Tamil Nadu pledges support to residents as Delhi's ‘Madrasi Camp' faces demolition
As a court-ordered demolition drive began tearing through the narrow lanes of Delhi's 'Madrasi Camp' on Sunday, the Tamil Nadu government issued a statement promising support to the hundreds of Tamil-origin families facing eviction from the decades-old settlement near Nizamuddin Railway Station.
In a statement issued from Chennai, the state government said the Tamil Nadu House in New Delhi has been tasked with actively facilitating and overseeing coordination efforts. 'Reaffirming its unwavering commitment to the welfare of persons of Tamil Nadu origin residing outside the state, the government of Tamil Nadu is in active coordination with the residents of 'Madrasi Camp' to ensure that every possible support is extended to them without delay,' a state government statement said.
The statement came hours after the Delhi High Court's May 9 order came into effect, triggering the demolition of 370 slum homes constructed over the Barapullah drain. The court had declared the settlement an unauthorised encroachment, citing its role in obstructing drainage and causing severe monsoon water logging in surrounding areas.
Dating back over six decades, the settlement, also known as 'Madrasi Basti', has been a vibrant enclave of Tamil-speaking migrants who arrived in Delhi seeking work as domestic help, cooks, and daily-wage labourers in affluent neighbourhoods like Jangpura, Bhogal, and Lajpat Nagar. Though humble in its infrastructure, the camp evolved into a tightly woven community, maintaining its Tamil culture and language through local festivals, political engagement, and Tamil-medium schools.
Built on land owned by the Railways, 'Madrasi Camp' has long stood as a symbol of the Tamil working-class diaspora in Delhi. Residents also kept political ties alive with their home state, participating in Tamil Nadu elections and maintaining close contact with their roots.
However, the recent court order found that of the 370 households in the camp, only 215 were eligible for relocation under the provisions of the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) Act and the Delhi Slum and JJ Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy, 2015. These families have been allotted flats in Narela, a northern suburb over 35 kilometres from the camp. The remaining 155 families — those who failed to meet documentation or eligibility criteria — are now left to fend for themselves, without formal resettlement or rehabilitation.
According to a directive of the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, the state government will assist the residents of 'Madrasi Camp' who choose to return to their native districts in Tamil Nadu. Comprehensive support, including assistance for livelihood and other essential needs, will be extended to them, the official statement said.
'This assistance will be facilitated through the offices of the concerned District Collectors to ensure timely and effective implementation,' it said. Officers at the Tamil Nadu House in New Delhi will be coordinating efforts to provide on-ground support to those who wish to return to Tamil Nadu.
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