WHAT MAKES A ‘HOME’ | Demolition Drives in Delhi

March 09, 2024
By Tej Bahadur Singh

The video delves into the lives of Delhi's slum dwellers, whose homes perpetually face the threat of demolition. Despite their relentless toil, these residents live with the constant fear of losing everything in an instant. Disillusioned by broken government promises, they grapple with the harsh reality of transitioning from hopeful homeowners to helpless individuals without shelter. In a recent case, on May 19, 2023, residents of Priyanka Gandhi Camp in Vasant Vihar, Delhi, received official notices from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to vacate the land by June 15, 2023. Despite legal battles fought by the PG camp residents, their ‘Jhuggis’ (slums) were ultimately demolished. Between April 1 and July 27, 2023, Delhi witnessed 49 demolition drives. In 2023, at least 1600 homes have been destroyed and about 2,50,000 are homeless in India’s Capital. This story is about the plight of those who become homeless overnight.