Jhuapura:
For the people of Jhuapura in Gujarat, the wounds of 2002 may not have healed but with the first ATM opening here, it seems the government is making amends.
"Without an ATM, the public faced a lot of problems. Especially women who could not move outside the area freely and access their money. Now they come here without a worry, even in the middle of the night. The ATM has also made life easier for people living in surrounding neighbourhoods," said a resident of Jhuapura.
Home to more than five lakh muslims, this was unsafe territory till two years ago. Then recession transformed Jhuapura into an attractive destination for business struggling to survive in up-market Ahmedabad.
Its target, the muslim middle class which migrated here after the 2002 Godhra riots.
"Earlier there was no development here. But now educated people and professionals are coming to live in Juhapura. You can now compare it to the posh areas of the city," said another Jhuapura resident.
The first nationalised bank opened its doors here in 2008 and within months the response was dramatic.
"We've opened highest number of savings accounts, 4200 accounts and the current accounts have also gone upto 150," said Rashida Desai, Branch Manager, Bank of India.
Eleven crores in deposit and there was no looking back for Jhuapura. Even the BJP government could not afford to ignore it any longer.
"Recently the area was taken into the new municipal limits. Roads are being planned, there is promise of water supply and drainage is being done. So the area is being developed after a long time," Adil Bagaria, Builder.
The wounds of 2002 have still not healed. Many of the riot victims live here. Hatred is only a rumour away, but as Jhuapura's economic isolation is nearing an end, there is hope of reconciliation.
"Without an ATM, the public faced a lot of problems. Especially women who could not move outside the area freely and access their money. Now they come here without a worry, even in the middle of the night. The ATM has also made life easier for people living in surrounding neighbourhoods," said a resident of Jhuapura.
Home to more than five lakh muslims, this was unsafe territory till two years ago. Then recession transformed Jhuapura into an attractive destination for business struggling to survive in up-market Ahmedabad.
Its target, the muslim middle class which migrated here after the 2002 Godhra riots.
"Earlier there was no development here. But now educated people and professionals are coming to live in Juhapura. You can now compare it to the posh areas of the city," said another Jhuapura resident.
The first nationalised bank opened its doors here in 2008 and within months the response was dramatic.
"We've opened highest number of savings accounts, 4200 accounts and the current accounts have also gone upto 150," said Rashida Desai, Branch Manager, Bank of India.
Eleven crores in deposit and there was no looking back for Jhuapura. Even the BJP government could not afford to ignore it any longer.
"Recently the area was taken into the new municipal limits. Roads are being planned, there is promise of water supply and drainage is being done. So the area is being developed after a long time," Adil Bagaria, Builder.
The wounds of 2002 have still not healed. Many of the riot victims live here. Hatred is only a rumour away, but as Jhuapura's economic isolation is nearing an end, there is hope of reconciliation.
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