This Article is From Dec 16, 2015

Left Homeless By Shakur Basti Demolition, Each Minute A Struggle For Them

The Railways demolished nearly 1000 homes in the West Delhi slum last Saturday and the families were left without a home in the winter season.

New Delhi: Shortly after their home was destroyed in the Shakur Basti demolition, Mohan's daughter came into this world.

Cold, without a roof, the 35-year-old daily wage worker and his wife Manisha are now worried. How will they keep the new born safe from the winter chill with just a plastic sheet, they wonder.

"On the day of the demolition, I was tired of moving around my belongings. I got an ache, my water broke and I gave birth to my child," said Manisha.

The Railways demolished nearly 1000 homes in the West Delhi slum last Saturday. Politicians have fought over the demolition drive, blamed each other and moved on.

For the 1200 families of Shakur Basti, rendered homeless for now, every minute is a battle as winter gets colder. From lost school books to things saved for weddings, they say, it seems all their dreams were demolished in a single day.

For almost a couple of years, Ajmeri Khatun's father saved for her wedding. Most of it all got swept away by the bulldozers or was stolen in the chaos.

"My daughter was supposed to get married on the 19th. We had no idea about the demolition. Whatever we had, half of it has gone. But we have to take care of our daughter and provide for her," Ms Khatun's father told NDTV.

Every family in this area is dealing with its own set of problems.
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