Saraniya Vas is alocality of 350 Saraniya community (de-notified tribe) living 60-70 years in makeshift kind of houses. Women are engaged in waste picking work while male folk used
to roam around and sharpen the knives and scissors. Some young people go for catering services and labour work in nearby transport industry. Education level is very low, only one girl has completed 12 th class. Liquor consumption is high among male. This caste is very reserved and still controlled by male religious leaders. Responsibility to run home is on women.
Saraniya vas is notified slum located on national highway no 8. This land was earlier common grazing land later in 1980 it was allotted to community to settled by than authority. During the course of development of city and rapid urbanization it comes in the limit of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and then purpose of this reserved land was changed for Agriculture Product Market. But the occupant’s names were there in land records as it was awarded to them than government in 1980. At that time there were 181 families. In 2017 CfD has started its one project with waste picking women and came to know about this area. Later under its urban initiative program CfD continued intervention and expanded. Under Urban Initiative the community was given knowledge on citizenship rights, constitution. Values, 74 th amendment, redevelopment and rehabilitation policy along with advocacy and networking.
A leadership was identified where in Jorubhai, Jitubhai, Kamleshbhai, Dakuben, Ritaben, Januben were picked and provided intensive training on development and fundamental rights. These inputs created confidence and skills among leadership. In year 2023, under R&R Policy, one private real estate developer contacted this community and showed interest to develop this area. Despite of refusal by community, legal notice was summoned to 350 families to vacate the land. The AMC’s estate department too played role in spreading fear of demolition of houses to create pressure on residents.
But the leaders stayed firm as they know their legal status which was discussed by CfD team in trainings and in area meetings. More area meetings were organized to discuss the land title as legal occupants. Later a legal expert Mr. Shrimali of Gujarat Highcourt was also contacted to understand the legal way ahead. As per his advice legal documents of every family were collected as evidendces. Under Mr. Shrimali’s guidance a reply to the notice was prepared and submitted to authority.
As a result, the developer had to make compromise with community and revised redevelopment plan for only one plot of front side. Where in 44 families living and 4 shops existed. Developer agreed to allot 44 houses and 4 shops to community. Developer also provided Rs. 45,000 as rent for transitional period to 44 families. In this whole process the leaders have played important role and save their land, houses and also successfully made available 44 houses for their extended family members. This is remarkable achievement for them.
