Unable to use toilets Dharavi residents miffed at their Minister after COVID-19 red alert

Tired of non-availability of MLA Varsha , residents write to BMC chief Praveen Pardeshi

Mumbai: Soon after the meeting of the Maharashtra state cabinet Education Minister and MLA from Dharavi Constituency, Varsha Gaikwad released a video on Twitter, that she has asked her cabinet colleague and Home Minister Anil Deshmukh to direct the police to enforce a strict lockdown in Dharavi area.

So far, Dharavi has witnessed three deaths and about 13 positive patients due to Coronavirus. As the state has marked at least 10 localities as red-flagged in Dharavi, all the movement of people have been stopped in fear of coronavirus spreading in city and consequently across the state.

The outbreak of Coronavirus can be only controlled by social distancing and regular washing of ones hands. The families of the biggest slum are unable to go relieve themselves and even the other toilets, which are open for public use, do not have soap or liquid hand wash to clean their hands. The families living in 100 sq ft room, find difficult to understand how to go ahead with social distancing under these tight situations that have resulted in Dharavi after lockdown.

At the same time, the Slum Redevelopment Committee (SRC ) of Dharavi – Asia’s the biggest slum has raised their demands to re-open the  public toilets, regular supply of electricity and water for families with Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) municipal commissioner Parveen Pardeshi. 

Speaking to TheNews21, Rajendra Korde, the President of the Slum Redevelopment Committee of Dharavi said that MLA and Minister Varsha Gaikwad has not been answering their phone calls and not even ready to meet any one to understand the issues cropped up due to the red-flagged lockdown in Dharavi.

“The public toilet operators were asked by the health and civic authorities not to charge any money from any locals here. Following which many have closed down the public toilets. Now people have to go to other public toilets which are open, however the police is beating up residents very badly. In some parts even electricity supply is not continuous,  thus people cannot live in the lockdown situation at home,” said Korde.

He also told that the health centers and private clinics are closed here. The residents of Dharavi regularly need health checkups. There are about 2,00,000 families residing in Asia’s the biggest slum Dharavi.

The Association has sent their demand letter to the civic chief on Whatsapp as their local MLA and Minister Varsha Gaikwad is not reachable for them..

Possibility of a ticking time-bomb in the wake of Coronavirus outburst, the state civic health and police department have tightened the lockdown in Asia’s the biggest slum-Dharavi.

At least 10 localities in the 2.25 sq. kms area have been red-flagged and all movement of people stopped, all shops and establishments, fruit/vegetable markets or vendors, hawkers and others have been shut down, barring pharmacies. In order to ease peoples’ unrest in the area, the BMC plans to come up with a scheme for doorstep delivery of essentials shortly. 

By Santoshee Gulabkali Mishra