krvia _ gaothan, koliwada, adivasi

MCGM as part of their series of consultation workshops with citizen groups organised one for indigenous communities in the city. Coordinated by the KRVIA on January 18th 2014 at F/S Ward Office [Parel, Mumbai] the gathering presented and discussed with the municipal corporation several issues that were hindering the desired growth of these people groups. Being conducted in Marathi the notes are an outcome from the English conversations that have crept in between and those which could be understood with reference to the slides shown. Several presentations were discussed and individual points both as statements and question and answer sessions were part of the proceedings. The text for obvious reasons does not detail every stage and is to be seen as a personal summary of the proceedings.

Distinction of an urban village, compared with other land parcels introduces the case for adivasipada, koliwada and gaothans as formations to be recognised in the city. History of foundation of each of the identified settlements thus becomes a starting point towards stating the significance of their presence in the agglomeration. Communal ownership is the key here and the resulting activity types of the resident populous should be considered as foundation for its development. The immediate context, the setting of these villages is to be noted for their successive expansion over time. Policies made for the city at large should facilitate modifications to cater to the issues to be addressed in the case of these formations as per type.

Issuing specifics of adivasipada there is a certain concern on matters regarding land ownership as no designated claimant is available to the land the adivasi hold stake to. Considering the case it is required that basic services are given to all groups under any identifiable circumstance as matter of principle. If special status is to instituted it has to be confirmed upon and necessary done that adivasi as a people group isn’t left out of the conversation. Of note is that adivasi isn’t slums and therefore shouldn’t be considered as squatters of the land. Development model is ideally then distinct from that of slums. Consideration is taken towards community development unlike individual family resettlement. Rightful survey of existing neighbourhoods is necessitated to ideate an apt guideline being adopted for adivasi upliftment in the city. A bhavan or community centre is to be earmarked to give a distinct identity at the city level.

Kolis up the ante with demands of sons of soil status. With this then is special reservation for the koliwadas and their housing needs. Urban fishing village delineation a sub-type of the urban village is suggested. As with the adivasi the koli’s too requests a Machimar Bhavan/ community centre. Special markets/ fishing village markets for catch as part of economic development guidelines are proposed. These are recommended to be managed by the community women’s association and to be adequately serviced. As the community has a distinct visual identity, enforcing an agenda for community based tourism was discussed by koli representatives. Sea food stalls could also be allocated in neighbourhoods to add to the economy of the community. City wide plans such as location of treatment plants along the coast, water transport, sea link and coastal road should immediately consider the fishing community as stakeholder and scenarios factor in their safety and wellbeing. Special development control regulations are to be made for villages as per their location in the city. These new regulations when brought in force should consider broader guidelines such as the 2011 CRZ notifications.

The present clime of market driven redevelopment was put forward for discussion. In case of villages form based codes such as heights in place of FSI was proposed. To define communities that necessitates special consideration is the need of the hour. This worked in conjunction with role that heritage guidelines play in the existing plan. Trusts, an instrument as caretakers of land was also discussed. Veering dialogues of possibilities are oftentimes reprimanded by constraints on what are the possibilities of the statutory development plan and its performance parameters. Redevelopment tactics employed in other residential areas isn’t a desired model to be reissued at areas occupied by indigenous communities. Needs of the land occupied here are inherently distinct to standard areas of habitation and to incorporate these requirements is to be the pursuit of any redevelopment in these areas. As with empowered committees such as those for heritage, commissioned individuals could be instituted to coordinate the wellbeing of communities. Unlike trusts these should be government appointed and is to be the interface for dealing with concerns and issues of the indigenous populace. Existing services such as google maps/ public available mapping systems could be appropriated to further assist land issues when applied in a manner that facilitates engagement during participatory exercises.

With East Indian community, condition of their houses/ buildings is the primary subject of the discussions. Maintenance of heritage buildings comes across as the main issue of grief. Form based codes are requested here too with some level of government funds granted because of cultural significance attributed to residences in the community. These monies would be used towards the repairs of the structures. In expressing increasing values of properties and the resulting pressures to succumb to them suggestions were put forward to introduce air rights such that these could be sold to preserve the existing form if the need arises. Goathons could be earmarked as tourist zones and resulting policies that sustains them should be implemented. A housing expansion scheme is an integrated part of any format in policy considerations. The sons of soil card was drawn again to request a central community centre. Stalls/ commercial programming to address sale of community food and artefacts where applicable should be encouraged. In addition to facilitating finances for building repairs a gaothan fund could look into the cultural requirements of community too. Names of streets could all be renamed after prominent residents therefore further adding to the locality identity.

A city wide or local gaothan panchayat should be established to voice and stage the rights of the community. Suggestions such as community land reservations, scaled development and enforcing the special building guidelines for areas under their jurisdiction is of preview of the governing agency. In essence protection of land is to be the mandate. Clear demarcation of land should made available for regulation via a multiplicity of means to ease any hindrances that may arise during repair or redevelopment. Noise and mechanical vibrations at the time of plot or street level refurbishments should have prerequisite controls in place as these at the moment are inching away at the fabric. Older structures of the gaothan are in urgent need of up gradation as services in them in several locations are still using technologies applied at the time of their original construction. Development of what is heritage needs better articulation both in terms of ideas possible and its implementation. Processes via which a heritage structure is addressed too needs revision.

