cannot happen. Has ever... just as a meeting takes place in a village, in a ward, has sister Medha ever been needed in Pune? Have 1-2 lac people ever come together in a ward? No.

Medha Patkar: Has a meeting of people in a settlement ever been convened by the government? Has it ever been asked that what is your dream of development? What do you want in the form of development? No. This is the breach of the constitution. And so, we are challenging the government of Maharashtra by saying, that they may get McKenzie for the organization of Mumbai...

Medha Patkar: There is an NGO named Bombay First brother Laxman, whose members are only Tatas, Birlas, Ambanis, Mahindra & Mahindra, all the companies are included. No one except a company can become a member of this. And they call it an NGO.

Medha Patkar: And they sit in Hotel Crystal in Taj Mahal. They include the Governer too. They keep the Finance Minister of the Center on one side. And they include the Manager of the World Bank, Michael Carter. Only the poor of Mumbai go in Taj Mahal and stop them, this is our power, the power of the Rights in our Constitution. Sister Nasreen and brother Santosh are not shouting slogans.
(Audience shouts slogans).

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