AAP's Quality Check: How Do Jhuggi-Jhopdi People's Expectations Differ From Mainstream?

Okhla, New Delhi: As assembly elections are around the corner, Timeline reached out to the people living in jhuggi-jhopdi (slums) in Okhla, New Delhi. When we reached the location, the first thing that caught our attention was the people sitting on the top of piles of garbage. This is part of their routine life. For those living in colonies or pucca houses, taking a walk over the garbage may seem a tough task, but for the people who live there, it is part of their daily existence. They became numb to the surroundings due to the negligence of local administration, and reportedly, politicians visit the area only during the election times.

The main objective of the Timeline report was to understand the political preferences of the people living in jhuggis regarding the upcoming Delhi Assembly Elections 2025. It seems people living in the jhuggis appear to be rather disappointed by the consecutive governments for their negligence and lack of facilities that were once promised by the political parties in manifestos.

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While talking to the people, it became quite clear that the needs, expectations, and demands of a poor section of the population living in jhuggis are entirely different from those of the mainstream public. Promises for free light, free water, free bus service, the promise of good roads, free healthcare, and insurance schemes look like a distant dream to them. They cannot access these facilities as the living standard is already restricted by poverty. The promises of political parties do not reach there. Here are some of the details of the interview conducted with those living in jhuggis in Okhla to understand their expectations as well as their disappointments and anger towards political leaders.

(The names of the interviewees have been changed considering their requests).

When asked Mohammad Shamshad about his vote preference, he said, “I have not decided yet. Let’s see. We will vote for who seems deserving. The Mohalla Panch (Resident Elders) will decide, and we will vote for that candidate.” When asked about the work of the existing Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA, he said, “He is doing fine but not here.” “Cleanliness remains one of the major factors while we go for voting,” he said. However, he seemed satisfied with the free light and healthcare facilities but found the health facilities, like hospitals, are distant, which requires them to spend money and time to reach.

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Another woman, during the interview, appeared aggrieved by the negligence of the local political leader. She outrightly rejected giving an interview and said, “Nobody comes here to visit the poor. They only come when they need votes. Look at the garbage and blocked sewer around. We don’t get drinking water and buy it for daily consumption.”

“Gareeb ko koi nahi dekhta (Nobody looks at the poor),” she said and kept doing her home chores unabated.

Mohammad Jamal said he will “vote for the one who is leading.” He also seemed dissatisfied with the performance of political parties in jhuggis. “Nobody came to visit us when waterlogging happened during the monsoon. We had to suffer alone without any external support,” shared Jamal. “Every vote is worth Rs. 1 crore, so we should be taken with proper care. People only visit us only during elections,” he said.

When asked about using the ‘NOTA’ button, he said that there is no use in wasting votes, and added that he would give it to the one who is leading. Employment opportunities should be increased since all his sons are involved in manual labour work, he said. Mr. He further emphasised the reduction of prices of commodities, which impacts their day-to-day lives.

A 20-year-old Afsana, who could not complete her education after her father’s demise, questioned the good conditions of government schools, as she could not attend after class 8, which requires submitting a school fee. “We don’t travel long distances and never use free bus service. Male members of our house had to pay. Hospitals are unapproachable as they are far, and we had to travel by personal transport for the treatment of our ill father,” she said. Poor people living in jhuggis cannot take advantage of the services provided by the government as our lives are different, she added. “We bring drinking water from outside as there is no clean drinking water facility here,” Afsana told Timeline.

Faheema Khatoon, sitting in her small jhuggi, also shared her concerns regarding the lack of drinking water facilities, lack of cleanliness, unapproachable healthcare facilities, and day-to-day struggles with life. “No one works for the poor. Today come here and see us. They only come for the votes.” Another woman standing nearby shared her views on how government hospitals are unapproachable for the poor and have to suffer. However, she seemed happy with the AAP government’s school progress but expects the leaders to pay more attention to their plights.

After talking to more people living in jhuggis, it appeared that the basic facilities and promises made by governments do not reach them. The people living there feel rejected and dejected at the same time as they feel that they are being used for votes only. Another man said that MCD vehicles do not come and clean here; people have to clean their areas by themselves.

When asked about whether the local residents have ever complained about the cleanliness issue to MCD officials or local leader, one resident said, “We have complained multiple times but nobody bother to hear our requrests. They do not come even after complaining several times”.

While being asked about voting for the BJP candidate, as the Modi government has promised to keep the existing schemes intact and open ‘Atal Canteens’ in JJ clusters, people questioned the status of jhuggis and the idea of canteens in BJP-ruled states. “BJP has formed governments in around 20 states as a single party and in coalition, are they giving free food or free electricity and water there. We could trust him if all the promises were implemented in other BJP-ruling states first”, said one resident of Jhuggi in Okhla.

Reported by Uzma Parveen.