Some Criticism of "Erasing Poverty" from Certain Circles
Population of 13.5 Million in New Delhi Alone
India, the host country of the Group of 20 (G20) summit, is facing growing controversy after reports emerged that it has begun slum demolition operations under the pretext of "beautification work." Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also well-known for his lower-class background.
On June 1st (local time), children are rummaging through building debris near a slum close to the G20 summit venue in New Delhi. [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]
US CNN reported on the 5th (local time) that India recently started slum demolition work. The operations are taking place in New Delhi, the selected venue for the G20 summit. The broadcast speculated, "Is this an attempt to 'erase poverty' ahead of the international event?"
This summit will be attended by many major foreign leaders, including US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol is also scheduled to visit.
According to statistics released by the Indian government in 2021, there are unauthorized settlements housing approximately 13.5 million residents in New Delhi. The demolition is occurring in the 'Janta Camp,' where bulldozers reportedly first appeared around May. As a result, the shacks where residents lived were destroyed, leaving about 100,000 impoverished people homeless.
The bigger issue is that no temporary shelters were provided for the evicted slum dwellers during this process. Notably, the Indian government had previously promised to "provide new homes," but this promise appears to have been broken.
It is also reported that many residents of the slum had lost their homes in the New Delhi floods in July. One shack dweller told CNN, "I endured weeks surrounded by rotting garbage and insects in a makeshift tent made of tarpaulin," expressing the hardship of their living conditions.
Local civic groups are opposing the government's policy. Sunil Kumari Aledia, a member of the 'Comprehensive Development Center,' a homeless organization in New Delhi, criticized, "The government demolished houses and evicted vulnerable groups under the name of beautification," calling it "a measure taken without any consideration of what will happen to them next."
She added, "If it was truly necessary, the residents should have been informed of the demolition in advance and provided with places where they could recover."
However, the Indian government maintains that it only removed illegal structures and that the work was not related to the G20 summit preparations. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs reported to Parliament in July that "from April 1 to July 27, at least 49 demolition operations were conducted in New Delhi to reclaim state-owned land."
They also stated, "No private residences were demolished as part of beautification efforts for the G20 summit."
Meanwhile, some slum residents had filed a lawsuit with the New Delhi High Court to prevent the government's forced eviction orders. However, the court recognized the illegality of the slums and ruled in favor of the government. Consequently, the slum residents were ordered to vacate by May 31.
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