Moodubelle: Dispossessed people from Padubelle march to Grama Panchayat
By Eugene Moodubelle
Pictures by Anil Alva
Bellevision Media Network
Moodubelle, 26 August 2011: Nearly 125 persons from Padubelle and Pamboor showing solidarity with the families of seven houses demolished by the Belle Grama Panchayat on the explicit orders from the Tahshildar on Wednesday, August 24, 2011, as these hutments were on the government revenue land, hence illegal, organized a protest march to the Grama Panchayat Office on Friday, August 26, 2011 at 11 am and submitted an appeal to consider their case on humanitarian grounds.
The protest march was led by Anil D’Souza, Shankar Kotian, Santosh, Prasad and Rakesh. According to Anil D’Souza, the Grama Panchayat at least should have given notice to these illegal residents so that they could at least make some other arrangements. He said that though most of the residents in the locality have no legal documents, they had been residing in their hutments for the last ten years.
Following the march, the representatives submitted an appeal to Mrs. Jacinta Aranha, President of the Belle Grama Panchayat. Tracing the circumstances to the demolition of the hutments, Mrs. Jacinta Aranha said that as these hutments have been built illegally on revenue land, the Tahshildar had ordered that these hutments had to be demolished. However, she assured the affected people that if they can produce any legal document, they can be given settlements under the Indira-Basava Programme for the homeless in the village. The Village Accountant said that he had personally visited the site and had asked the illegal residents to vacate the land.
Sashidhar Wagle, the former President of the Belle Grama Panchayat addressing the protesters said that there are a number of people coming from other regions and working in the stone quarries have been illegally constructing shanties and claiming the right of residence on the government land. He said that those who employ these quarry workers have the responsibility to provide them lodging. He also said that those local people who are in possession of some kind of domicile records can register their names with the Grama Panchayat so that alternate housing with government grant can be provided under the Indira-Basava Housing Programme. He asked the protesters to cooperate with the Panchayat and put a halt to their protest.
Having no definite answers from the Panchayat officials as they tried to convince them that the action was taken entirely on the orders from the Tahshildar as they had been occupying the revenue land, the protestors had no other option but to return practically empty handed with an assurance the cases of those who are eligible for rehabilitation would be considered sympathetically.
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| Philip Mudartha, Qatar | Tue, September-27-2011, 2:14 |
| 1. Does anyone know if district administration took penalizing actions against quarrying licensees who broke the law by not providing stipulated lodging to their employees? Their licenses could be canceled, they could be fined and even jailed, right? 2. When diseases like Malaria, Dengue Fever spread, the quarry owners will not escape wrath. In your own interest, plow some of your profits into providing decent housing. Tenement owners would earn some rent and local economy will grow. 3. The quarrying revenues brings wealth into the village economy, several folds than our remittances from abroad. Small businesses like groceries, canteens, liquor shops and A-Z stores survive because of their spending. They are important for local economy. The GP must build consensus with TP ZP, and take remedial actions with employers immediately. 4. The price of a stone could go up due to the extra expense, but then contractors will pass the burden to end users, us, which is okay, if we want to build stone palaces. | |
| Anil, kanjer | Mon, August-29-2011, 3:50 |
| What A great, our political leaders are responsible for what is happening, when voting is on the way, they join hands beg for votes give them money, land for staying, vote for ( Dummy Voters)us | |
| Benedict Noronha, Udupi/Muscat | Mon, August-29-2011, 12:04 |
