Government of Gujarat has launched the Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana in 2017. Under this scheme the housing facilities will be provided to the residents of Gujarat state. However, when a 44 year old Muslim woman who is working with an arm of the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Skill Development was allotted a house in the Vadodara Municipal Corporation’s (VMC) low income group housing complex at Harni, it leads to a staging protest against the allotment of a flat to a Muslim Woman, claiming that the place is only meant for Hindus.
The beneficiary woman was overjoyed at the possibility of moving with her minor son into an inclusive neighbourhood. But the disturbed residents started demanding the cancellation of the flat allotment and have warned to increase their concern. The residents also stated their intention to escalate the matter to the state government and the Centre government if their demands are not met. Although the beneficiary woman said that she was allotted the house six years back and could not move into it due to the opposition by other residents.
The 44 year old Muslim mother says, that the protests was first began in 2020 when the residents wrote to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), and stating the house allotment to be invalidated. However, the Harni police station recorded the statements of all the parties concerned and closed the complaint. Although, the recent protest against the same issue took place on June 10. One of the resident of the housing complex said that they are not comfortable with a person from the minority community being their neighbour.
The beneficiary woman expresses her grief and says that I have grown up in a mixed neighbourhood in Vadodara and my family never believed in the concept of ghettos. She also said that I always wanted my son to grow up in an inclusive neighbourhood but my dreams have been shattered as it has been almost six years and there is no solution to the opposition I am facing. My son is now in Class 12 and is old enough to understand what is going on. This discrimination will affect him mentally.
However, another resident of the locality, expressed unity with the beneficiary and said that it is unfair because she is a beneficiary of a government scheme and has been allotted the flat as per the legal provisions. He also said that the concerns of the residents could be valid but we are judging people without even interacting with them.
Authorities of the VMC’s housing department stated that the government schemes did not separate applicants and beneficiaries on the basis of religion, the housing draw was conducted as per the norms. Authorities also stated that it is a matter that must be resolved by both parties or by approaching competent courts.