Property tax on indigenous community property should be redacted. Identity of the community should be reflected on all policies and proposals submitted for consideration. A consolidated map of the communities is to be prepared with special attention given to the various housing types in place. Categorisations of communities could further detail the possibilities which needs to addressed when framing guidelines for the collective. Urban villages could also be considered as special economic zones for strategic incentivisation as per industries and intangible cultural attributes of the place. The same guidelines could be further tailored and implemented in natural habitats such as mangroves. A coagulated present earmarked tourism and entertainment zone has to be revised with a more polynucleated scenario with special development considerations. If not for a community council or panchayat, a political party may be in a position to look at community specifics.

Map errors in the ELU needs to be urgently addressed to use the document as legitimate instruments when discussing development issues. Every development stage for a landmass need adequate documentation which is sufficiently updated across offices and control agency filing requirements. Community developments should ideally be reflective of the religious sentiments and ecological contexts. Wild beasts that are close to select communities are to be accommodated for the wellbeing of both animals and humans. Where livestock is present services and sufficient water needs are required to be met. Water supply should be responsibly sourced and done in consultation with the people living in proximity of these sources. Disaster management plans when brought is therefore a reflection of issues in place to save both the populous and the habitat in which they are presently living in.

Summarizing community settlements in the city should have and implement special development control regulations. There is a distinct segregation between the slum and indigenous housing forms that has find its directive when drawing policies. Land allocation and distribution with respect to requirements is imperative is how the city sees its original inhabitants flourishing. Incentivising heritage too is urgent if preservation as mandate is a vision the city needs. Repair and not redevelopment should be given importance. Provisions for thus is to be considered when drafting special development control regulations. Development in these urban villages has to be participatory. Aarey Milk Colony and National park too have need of earmarked development goals, frameworks.

Annexure 01 _ List of MCGM Sector-Wise Consultations as per Theme_Date_Time_ Anchor Organization

1. Transport _ 17th December 2013 _ 3.30 pm – 6pm_ MTSU
   
2. Development Control Regulation (DCR) Simplification _ 7th Jan 2014 _ 3.30 pm – 6pm _ PEATA
   
3. Education_8th Jan 2014_ 3pm – 6pm_ UDRI, Pratham
   
4. Environment and sustainable city _ 9th Jan 2014_ 10am – 6pm_ CAT
   
5. Slum Housing _ 11th Jan 2014_ 2pm – 6pm_ YUVA, Nivara Haq, CRH, SRS, AAS
   
6. Urban Form _ 15th Jan 2014_ 3pm – 6pm_ UDRI
   
7. Water _ 16th Jan 2014_ 2pm – 6pm_ YUVA, Pani Haq Samiti
   
8. Gaothan, Koliwada, Adivasi _ 18th Jan 2014_2pm – 6pm_ KRVIA
   
9. Gender _ 20th Jan 2014_ 2pm – 6pm_ Akshara
   
10. SWM and sanitation _ 21st Jan 2014_10.30 am – 2.30 pm_ SMS, Aakar Mumbai
    
11. Informal sector_ 22th Jan 2014_2pm – 6pm_YUVA
    
12. Formal Housing and Physical infrastructure _ 25th Jan 2014 _ 2pm – 6pm_ TISS, MCHI
    
13. Health _ 29th Jan 2014_ 3pm – 6pm_ UDRI, Sneha
    
14. Digital Inclusion _ 05 Feb 2014 - 3pm - 6pm _ UDRI, IIT
    

Annexure 02 _ From the Precariatopia Archives - Titles tagged under: Gaothans / Padas / Koliwadas

A city plan with a tunnel vision/ Gaothan residents demand better living conditions, amenities/ Cidco seeks easing of airport norms/ Experts back bid to save urban villages/ Protesters face police brutality at Sion Koliwada/ Last stand at Sion Koliwada — where the spectre of demolition looms/ Why ‘urban villages’ oppose ‘heritage’ tag/ A village, revived/ Police detain social activist for obstructing demolition in Sion/ Koliwada demolition: Medha Patkar detained/ Medha Patkar, 7 others held for obstructing BMC demolition drive/ Government amends norms on koliwadas/ CM to seek relaxation in coastal regulation norms/ Long wait for FSI sops for fisherfolk/ East Indians mark group’s 125 year celebrations today/ Fishermen flay FSI hike for redevelopment of koliwadas/ Floor Space Index boost to redevelopment of koliwadas/ Extra space to be of little use, say fishermen/ BMC budgets 25% for urban poor, but is it an eyewash?/ Sion slum development rights sold for Rs 300cr/ Sharad Pawar wants koliwada lands transferred in fisherfolk name/ Fisherfolk loath to divulge their assets/ Fishy census underway at city koliwadas/ Activist attacked by ‘SRA builder’s men’/ Civic body wants Koliwada upgrade, FSI of 4