16 years on… 2002 riot victims wait to get their homes

Sixteen years after they were first displaced following the 2002 riots that followed the Godhra Train carnage, several survivors are not just battling lack of basic facilities but also struggling to get their house titles to their own names.

At a meeting held to discuss the various issues faced by those living in colonies set up for riot victims, many survivors spoke about how those who helped them were now threatening to evict them if they did not follow their diktats.

Though these people have been living in the shanty colonies for over 16 years and many lack titles to their house, it keeps them away from paying various benefits including those of home and educational loans.

Shamshad Pathan of Jan Sangharsh Manch (JSM) an organisation that was at the forefront of fighting several legal battles for the riot victims said that many of the colonies were set up by charity money. “A number of religious organisation bought land or built the shelters on donated land. However, there have been several financial irregularities over the years. The worst of all is the refusal of these organisations, or even landowners to give the title of the respective houses to those who live in them,” …read more