Project Mumbai Makeover: Casualties of Development

Shivali,
Do you have any constructive ideas of how to provide low cost housing? Is there any other state (including commie states) who have done that. Are there any other cities in india/world who have managed to provide decent housing to any person who immgrates barefoot/without a dime to a city?
I would appreciate if you can show how Vilasrao can handle the situation. If tomorrow another million people land in mumbai central, does that mean it is the obligation of maharashtra gov. to provide them low cost housing?
I have noticed that you haven`t replied to any if the questions so far. where are you?

Re: # 14 kahm

Nope - this time it`s the commies and fools. In stupidity, nobody can match Indian commies.

Re: # 8
//..., it gives a pretty clear idea about how the working class and poor folks are hated by middle class yuppies...//

Yes - that`s right - ``middle class`` hates the poor and you commies just love them, don`t you? you have been loving the poor for 57 years and that`s why you have kept them poor...

.....For 57 years, it is the same old mantra, same old stupidity that has been used to drive the nation to the ground - these f0ckers have kep the nation poor, wretched and begging. It`s always the same rhetoric, same old stupidity has been used stop all and any development work that drives a country.

And yet - since 1991, after the economic liberalisation [which the commies fought tooth and nail to stop], poverty has gone down from 40% to 25%[approx numbers]. And because of whom? ....... It`s the much-maligned and so-called ``middle class``. It`s them who finally got a chance to make money for the nation - it`s their hard work, productivity that has finally brought the nation out of the commie imposed gutter.

And yet - the commie moth@rf0ckers still keep on pontificating - keep on singing same old tunes ``We love the poor, and middle class hates the poor``. f*** off jack-a$$.

Re: # 13

Provide me proof that what this ``shivali tukdeo`` writes is true and i`ll retract my earlier statements.You`re just as `foolish` and `shameful` as you allege i am then, for supporting an article without providing proof that what this er, woman says is true, beyond a reasonable doubt.I will even go further and say that you are `foolish, shameful and disgusting`, to even support an unsubstantiated article full of suppositions.I stand by my earlier statements , unless offered proof that the article is based on fact and not on supposition.

...it`s the fault of muslims and AIMPLB...whatever it is....;)

Good article Shivali


prk
The problem is obviously more complex than meets the eye, but the purpose/priority of the government is not to cater to the olfactory receptors of visitors/tourists. It is to improve the lives of its citizens.

If the sight of the “hoardes of malnourished, stunted and poorly clothed humanity” disgusts you, maybe you shouldn’t visit; or better yet, you should do something to improve the fate of these people. The air traveler might deserve better, but so do those malnourished, poorly closed individuals you’re so repelled from.


Cayenne
What gives you the right to personally attack someone who has taken the time to write about an issue? You might not agree with what she wrote but it’s foolish and shameful of you to use such language.


Stayamvada
You seem well-intentioned also, but the reason India is “backward” is not because of “well intentioned” socialists. Instead, I think it is so because of a corrupt political system; people like Laloo, who believe that it’s their birthright to rule and amass personal wealth by hoarding govt./public funds. Maybe the public is at fault too, for accepting and voting for such people. I don’t need a Peruvian economist to teach me that. I don’t espouse to the socialist philosophy but don’t know of any socialists who have held back India/Pakistan’s progress.

Your reply implies that the country cannot progress without eradicating the poor; not by programs that develop a means for a reduction in poverty but by shoveling them out of town. This is simply not true. Your comment seems well-intentioned, but you appear ignorant to reality.



Shivali, keep on writing; don`t let anyone discourage you

#8 by kunal on July 11, 2005 8:05am PT


And from the responses here, it gives a pretty clear idea about how the working class and poor folks are hated by middle class yuppies.
Poor people and smell on the airport are an eyesore to these `firangi`Indians!!!


If it were up to the NRIs, the poor people wouldn`t be poor.....the miracle of capitalism would have provided them an opportunity to move out of the slums...na rahe baas..

commies such as yourself are what keeps the poor poor...without poverty, there can be no ``garibi hatao``..

