Faridabad: UN rapporteurs urge Centre to halt eviction of Khori villagers
Faridabad, July 16
UN Special Rapporteurs on Human Rights today called on the Indian Government to halt the eviction of Khori residents, whose houses have been demolished following a Supreme Court order of razing encroachments on the Aravalli forestland.
Twice cursed: First cheated by land mafia, Khori dwellers now rendered homeless
The demolition drive was launched on Wednesday.
“We appeal to the Indian Government to respect its laws and the goal of eliminating homelessness by 2022, and to spare the homes of 1,00,000 persons, who mostly come from minority and marginalised communities,” UN human rights rapporteurs said in a statement.
Temporary shelter set up for oustees
- The MC has built a temporary shelter for the Khori oustees at Radha Soami Bhawan. They will be given food and shelter till they are rehabilitated
- MC Commissioner Garima Mittal said: “The MC will allot EWS flats to oustees who will get themselves registered and fulfil the conditions in the policy.”
“We call on India to urgently review its plans of razing Khori village and consider regularising the settlements so as not to leave anyone homeless. No one should be forcibly evicted without adequate and timely compensation.”
The experts quoted in the press release included Balakrishnan Rajagopal, special rapporteur on adequate housing; Mary Lawlor, special rapporteur on the situation of human rights; Cecilia Jimenez-Damary, special rapporteur on human rights of internally displaced persons; Fernand de Varennes, special rapporteur on minority issues; Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, special rapporteur on human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation; Olivier De Schutter, special rapporteur on poverty and human rights; and Koumbou Boly Barry, special rapporteur on the right to education. — TNS
