Stalin requests Delhi Chief Minister to support Tamil families displaced from ‘Madrasi Camp'

The Hindu

17 hours ago

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has written to his Delhi counterpart Rekha Gupta, requesting her to extend support for Tamil people in 'Madrasi Camp' in New Delhi, whose unauthorised habitations in Jangpura were being demolished by the Delhi Development Authority. The economically weaker section (EWS) flats in Narela, which were allotted to the displaced, were 20 km away from their places of work and were 'unfit' for occupation owing to incomplete provision of essential services, he contended.
A delegation comprising Sriperumbudur MP T.R. Baalu, Tamil Nadu's Special Representative in New Delhi A.K.S. Vijayan, and Resident Commissioner of Tamil Nadu House in Delhi Ashish Kumar handed over the letter to Ms. Gupta in the national capital on Friday.
The demolition of Jangpura's Madrasi Camp since June 1 has rendered 370 Tamil-origin families, who for decades have contributed significantly to Delhi's economy, homeless and destitute, Mr. Stalin pointed out in his letter. He further made four specific requests. He urged the Delhi Chief Minister to complete and hand over the 189 EWS flats to the entitled families, fast track construction of community infrastructure, and provide dedicated transport services.
Mr. Stalin requested the extension of the EWS housing eligibility, under the Slum and JJ Rehabilitation Policy, to the remaining 181 displaced families by granting a special-case relaxation of income ceilings, domicile requirements, and deposit obligations. He sought the establishment of a provisional Tamil-medium schooling by sanctioning a temporary DTEA (Delhi Tamil Education Association) school at Pocket G-7 with immediate enrolment and dedicated transport, or by authorising Tamil instruction at a nearby MCD school with reserved seats and interim transport until permanent facilities were ready.
Mr. Stalin requested for mobilising livelihood support through vocational training and micro-enterprise grants, especially for the displaced women.
As per the Delhi High Court's orders, a joint survey certified 189 families as eligible for EWS flats, he said. The High Court had also directed the Government agencies (DDA and DUSIB) to complete all essential services like water, electricity, sanitation, internal roads, drainage and street lighting in Pockets G-7 and G-8, Narela where the alternative accommodation has been provided. The HC further mandated the Delhi Government to ensure immediate admissions for displaced children in nearby Government and MCD schools, establish Primary Healthcare Centres and Fair-Price Shops, and arrange requisite DTC and Metro transport links in accordance with the 2016 policy.
'Regrettably, although 189 families have been formally allotted EWS flats in Narela, the units remain unfit for occupation owing to incomplete provision of essential services. These sites lie nearly 20 kilometres from many beneficiaries' places of work, yet no dedicated transport services have been provided,' Mr. Stalin said. Educational arrangements for over 150 Tamil-medium children have not been implemented in accordance with the Court's directives.
'In the absence of these amenities, household earners—particularly women—remain unemployed and students face imminent disruption to their studies, compounding the dislocation distress of this vulnerable community. The remaining 181 families have not been provided any alternative accommodation and have been left homeless,' he added.