Slum dwellers demonstrate near Assembly

Hundreds of slum dwellers today staged demonstration near the Assembly and demanded a halt in demolishing of slums sans rehabilitation, and issuance of identity cards.
The slum dwellers under the banner of 'Basti Basinda Milita Mancha', started a padyatra from Cuttack yesterday which reached before the Assembly today.
Pratap Kumar Sahu, convener of the Mancha, demanded construction of pucca houses for them under the Rajiv Awas Yojana, acceleration of construction projects under the integrated slum development scheme at Tanla Sahi and other places in Cuttack.
He blamed the state government for making the slum dwellers homeless without making any provision for them.

People from different section of the society comprising physically challenged, women and children took part in the padyatra.
The Mancha leaders presented a charter of demands to the Governor, the Chief Minister and the Urban Development Minister and threatened to intensify the agitation if their demands are ignored.