| Mr Anil your reactions are welcome as these comments showed some maturity and not attack.I had mentioned that corrupt system has made it. When there is provision for providing house sites why the authority has not done is my point. It is the land awailable for granting sites. This land does not belong to you or me. There is no question govt. providing sites for housing in my lands. When one comments it shall not touch individuals but for gereal awareness and possible solutions. Hence I gave the reactions. For the information of the viewers I may recall that one person called me in the night as if it is a threat to me. I did not care, and reacted in these columns so that he would reveal his identitiy. He perhaps is a timid guy. Anyway none paid for me for taking photgraphs and report and also fighting with the Department, but they did the job and many are benefited in saving fuel for going and returing to Pambur via Vented dam until river was full by rains. Now Udupi D.C. has directed the concerned engineers to take up the work so that the facility is useable as soon as the rainy seaon is over. let us see. I have not taken up Advocacy to make money. | |
| Anil, Bantakal | Sun, August-28-2011, 11:40 |
| The actual picture u may dont know . For your kind infomation Panchayat people had given notice for only one person i.e. Muslim family located near Ramchandra Nayaks poultry. But without any notice they had directly came and demolished two Christian houses who had build their houses in Govt.sanctioned area for the poor ones.Sad thing is that the earlier-ex Panchayat member who had shown the place for both of them.This is what the Panchayat people did. I am not against removing Kallu Kutties hut, their shelter responsibility belongs to their owner. Only sad things is that without intimation and in absence of V.A along with panchyat people this tragedy happend. All party people are playing for vote purpose.One is showing and the other one demolish.Poor People became puppet in leaders hand. | |
| Abraham Vincent Fernandes, Moodubelle | Sun, August-28-2011, 11:22 |
| After reading the entire report of Mr. Eugene D souza i found the demolition was done as per the orders of Udupi Tehsildar and why these kallukutties and their local supporters protest against Belle panchayat....? I think somebody gaining something out of it. The quarry owners should provide shelter to these innocent and poor workers irrespective of which part of India they belong to. Afterall they are Indians. Demolition during rainy season is inhuman act and wrong. | |
| Benedict Noronha, Udupi/Muscat | Sat, August-27-2011, 9:28 |
| I am sorry to state that Anil from Pambur is not understanding in a broader perspective.government had given lands and offered more but the leaders of Manasa did not want to cross the road.If you do not know, I had only suggested Dr Edward Lobo, about the present place applying through D.C. then and he got it that way. They had plans to get lands Mr of Mr Gomes from Shirva,Leaders of Manasa never acknowledged it, but I do not expect that. My wish was fulfilled and glad that Manasa is on the road leading to my home.Mr Anil,I was there and even now I am there without claimimg credit for any thing. Im an Indian and work for the people, the poor.. Kindly note what you say and how you say it. | |
| Anil, Pamboor | Sat, August-27-2011, 4:24 |
| Why should Panchayath give these kallu kutties Govt land? Why not these money maker (mining contractors) give their land (sponsour of these kallu kutties)Before they come to Pamboor they should have arranged houses to them.They can give them min Rs 50000 advance why not house/accomodation?,Dear Benny you are right that they are Indians.When theier houses demolized from kunjargiri that time also they are indians,What are you doing at that time? Why they need Pamboor land? Give this land to manasa they really need the for special childrens development. | |
| sequeira, pamboor | Fri, August-26-2011, 4:38 |
| Dear Leaders it is too late,But great job,Keep it up since your elected you only took fruits and garlands,This is one job you done it we can remeber you,ther still more act ASAP, | |
| Stanly, Belle | Fri, August-26-2011, 4:31 |
| At last a great job from belle panchayath.I am really shock few leaders give them alcohol for vote,Now they are watching the Drama SHAME ON THESE Leaders,You shown your true colour,These people should leave pamboor and go to chenni,Dear benny anna they are indians.Please give your empty land to these KALLU KUTTIES,And please take their case you may win this case, | |
| Benedict Noronha, Udupi/Muscat | Fri, August-26-2011, 12:01 |
| It is an unfair act and a sort of corrupt attitude of the Government. There is alternative and the government should have regularised the occupation. Perhaps they could not bribe this corrupt officer in Mr Prasanna, and he has not acted to provide sites for them. This must be condemned and all should be provided residential arrangements. We are in India. | |
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