BBMP dithering leaves forest tribe stuck in Kengeri slum

Government indifference has forced the Hakki Pikki tribes to live in slums.

By Tej Sapru

BANGALORE (Nov. 28)—The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike has yet to allocate houses to members of the Hakki Pikki tribe, who are being forced to live in a squatting community in Kengeri.

“We have been fighting to get them houses for the past three years,” said Chandramma, a field officer for Slum Janandolana, a group that is fighting for the rights of slum dwellers. “The BBMP has just proposed a budget of Rs.6.4 million to build 134 houses in Taverkere.”

Despite what she has been told, neither the squatters, nor members of Slum Janandolana have been provided any proof of ownership. The authorities deny the existence of such a budget.

“There is no plan as such from our side,” said Mr. Jagannath, the executive engineer for the BBMP in Tavarekere.
This is not the first time that the tribespeople have been promised land they did not receive.

“They were allotted land in Tavarkere before, but they were kicked out from there by a politician when the value of that land rose,” Chandramma said.

She did not know the name of the man responsible as no document was ever provided.

Authorities shirking responsibility

Those fighting to get the Hakki Pikkis homes to live in have no choice but to take the government at its word as no one appears to be willing to take responsibility for housing the tribespeople.

“I keep going to the DC [deputy commissioner] officer in Majestic to talk to people from different departments,” said A. Narsamurthy, the state convener for Slum Janandolana. “I will take whoever will talk to me.”

Meanwhile, the Hakki Pikkis continue to live in plastic and thatch huts without access to water, electricity or toilets.
The squatters in Kengeri are one group out of a 500-strong community that squats in areas around Kengeri and Mysore road.

The Hakki Pikkis used to live off the forest around Bannerghatta, but when the city expanded over the forest, they were forced to give up their way of life and subsist by selling flower decorations that they make out of plastic and straws.

Until someone takes responsibility for their wellbeing, they will continue to face the difficulties that they have lived with for nearly two decades.

“The locals harass us and burn our huts, and every time there is a function we have to take down the tents,” said Killo, a squatter in Kengeri.