KSLSA responds to lone woman fighting to save dwelling

A woman’s single-handed struggle to prevent the demolition of her house has received support from unexpected quarters.

All she wants is to lead a life of dignity with her daughters.

The Karnataka State Legal Services Authority (KSLSA), based on a complaint, has directed member secretary of Dakshina Kannada District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), to study the appeal. A complaint was lodged with KSLSA, by Adarsh G K of the Bengaluru-based Human Rights Defenders Forum.

KSLSA has asked the district body to verify if the woman in distress Vanaja is eligible for legal aid. KSLSA also sought an action taken report (ATR) in the first such case from DLSA.

Vanaja, an illiterate, shifted along with her family from a rented house to a shack built on government land in Hatyadka, on the outskirts of Naravi in Beltangady taluk. The shack with cement blocks and the asbestos roof is more like a shed.

With her alcoholic husband Ramesh bedridden, she was forced to work as a daily wage labourer to support her family and educate her daughters (studying in the 4th and 7th standard).

Belthangady taluk Tahsildar, based on a complaint, issued Vanaja a notice on December 13, 2018, that her shed would be demolished.

Vanaja, on the advice of her neighbours, filed an application under 94C. She began to spend sleepless nights when revenue officials visited her house to evict her and her family as per the directions of new Tahsildar Ganapathy Shastri. Fearing for the safety of her daughters, the mother stopped going out to work.

Vanaja’s helplessness left her neighbours seething with anger. “Many people built big houses on government land and got them regularised under Akrama-Sakrama (94C). It is sad that Naravi GP does not even have two cents of land for a homeless woman in distress,” neighbours said.

Vanaja said that her children were her pillars of support. “If the house is demolished, where will my children and I go,” she asks pointedly.