Slum residents from across Karnataka staged a day-long protest, under the banner of Slum Janandolana Karnataka, at Freedom Park on Monday demanding the establishment of a dedicated department for slum development and an allocation of ₹5,000 crore in the upcoming State Budget.They demanded the withdrawal of a circular issued by the Karnataka Housing Department (KHD) in September 2023, which mandates the Karnataka Slum Development Board (KSDB) to seek government approval before notifying any new slum areas.Citing Sections 3 and 11 of the Karnataka Slum Areas (Improvement and Clearance) Act, 1973, the circular has effectively stalled the notification of new slums. Protesters argued that this has severely impacted slum dwellers, as without formal notification, these areas remain deprived of essential development initiatives.Chandramma, convenor of Savitribai Phule Mahila Sanghatane, told The Hindu, “There are approximately 709 slums on private land across the State that lack basic infrastructure. Unless they are formally notified, the KSDB cannot initiate any development work,” she said.She said before the Assembly elections, the Congress promised to notify private slums. However, instead of fulfilling this promise, the government’s recent actions have worsened the situation.Title deedsDespite the ongoing struggles, the KSDB has made some progress in issuing title deeds. According to Miss Chandramma, the board has distributed title deeds to 1.64 lakh families living in notified slum areas. However, many are still awaiting legal recognition of their dwellings.KSDB data accessed by The Hindu reveals that 3.37 lakh families currently reside in 1,821 notified slums across Karnataka, covering 8,626.31 acres. Activists say while title deed distribution is a positive step, more comprehensive measures are needed to ensure the rights and welfare of slum residents.A. Narasimhamurthy, State Convenor of Slum Janandolana Karnataka, stated that nearly 40% of Karnataka’s population reside in slums, yet they are denied access to urban infrastructure and services. He stressed the need for the government to take immediate action to address both economic and social inequalities.“In order to bring meaningful change, the government must establish a dedicated department for slum development and allocate ₹5,000 crore in the Budget. Additionally, legislative amendments to the Karnataka Slum Areas (Improvement and Clearance) Act, 1973, are necessary to incorporate the various demands of slum dwellers,” he said.Mr. Narasimhamurthy also called for the implementation of a job guarantee scheme to economically empower slum residents. Further, he urged the government to instruct the Revenue Department to allocate land for the relocation of slum dwellers living in unsafe and hazardous conditions. The officials from the KSDB met the protesters and promised to look into the matters.Published - February 24, 2025 08:57 pm IST