``Incidentally, when thousands of evicted people had no home to go to, the government was busy hosting Pravasi Bharatiya Sammelan 2005 (Convention of the Non-Resident Indians) in Mumbai from January 7-9. Deshmukh welcomed his rich NRI brethren with open arms, assuring them “the best investment climate in the country” and offered “a red carpet” to overseas Indians who would be willing to invest in “health, education, power, water, sun radiation (whatever that means!), communication, IT, and BT.” [1] Bending backwards to attract foreign investment, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made a historic announcement in the same convention: dual citizenship for overseas Indians. With an entire ministry catered to Overseas Indians, and aggressive neoliberal policies advocating for greater freedom to corporations, the “global Indian power” dream is dreamed at the cost of denying basic rights to poor.``

I really don`t understand what PBS has to do with demolitions. PBS has been going on for years now. And it is sponsored by Central gov. Is showcasing the potential of a state a crime? Is inviting investment anti-poor and will cause more homelessness? A significant amount of FDI that China received was from Non-resident Chinese from all over the world.

Re: # 8

``Poor people and smell on the airport are an eyesore to these `firangi`Indians!!! ``

shouldn`t poorly designed/user unfriendly structure in the economical capital of the country be an ``eyeshore``?
I think you need to get over ``poor means non-materialist and dirty means spiritual`` kind of mentality.

No one is showing any hatred towards poor. They just don`t want people to brag public propery for themselves whether they are poor immigrants or Hiranandani himself.

Its a shame that a country who aims to be equal among the economic/military powers in the world cannot even have a decent international quality airport.

Re: # 7 prk

``I believe we should ask Mr. Vilasrao Deshmukh to first improve the Bombay International airport which is but a showcase for the rest of Bombay``

Doesn`t that come under Aviation ministry? Mr. Patel was making some noise about it. I think they were talking about privatising it. There was some union tussle too.

Hello! Good article.. And from the responses here, it gives a pretty clear idea about how the working class and poor folks are hated by middle class yuppies. Poor people and smell on the airport are an eyesore to these `firangi`Indians!!!

It is good that the govt is facing embarrassment for demolishing the huts of the poor. Will they dare do that to a Hiranandani?

I am sure the problem is more complex than meets the eye. I believe we should ask Mr. Vilasrao Deshmukh to first improve the Bombay International airport which is but a showcase for the rest of Bombay- A giant toilet/urinal for the 65% of its people who live on pavements and slums. It is difficult to pay much attention to all the tall talk for anyone who deplanes at Bombay and has to smell the smells and see the hoardes of malnourished, stunted and poorly clothed humanity. Leaving aside any political leanings, the air traveller deserves better than the current Bombay airport- but then it is but a barometer of what all is wrong with Bombay.
When I spoke to a ``Mumbaikar`` visiting the US about the reported extortions by the Shiv Sena, I was taken aback by the response-``ammala teys bareh`` (We like it as is).
I wonder whether there is any hope for Bombay.
PRK.

Re: # 3

This link should `educate` you i hope, on what india is all about.A picture speaks a thousand words.....

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=225105

Cheers.

`` These evacuations were carried out to give way to risk-free investments and foreign markets`` ....huh ?

Shivali - you are probably young and well intentioned - but, you have no knowledge
of economics or public policy.
But, I am glad that you took some time to write and display your ignorance, that
gives you an opportunity to educate and really improve yourself.

The reason India is backward - is precisely because of ``well intentioned`` socialists
who want to use other peoples money. All that land in mumbai filled with squatters
is not their own land - it is someone elses` property. Millions of mumbai people
have alrealy been ``regularized`` (what a word). It is high time that property rights
are enforced in Mumbai.
Maybe we should have some squatters in your house or land and then you will know.

I also urge you to read the work of Hernando De Soto (the Peruvian economist) who
has written a book called - The Myth Of Capital.

Re: # 3

Point taken.I live in India, and most allegations such as these are made by elite individuals who assume that just because someone is poor, they are not subject to the same rules and regulations as those who fall in the middle class category.These people are similar to the poor.They don`t play by the rules either.Also, many of the allegations made in this article are false and i assume not even written by an indian.The article smacks of assumed thoughts.Did you write this article??.

@Cayenne,

Why not attack the article and its material rather than making unsubstantiated allegations on her assumed background and motivations?

Or is trouble in paradise so hard for you to bear that you must shore up your own perceptions by a quick link to the contrary? :)

Regards,
Irfan.