With no real development visible, the slum dwellers have finally decided to take the matter into their hands.
Demanding basic facilities to the several slums dotting the cityscape, Tumkur Jilla Kolageri Nivasigala Hitarakshana Samiti has  threatened to stage a mock ‘funeral procession’ if the authorities failed to meet its demands.
According to Samiti president Narasimha Murthy and general secretary Sayyed Altaf, slum dwellers will also shave their heads off. 
They will then partake of the funeral feast before going to court to seek legal redress.
Both the office-bearers justified their decision saying the goverment’s apathy in looking into their problems had forced them to take this step.
Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, the Samiti office-bearers accused the district administration of neglecting to take steps towards the development of more than 52 slums in the City.
Noting that more than one lakh people lived in these slums, none -- the minister, the MLA, the administration, nor the Slum Development Board had shown any interest in developing the slums for the past seven years.
Deaf ears
Agitations, sit-ins and the like have fallen on deaf ears. The recent heavy rains have only added to the misery of these slum dwellers, Murthy and Altaf said and tried drawing parallel to attempts to revive caste system.
Citing the example of the Nirmala Jyoti Scheme, the two noted that despite beginning work on the second phase of the work three months earlier, the work was slow at its best. Roads dug up at several places have served as storage points for stagnant, dirty water, raising possibilities of outbreak of epidemics.
The district administration should therefore call a meeting of Board officials, contractors as well as Samiti office-bearers to discuss the issue, Altaf and Murthy demanded.
The Samiti also demanded that the deputy commissioner and the Municipal commissioner must provide sanction letter and to the 325 families identified under the Ashraya scheme.
If not, then should make a statement on their stance of delaying even after receiving necessary payment, they urged.
The Samiti also wanted allocation of Rs 8.75 crore released by the State Finance Commission towards slum development, on a demographic basis.
At least a minimum amount of Rs five crore was required immediately towards providing basic facilities, the two pointed out.