Plot earmarked for school becomes ground for dispute

MUMBAI, JUNE 16: A plot of land earmarked for a school for women and slum children at Tulsiwadi has become a ground for dispute between t...

MUMBAI, JUNE 16: A plot of land earmarked for a school for women and slum children at Tulsiwadi has become a ground for dispute between two religious comunities. While the Tulsiwadi Sudhar Committee says it wishes to use the 199.50 sq metre plot in the Tardeo slum for constructing a school, to be shared by Koshish, an NGO, the Shiv Sena-backed Tarun Mitra Mandal claims that the school will be misused for commercial purposes.

Ironically enough, Koshish8217;s members are 47 children who formed the organisation in the aftermath of the communal riots to educate other Tulsiwadi children. When the Tulsiwadi Sudhar Committee decided to build a school for the education of 150 women in the slum, it also decided to set aside some space for Koshish. The committee applied to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC for permission in February for the plot, located behind a public toilet in the 25,000-strong Tulsiwadi.

8220;We got the signatures of the motivated women and applied to BMC in February for permission to construct a makeshift shed to hold meetings,8221; said Abdul Rehman, the commitee8217;s secretary. 8220;When we heard of Koshish8217;s plans to provide informal education to the slum children, we decided that they could use the place as well,8221; he added.

In the last week of April, the commitee and another local group, the Sultan-e-Hind, cleared a garbage dump in front of the toilet and built the makeshift shed. Money for the venture came out of the local population8217;s pockets. 8220;Some gave Rs 5, others Rs 10, some Rs 25 towards the fund,8221; said. But even before permission to build the school could be granted, the BMC demolished the shed, allegedly on a complaint from another local group, the Shiv Sena-backed Tarun Mitra Mandal, two weeks ago.

8220;The BMC acted under pressure from the Sena who wants the plot for a shakha office,8221; said Shakeel, Secretary of the Sultan-e-Hind Committee.

Admitted ward officer, M D Sawant, the Sena had raised objection to setting up of the school. 8220;We removed the shed a week-and-a-half ago and have requested the organisation to get formal approval for the school,8221; he said. This approval is pending with Dinesh Jadav, Deputy Municipal Commissioner.

Rajesh Uttam Joshi, a member of the Tarun Mitra Mandal, claimed that the Sulten-E-Hind was up to mischief. 8220;We don8217;t believe that they are going to set up a school. Shakeel is going to put up illegal houses and rent them out to make money. We have no problems if a school comes up, but we have to be sure that the premises will be used for a school. Until then, we will oppose the construction.8221;

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Observed Feroze Mithiborwala, who8217;s involved with Koshish, 8220;The enthusiasm these children have to teach other slum children is great. We don8217;t want them to lose it in this tussle for property especially since it has nothing to do with them.8221;