Community builds together..
Gopalpur is a small beach town on the southern border of Odisha in the Ganjam district. In this small town, about 500 metres away from sea, is a slum called Sai Baba Sahi. About 400 families live in this slum which is spread over 2.4 hectares. Out of these 400 families, about 340 families have received land titles (meaning an ownership of their own land).
Along with the land titles, these families are also linked to the Awas Yojana (a scheme of central Government which provides monetary support of Rs. 2,00,000 to build concrete houses to the beneficiaries). As soon as the slum dwellers received the work order, they began construction work, as it was a dream finally coming to fruition. They had finally received a work order to build a
concrete house after living in temporary structures for the past 30-40 years. It, understandably, brought them much joy. “I do not fear eviction anymore after receiving the land rights certificate and so have started constructing my house”, says G. Meera
The construction started simultaneously in about 150 houses of the slum. The whole community is supporting each other in building each other’s homes. They are supporting their neighbours with free labour so that when their own house gets built, their neighbours will support them in return, by carrying bricks, sand and other construction materials. “We have limited money and can’t pay labour charges so I am supporting my neighbour by carrying the construction materials and when I will build my home, she will support me in the same”, says D Karlamma
The people whose houses are under construction are adjusting in the houses of the people within the slum who have not yet started building their houses. Once, the houses under construction are completed and others start their houses, then they will also do the same for others.
During the days, when the roof casting is being done, a community kitchens is run from the home of a community member, where the women of the slum come together to cook and provide food for one another.
As one visits the place, one may feel as though it is one big construction site and not individual homes which are being built. The spirit of community togetherness can be felt in the slum and the development that is taking place at a fast pace can be seen.
These recent developments by slum dwellers, who have been neglected for ages, has been able to take place due to the will and action of the State Government. A historic legislation was passed by the the government, via the Odisha Land Rights to Slum Dwellers Act, 2017.
The passing of the Act was a landmark decision, however its implementation, with a targeted approach to give away more than 50,000 land titles was certainly no small feat. The Tata Trusts are the main partners supporting the government in the implementation of the Act. Tata Trusts brought other partners like Omidyar Network and the Cadasta Foundation, who in turn brought in state of art technology like Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (also known as drones) for aerial surveys and a mobile
based app for data collection for early disbursal of land titles.
It is just the starting as the team plans to expand and cover 2,50,000 households in the coming days and give land security to the millions in the process.
Story contributed by Tata Trusts
