Jailorwala Bagh, located in Ashok Vihar, is part of a larger network of settlements that emerged alongside Delhi’s industrial expansion. As factories grew in nearby areas like Wazirpur, migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar were drawn into the city as cheap labour. They were allowed to settle on unused land, build homes, and sustain the industries that depended on them — but were never granted ownership or security over the land they lived on.

Over time, this created a condition of permanent uncertainty. Residents were recognised just enough to be included in voter lists, to hold ration cards, and to pay for basic services — but never enough to claim legal rights over their homes. Their existence remained both necessary and disposable.

This contradiction was deepened by decades of political promises. Since the 1990s, leaders across parties repeatedly assured residents of permanent housing, particularly through the promise of in-situ rehabilitation. Announcements were made, foundations laid, and projects inaugurated — but little materialised. What was presented as development became a cycle of delay, keeping people in a constant state of waiting.

The situation worsened under the Delhi Slum & JJ Rehabilitation Policy of 2015. While appearing inclusive on paper, the policy imposed rigid eligibility conditions that excluded a large number of residents. Requirements around documentation, voter lists, and survey inclusion were implemented through opaque and often corrupt processes.

Multiple surveys were conducted over the years, frequently without proper notice. People who were away at work, lacked updated documents, or were simply unaware of the process found themselves excluded. Allegations of manipulation were widespread — with some securing multiple allotments through connections, while genuine residents were left out.

The result was not just exclusion, but division. When partial allotment of flats took place, it split the community into those who received housing and those who did not. Neighbours, and even families, were placed in unequal positions — creating resentment, insecurity, and a weakening of collective unity.

This long history of neglect and manipulation culminated on 16th June, when large-scale demolitions were carried out in the area. Hundreds of homes were destroyed, displacing families who had lived there for decades. Even those who secured temporary legal relief were left without electricity, water, and basic infrastructure for months, forced to survive in conditions of extreme insecurity.

Our engagement in Jailorwala Bagh began in the midst of this crisis. Through continuous interaction with residents, we listened to their experiences, documented their conditions, and attempted to bring visibility to a reality that is often ignored or misrepresented.

At the same time, we worked on immediate needs — organising distribution drives to provide clothes, blankets, and other essentials to families who had lost their belongings during the demolition. These efforts were not one-time interventions, but part of an ongoing process of engagement.

Through these interactions, we were able to spend time with people, understand their daily struggles, and collectively reflect on the conditions they were facing — linking everyday experiences to larger political questions.

Alongside this, we organised meetings and discussions within the community, creating spaces to talk about legal rights, state policies, and the broader structures shaping their situation. These efforts aimed at not just addressing immediate concerns, but building awareness and collective understanding.

In a situation where the community had been fragmented through state action and prolonged uncertainty, our work has also focused on rebuilding spaces of collective interaction — where people can come together, share experiences, and begin to organise around their conditions.

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