Mediocre aspirations

Delhi was expanding then in the 1960s. So it is even now. The only difference between the expansions then and now seems to be different politically. My father came here in that period to earn his bread from Calcutta. He had nothing, literally. But with time, he gathered himself and managed to anchor his family. One dream that always eluded him was to own a house (or flat) of his own. He was not willing to invest on land or for that matter in a colony that was not legalized. He therefore resorted to DDA and patiently waited for his turn, which came after 25 years. My point is had he gathered some strength to invest in an illegal colony, we would have been in a better state of realty. In retrospect, I would probably choose to do what he did.

This story of his unwillingness to go for illegal colonies in Delhi has been discussed in our family and how it could have changed our fortune. During every assembly elections of this state, we regret this fact. The point is BJP and Congress has again taken on the mantle to convert illegal into legal for wining votes for the forthcoming polls. I am not happy with BJP, which is talking of legalizing around 1600 slums adding 40 lacs people to the capital and blaming the other one for not fulfilling the promise. I am again unhappy with the Congress party for making such a promise at the first place.

At a point of convenience, these very parties (when in power) criticize and ponder on tackling the ever-growing Delhi population and curbing illegal settlements, kuchha or pucca. The concerns should be tackled but political aspiration in the form of “seats” is not ensuring the state going into the right direction. While illegal colonies are being set up with less investment (real estate prices are always low), legalizing it sets a very bad precedence for all. While people who wish to take a rightful course even when it comes to going for a ceiling over their head, the petty politics make it appear like a loosing proposition. It is as if we are the wrong doers by following a legal way to survive.

This brings us to a standpoint where we need to identify how government should go about deciding what to be legalized, regularized and maintained lawfully. It is not only about slums. This also extends to the number of illegal pucca colonies, which get propriety just before the elections. I demand not much; just that, there should be justified norms for the livings beneath the poverty line. Not only legalization of “slums and colonies without having proper approval as such” is enough reason for builders to be encouraged to structure more such colonies. This also augur illegal settlements encroaching land and forming a community large enough over a period of time to become a strong player to swing the future of petty political battles. Hope, there’s an end to it.