Nitu’s primary area of interest is working with slum communities to help deal with the problems they face regarding electricity, roads, water and drainage. She feels that the political leaders claim that they have done work in these communities but the reality is different. She has found a new tool in video which can help her document issues that have…

Nitu Chakhia

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The government of Odisha demolished houses of 60 families without any prior notification and used police force to confine the residents when they protested and pleaded them to at least take out their belongings. This kind of demolition, rendered illegal in India and other parts of the world under Article 11(1) of International Covenant of Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, not just robs people of a roof above their heads but often takes away everything they have acquired through their life, material and nonmaterial.

After demolition, the community had been at the spot for 3 days, without food and without shelter. The community carried protest rally against the illegal demolition of their homes after which the local MLA, Bijay Jumar Mohanty, approached the Indian Red Cross who then distributed polythene sheets to the 60 families, enabling them to make at least a  temporary shelter.  Suresh Chandra Jena, Ward Corporator, met the Mayor of BMC who has promised to help. Lalita Jena, one of the residents whose house was demolished filed applications in various government offices asking the Bhubaneswar Municipality Corporation to to rebuild their houses at the same spot. 

Nitu Chakhia from Khurda district of Odisha reports for IndiaUnheard

Community Correspondents comes from marginalized communities in India and produce videos on unreported stories. These stories are ’news by those who live it.’ They give the hyper local context to global human rights and development challenges. See more such videos at www.videovolunteers.org. Take action for a more just global media by sharing their videos and joining in their call for change.