Smoking is useful. Because, it makes you aware about things you otherwise won’t know.
If you are not a smoker, you may still stop opposite the Torrent power station at Sabarmati, and take pictures of the cooling tower that had collapsed ten days ago or so. Dear non-smokers don't mind my saying so, but chances are less that you will befriend an unknown regular Galla owner with one choti gold-flake. He would tell you to take snaps of the other two standing towers as well, because they will collapse soon too. The shopkeeper will claim that the design of the cooling tower was cool because all rubble fell inside the structure. No life loss, only three injured, and that’s why there’s not any big uproar.
The conversation will then extend to the Galla owner’s brother, who hanging around, will ask you if you would know someone in the Municipal Corporation to look at their society’s ever leaking drains and water supply. The whole place in real mess. The brother will also mention that despite running around, even the newspapers aren’t much interested in their cause. Banjara-ni-Chaali with forty-five families is now desperately looking for a builder who offers a better price because the last one was of One Crore Rupees. The request will change - to finding a builder rather than a municipal engineer.
Now, this is one example in Ahmedabad city where development (Vikaas) is undoubtedly happening. People are more aware and richer, and are seeking a better quality of life. Slowly, from a community they are turning into individual property seekers - dispersing into different directions looking for newer or better homes. Not only because of modernity, but because of the lack of provisoning of a decent basic infrastructure.
Anyways, after this dispersion, the people will merge together into a newer housing society expecting a so called better lifestyle, which would be individualistic and a little more modern, just a little. And, an older city eventually giving way to a newer one.
2 comments:
As per IIMA study in Ahmedabad there will be 36000 families those will be displaced due to Sabarmati River Front project with out any rehabilitation policy for EWS Urban poor families by the AMC.
The Mumbai, Mahrastra Government raised cut-off- date for rehabilitation of urban poor from 1976 to 1995.
Modiji Government now stick to the cut-of-date for urban poor only 1976 as per NawabKhan case.
This is all the development in Ahmedabad on the cost of poor people. The ULC land of the Mill will not be utilised for construction of EWS houses as per the guide lines of repeal of ULC Act.
Modiji is having Anti-poor policy.
Good post Bend. Most people find social/economic trends hard to recognize until they are spelled out in black and white under their noses. To make observations at the galla, and make deductions thereof, is an art.
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