"Impact of 'Bulldozer Raj': Understanding the Destruction of Homes and Its Effects on Marginalized Communities"

There is a constructive criticism of central government editor opinion only take that positively or a pinch of salt it's your choice let's get straight into this mention that state Uttar Pradesh where bulldozer machine is very famous like no other machine can do in this political era will this era going on like they called double engine ki Sarkar so discuss what are the merits and demerits.

term 'bulldozer raj', a form of extrajudicial collective punishment meted out to those accused of crimes (not tried and found guilty), has not just entered the cultural and political lexicon of India, it's become a populist tool that's brandished by various state governments. The modus operandi is simple, if you're accused of a crime, the state finds just about any pretext to evict you from your home, and then demolish it. And overwhelmingly, this form of punishment disproportionally affects people from marginalised groups.Â

"Impact of 'Bulldozer Raj': Understanding the Destruction of Homes and Its Effects on Marginalized Communities"

The House and Land Rights Network's Forced Evictions in India report noted that in 2023, over five lakh individuals in India were forcefully evicted from their homes, with one lakh houses demolished. That means approximately 294 houses were destroyed every day, and 58 people were made homeless every hour. 

The report documented caste, religion, and other identities of affected persons in 101 instances. In 2023, at least 53 instances of evictions affected marginalised groups, while in 2022, it was at least 48 instances. These marginalised groups include religious minorities such as Muslims, Dalits, Adivasis, and Other Backward Classes, as well as nomadic and indigenous communities, and migrant workers.

In 2023, major demolition drives affected large groups of people in Tughlakabad (Delhi), Rama Pir No Tekro (Ahmedabad), and Faizabad-Naya Ghat (Ayodhya), among others. 

PRETEXT

Forced evictions were spread across urban and rural areas, spanning megacities, towns, and villages in 23 states and four Union Territories in 2022 and 2023. The report identifies five broad categories as reasons for the forced displacement of individuals and communities from their homes, with slum-clearance/anti-encroachment/city-beautification drives, affecting about four lakh people (58.7 per cent of all affected persons). 

Ahead of the G20 Summit in 2023, Delhi saw several demolition drives, which according to news reports affected 1,600 homes and left at least 260,000 people unhoused. While Delhi led in the number of affected, other states where this was the primary cause of displacement included Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Assam. 

Another reason was infrastructure and ostensible "development" projects, including road widening, highway expansion, bridge construction, and "smart city" projects. This accounted for 35 per cent of affected persons, at least two lakh people over 2022 and 2023. The report notes that "Historically, marginalised communities have disproportionately borne the brunt of the country's development paradigm."

Environmental Projects, forest protection, and wildlife conservation reportedly resulted in the displacement and forced eviction of at least 34,000 individuals across both years, accounting for 16 per cent of the affected population. Other reasons include disaster management, tourism projects, and public safety.Â

RESETTLEMENT?

Resettlement and compensation were inadequately provided in instances of forced evictions recorded between 2023 and 2022. Out of the total 324 cases documented, the report found information on resettlement for only 122 instances. Among these, the state offered some form of resettlement or alternative housing in only 25 cases, partial resettlement in seven cases, and monetary compensation in just seven cases. This means that in 72 per cent of instances where information is available, affected persons were not adequately resettled or rehabilitated by the state.

In 2023, government authorities provided some form of resettlement or compensation in only 18 per cent of instances of forced evictions where information is available. Independent experts highlight the disproportionate impact of development projects on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes since India's independence in 1947. Among those displaced, 40 per cent were Adivasis, while 20 per cent were Dalits, with only one-third receiving resettlement assistance.

All the data present here by repetitive media house called India today so my opinion on that kind of constructive action taken by government is very outrageous like 58 people homeless every hour is the data generated by India today group above all the presentation is just a look what government did in your to be true uttar Pradesh so if you are a first time voter please go through with this article and take what are the profit and loss you wanna face according to your career or family if you are very one of them who do research and then cast vote I appreciate that kind of people because no other than can do if you have any hypothetical mindset to do so.