Madrasi Camp demolished; what about the homeless residents?
Tamil migrants in Jangpura's Madrasi Camp bear the brunt of the Barapullah cleanup drive, as many of these families have nowhere to go
It wasn’t a usual Sunday for the families of Madrasi Camp in Delhi’s Jangpura. Over 370 families, mostly Tamil migrants, were left homeless as JCBs razed their homes following a Delhi High Court order to clear the Barapullah drain.
The demolition has turned Madrasi Camp — once a haven for migrants — into a field of rubble and uncertainty. While some families have been relocated, others are left to fend for themselves on the streets.
Court order fallout
The demolition drive was carried out following the Delhi High Court's May 9 order, which called for the clearance of the slum area for cleaning the Barapullah drain. The operation, though lawful, has triggered widespread distress among the residents.
Out of 370 affected families, 189 have been shifted to Narela in north Delhi under the prime minister's 'Jahan Jhuggi Waha Makaan' rehabilitation scheme. But the rest were not so lucky.
Dozens of displaced residents sat helplessly with their belongings beside the drain, staring at the rubble of what was once their home.
One of the residents said, "LG Sir told them to remove all the ready tracks and the slums and that a picnic spot will be made in that place. The drain will be made beautiful and people will enjoy having tea and breakfast here. You tell me what will you do by building a picnic spot when people are not there?"
Anger and grief
The Federal’s reporter, Aranya Shankar, visited the area last week and spoke to several residents who had lived there for decades. Many expressed their anguish and frustration over the government's abrupt action.
“They came with bulldozers without even giving us time to collect our belongings,” said a long-time resident. “Where are we supposed to go now?” Another added, “We are not against development, but why weren’t we given proper notice or alternative housing?”
Protest and security
In response to the demolition, the residents launched a protest on Sunday. A large police force, along with riot control vehicles and personnel from the Rapid Action Force, was deployed to maintain order.
This is not the first wave of demolitions. Back in September 2024, when the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was in power, it accused the BJP of engineering the evictions for political gains.
Now, with the BJP in control of the Delhi government, the big question remains: Will it act to house those left behind, or will these families be left to live on the streets?
The political question
As Delhi’s ruling party changes, so do the narratives. But for the people of Madrasi Camp, politics means little when their homes are in ruins and no alternatives are offered.
The demolition has once again raised the broader issue of urban rehabilitation, migrant housing rights, and government accountability.
Will the government step up with inclusive rehabilitation, or is this the end of the road for the remaining families of Madrasi Camp?
(The content above has been generated using a fine-tuned AI model. To ensure accuracy, quality, and editorial integrity, we employ a Human-In-The-Loop (HITL) process. While AI assists in creating the initial draft, our experienced editorial team carefully reviews, edits, and refines the content before publication. At The Federal, we combine the efficiency of AI with the expertise of human editors to deliver reliable and insightful journalism.)
