Citizens Raise Voice and Defend their Rights in Chhapra

The urban poor community of Chhapra recently adopted a new strategy to raise their voice and defend their rights. On 10 April 2013, slum dwellers from ten localities held a public meeting on the pavement in front of one of the most emblematic landmarks of the city, ‘Municipal Chowk’. The meeting intended to bring to the attention of the media and other city-dwellers their issues. They used the occasion to submit a memorandum to the Chhapra Municipal Council and District Magistrate’s Office. The memorandum comprised a list of seven demands, such as delivery of BPL cards, widow pensions and proper water distribution, and was aimed at making the municipal council accountable to its mandate of providing these entitlements to slum dwellers.

Even though it may be too early to declare this mobilization has achieved its ultimate objective, the municipality has shown a positive response and assured all possible support to address the issues as soon as possible. This collective voice of the urban poor is the result of PRIA’s efforts at mobilization and collectivization under the project Strengthening Civil Society Voice on Urban Poverty (http://www.pria.org/in-focus-strengthening-voices-of-civil-society-on-urban-poverty) to prepare informed and active citizens.