Brad Rockwell is a seasoned environmental lawyer based in Austin, Texas. His firm has a sabbatical program. We were delighted when he approached ACORN International about spending two months with us in what turned out to be a great experience for him and for ACORN India in early 2011 when he spend the time in Delhi helping on everything from the India FDI Watch Campaign to the ITO communities dislocation which our Commonwealth Games Campaign had not been able to stop.

MUMBAI: The realty market in Mumbai’s slums might be growing but it does not necessarily leave the city’s poor and marginalized better off. Activists and advocates say buying slum tenements is a risky proposition because of a host of reasons. 

“A slumdweller who has documents to prove that he has been living on the premises since 1995 is entitled for protection under the Slum Rehabilitation Authority scheme. He can get a flat when the slum is redeveloped. But if he sells the flat to someone else, the sale has no legal validity and the new occupant is not entitled to resettlement,” says Shakil Ahmad, a lawyer and human rights activist who grew up in the slums of Mumbai and continues to live there. 

Even when it comes to procuring the necessary documents for resettlement, the authorities play a cruel game with slumdwellers. A month ago, the civic body razed rows of hutments along the Dharavi pipeline even though the move went against a state ruling that prohibits slum demolitions during the monsoon. Many of those rendered homeless were found ineligible for resettlement since they did not have the required documents. And yet all of them had voted in the last election. 

“It’s ironic that the same people who are not entitled for a home are eligible for a voter ID card,” says Vinod Shetty, an advocate who has worked extensively with Dharavi residents. Shetty adds that it is extremely difficult for slumdwellers to get the right documents for rehabilitation without bribing civic officials. 

Since buying property in Mumbai’s slums is such a risky proposition, which brings along with it the constant spectre of demolitions, many slumdwellers are heading to distant suburbs such as Virar and Nalasopara in search of a home. 

The flipside of staying so far away, of course, is the long commute to one’s place of employment. But not everyone chooses to continue with his or her earlier employment in Mumbai. 

“When it comes to domestic workers or hawkers, their place of work is often fluid, and they find jobs at their new location. The problem is that, much like the middle class, those living in slums for decades build strong community networks, which are shattered when they are forced to relocate to the distant suburbs. Their regular lives and schedules too are disrupted. For instance, women who have worked out an arrangement for getting water in one area may find it difficult to do so all over again in a new location,” says a researcher who recently contributed to a book on Dharavi.

These are photo’s from the Sabda community where ACORN India organizes.

Buenos Aires, 02 de mayo de 2011

Informe Abril ACORN Argentina

Responsable: Yadira Micolta Victoria

El mes de abril fue de mucha bendición y éxito para Acorn-Argentina. El grupo de personas con la que estamos trabajando se ha ido consolidando cada día más y no solo eso sino que algunas mujeres de la comunidad que no estaban muy interesadas ahora son un miembro importante del grupo.

Por otro lado tuvimos la oportunidad de asistir a la 3 Feria de ONGs en Buenos Aires. Allí conocimos a muchas organizaciones que trabajan ayudando a la comunidad e hicimos lazos con ONGs que puedan beneficiar a los miembros de Acorn-Argentina. Uno de ellos fue el hecho de conocer al Club de Cine infantil La Linterna Mágica de Buenos Aires, quienes les dan la oportunidad a niños de escasos recursos de poder ver cine educativo. La Linterna Mágica de Buenos Aires le ha dado la oportunidad a 20 niños hijos de los miembros de Acorn-Argentina de asistir gratuitamente a ver las funciones todo el año, para nosotros es una alegría muy grande ya que sería la primera vez que estos niños pueden asistir al cine.

Por otro lado estamos haciendo contacto con la Organización Árboles Sin Frontera con quienes podríamos llegar a un acuerdo para iniciar una huerta que beneficie a los miembros de la comunidad.

Otro logro importante es el inicio de las clases de Inglés, Emma, una voluntaria de Estados Unidos dio la primera clase, deseamos la próxima semana continuar con ellas. Solo que el mal clima no nos ha permitido hacerlas con regularidad. También es importante contar la labor de Ali Schwach y su compañero Jessi, dos chicos de Estados Unidos que nos acompañaron un sábado en el Club Acorn.

Por último cabe resaltar el esfuerzo de nuestros miembros Mónica, Verónica, María, Alberto, Dennis y demás que han ayudado a iniciar la construcción del Centro cultural. Con mucho esfuerzo lo hemos iniciado, pero con la fe de que lo ¡Lograremos!, al hacerlo no solo conseguiremos más miembros para la organización sino que también alegraremos el corazón de los niños y jóvenes del Barrio Dorrego en Gonzalez Catán – La Matanza.

Este mes seguiremos trabajando en la construcción, e iremos a escuelas en donde contaremos un poco sobre el eco-ladrillo para iniciar con ellos la campaña e involucrar a estos chicos y a sus padres en la organización. Haremos algunos proyectos para pedir donaciones a las diferentes embajadas y trataremos de hacer muchos lazos con otras organizaciones.

Buenos Aires, May 2nd, 2011

Report: April- ACORN Argentina

Person in Charge: Yadira Micolta Victoria

The month of April was very successful for ACORN Argentina. The group of people we have been working with has strengthened day by day, and even some women of the community that were not very interested at first are now an important part of the group.

We had the opportunity to attend the 3^rd meeting of NGOs in Buenos Aires. There, we met many organizations that work with the community and we built ties with NGOs that can benefit ACORN Argentina members. One of these NGOs is Club de Cine infantil La Linterna Mágica de Buenos Aires, who give children from low income families the opportunity to watch educational films. La Linterna Magica has offered the chance for 20 children of ACORN Argentina members to attend their films all year long; this is a great joy for us as it would be the first time for these children to ever go to the cinema.

We have also got in touch with Organización Árboles Sin Frontera, with which we might be able to set a community garden that would benefit the members of the community.

Another important achievement has been the beginning of the English workshop. Emma, a volunteer from the United States taught the first class. The bad weather, however, has not allowed us to carry the classes regularly. Ali Schwach and Jessi, both from the United States, helped out with Club ACORN as well.

Finally, our members Mónica, Verónica, María, Alberto, Dennis and some others have helped in the building of our Centro Cultural. With lots of effort we have started it with the hope that we will make it. We believe we won’t only get more people to sign up and become members of the organization but we will also give joy to the children and youth of Barrio Dorrego en Gonzalez Catán, La Matanza.

This month we will continue building, and we will go to schools where we will talk about the ‘eco-ladrillo’ project so as to engage more children and their parents. We wish to do fundraising among various embassies, and we will try to keep on making ties with other organizations.

Report from Delhi (January to April 2011)

There are many jobs for wastepickers of all ages. 

Many members of ACORN in the ITO community are rickshaw pullers.