Pani Haq Samiti - Press release on MCGM Standing committee decision on access to water
Sitaram Shelar
PANI HAQ SAMITI, Mumbai
Press Release
15th Oct 2015
We the members of Pani Haq Samiti have learnt from today’s newspapers that the standing committee of MCGM has declined the draft scheme to provide water connections to post 2000 slums in Mumbai, prepared by administrative wing of MCGM in adherence to the interim order of honorable High Court of Mumbai, dated December 15, 2014. The interim order by the honorable high court- in reference to Article 21 or Right to Life- upheld the fundamental right of slum dwellers to water connections irrespective of their period of residence in the city or the cut of dates declared by MCGM.
The impudence of the standing committee is astonishing as it is tantamount to the contempt of honorable high court. This outright refusal by the standing committee to provide water to the working poor staying in the slums seems to be inspired by the myopic political motives and also an indicative of a casteist mindset to deny a meaningful, dignified life to a section of the society. If the earlier system was based on caste the revival of the same system by standing committee is based on the ‘cut-off dates’ imposed by MCGM.
In the seemingly newfound consensus over a selective inactiveness by the bureaucratic and political settlement in the society this outright refusal by the section of politicians in general and the standing committee in particular has chosen to demean the constitution of India and also the long established principles of Justice. The Pani Haq Samiti is at deep pain to know about such purposeful discriminations and is more than determined to continue struggle through more direct and meaningful interventions by the state government as well as judiciary.
For, Pani Haq Samiti, Mumbai
Sitaram Shelar Avinash Kadam Janak Daftari Raju Vanjare
9833252472 986905564 9322292908 8655900114