Hazards Centre

sajha manch

An alliance of over forty organizations based in the city of Delhi , the Sajha Manch works with the marginalized sections of the population, and develops pro-poor perspectives and advocacy strategies within the overall urban development discourse.

The Hazards Centre facilitated the formation of the Manch in 1999, as eight organisations came together to intervene in a court case that concerned the regularization of unauthorised colonies. Since then Sajha Manch has taken up the issues of Delhi Master Plan, resettlement, provision of water, electricity and other basic services, functioning of schools and dispensaries, safe transport and a number of related campaigns for a more dignified life for city’s residents.

The Manch has an independent entity with its own decision-making structure and the Hazards Centre only provides secretarial and administrative assistance. The Centre does not claim ownership over the Manch, but since it has emerged as a crucial initiative in the development of people-oriented policies, we feel it pertinent to present here some components of its multi-faceted work.

our work

research documentation publication

Research and collection of primary data is one of the most important activities of the Manch. A true picture of reality must be constructed before plans can be made to change that reality. In addition, processes of planned change have to take into account organic processes that are functioning in real society. Normative plans have very little chance of succeeding unless they take into account what real people are doing and are capable of doing. Hence, all research findings and documentation activities of the Manch are constantly referred to the communities in order to get the response and ideas of the people. Subsequently, the Manch develops policies and plans which communities can use to find solutions to their problems. All such work is then extensively documented and published for wider usage.

In collaboration with Habitat International Coalition, a survey of 12 resettlement sites to research the processes and effects of resettlement, spanning a 25-year period. The report is now used as advocacy material for challenging the policy of relocation.
Survey on the potential cost of resettlement in five communities, to argue that when communities are dislocated they need to be paid compensation for the labour and money they have put in for developing the land where they settled earlier, as also the new site..
A booklet on Urban Services as an outcome of the one-day seminar with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).
A pamphlet on Dilli Kiski Hai (Whose Delhi is it?) used extensively to pose questions about the various ‘development’ projects being undertaken in the city.
Handbills on

Closure of industries titled Andher Nagri Chaupat Raja ( Dark City , Corrupt King).
Health Services for the campaign by the Jan Swasthya Sabha for a pro-people health policy.
Industrial closures placing the facts of court orders and how they related to the destruction of small-scale industrial activity in Delhi .
Informal Sector protesting the administrative action against thousands of hawkers and vendors in violation of the provisions of the Master Plan.

outreach

public meetings

The Manch organizes public meetings in slums, resettlement sites and unauthorised colonies to present and discuss a range of issues encompassing livelihoods, housing, basic services and governance.

interface with policy makers

Sajha Manch tries to engage variously with policy makers, service providers, and administrative bodies on what should go on to make our cities more productive and habitable for larger majority of its citizens. In this manner the Manch has also intervened in a number of courts cases such as:

Common cause case in the High Court regarding regularisation of unauthorised colonies, where we have argued for a consultative process for formulation of policy.
Bhalaswa Resettlement case in High Court asking for provision of all facilities and services prior to resettlement.
Unauthorised colony case in High court challenging the Union Government policy regarding regularisation and proposing an alternative policy approach.

The Manch has also intervened in a number of seminars organized by Government, public meetings and workshops to present the viewpoint of the poor. Additionally, the Manch has continuously striven to bring forth the problems of people to the attention of the Union Government, the Delhi Government, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, New Delhi Municipal Corporation, Delhi Development Authority, Delhi Vidhyut Board, and the Delhi Jal Board.

intra-network support

Members of Sajha Manch also help each other at the community and programmatic level. For instance, a technical support group provides information on electricity consumption to a community organisation. Details of morbidity patterns in slums are collected by one organisation, analysed by another, and fed into the campaign of a health-based alliance. A children’s group conducts research work for a transport planning institution, while campaign material is designed for an educational programme by a civil rights organisation. An alliance for the shelterless also provides relief support for communities that are being dislocated, while an organisation representing the workers benefits from the enquiry into safety and livelihoods being conducted by a group of independent researchers. In this manner the Manch provides an opportunity for different interest groups to come together to share information, insights, and experiences to strengthen each other’s work.

monthly samachar

A monthly news bulletin, “Sajha Manch Samachar”is published by Manch members as an alternative to the mainstream media, that tends to ignore pro-people concerns and activities.

samachar editions

2002

2003

2004

2005

annual convention

Since its inception, the Sajha manch has organized a convention every year to collate on one platform ideas and work. The convention