BHUBANESWAR — Tensions boiled over in the capital city on Wednesday as hundreds of slum dwellers, under the banner of the Basti Suraksha Manch, staged a massive protest at Master Canteen Square against the forcible eviction of residents from the Niladri Vihar Transit House.
The demonstration comes in the wake of a major demolition drive on August 11, during which approximately 120 families lost their homes. Protesters alleged that the authorities initiated the drive without arranging adequate rehabilitation, leaving scores of vulnerable citizens—including young children, pregnant women, and the elderly—stranded under the open sky during peak monsoon rains.
A Struggle for Dignity and Shelter
Holding banners and raising slogans, demonstrators criticized the administration for treating the long-term urban poor merely as “encroachers.” Protesters highlighted that slum residents form the lifeline of Bhubaneswar’s informal economy as daily wage laborers, domestic workers, sanitation staff, construction workers, and street vendors.
“This is not just an issue of illegal occupation; it is a fundamental human rights issue concerning shelter, livelihood, and social dignity,” stated representatives of the Basti Suraksha Manch.
The organization also condemned recent police action, alleging that peaceful protesters were subjected to arbitrary detentions and harsh suppression.
Memorandum Submitted to BMC and Chief Minister
Following the rally, a five-member delegation met with the Deputy Commissioner of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) to hand over a formal memorandum outlining their core grievances. Parallel copies were submitted to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) and the Housing & Urban Development Department.
The key demands placed before the administration include:
Immediate Cessation of Demolitions: An absolute ban on further evictions at Niladri Vihar without prior, proper rehabilitation.
Legal Compliance: Strict adherence to the Odisha Municipal Corporation (OMC) Act regarding land rights and proper family unit definitions.
Fair Re-verification: Transparent review processes for families previously excluded from beneficiary lists.
Dignified Housing: Provision of permanent land rights or constructed homes for all affected households.
Call for Compassionate Urban Governance
The Manch urged state authorities to abandon “bulldozer-led governance” and instead adopt a human-centric approach rooted in constitutional rights and social equity. Prominent civil rights leaders and activists—including Com Pramila General Secretary of BSM and Politiburo Member CPIMLREDSTAR, Hena (President, Basti Suraksha Manch), Narayan Lenka, Bijay Barik, Padmanabha Martha, Sanatan Ojha, Radharani Maharana, and Mayadhar Sethi—spearheaded the protest.
As of Wednesday evening, municipal authorities have acknowledged receipt of the memorandum, though an official statement regarding a pause in the eviction drive is currently awaited.
