Local residents in Vadodara are protesting the allocation of a house to a Muslim family under the Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana government housing scheme.
A 44- year old Muslim Women who is employed with an arm of the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Skill Development was allotted a house under the Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana in Gujarat’s Vadodara in 2017 and has over the past few days been encountering protests from residents of the housing complex.
The Women told The Indian Express that the protests first began in 2020 when the residents wrote to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), considering her house allotment to be invalidated. However, the Harni police station then recorded statements of all the parties concerned and closed the complaint. The recent protest against the same issue took place on June 10.
“I have grown up in a mixed neighbourhood in Vadodara and my family never believed in the concept of ghettos… 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 old enough to understand what is going on. The discrimination will affect him mentally…,” She told The Indian Express
Reportedly, The residents of Motnath Residency, a complex built under the scheme in the Harni area, claim the allotment violates the Disturbed Areas Act. The housing complex has 462 units and has been predominantly Hindu.
The residents claim, The Disturbed Areas Act, implemented by the Gujarat government, mandates approval from the district collector for property transactions in designated “disturbed areas.” It also prohibits direct sale of property between people of different faiths without clearance and requires a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from local residents if a sale is to proceed.
“We want the allotment to be cancelled. We do not feel comfortable with a Muslim family living here, it is bound to cause tensions. If the administration takes no action, we will protest outside the homes of MPs and civic officials.” they further added
However, Another resident of the colony, however, expressed concern with the Muslim Women. “It is unfair because she is a beneficiary of a government scheme and has been allotted the flat as per the legal provisions… The concerns of the residents could be valid but we are judging people without even interacting with them.” he said
Meanwhile, other residents condemn the allotment and allege corruption on the part of officials, claiming the Act should have been enforced.
“The Gujarat government has implemented the Disturbance Section here,” said Atul Gamechi, a resident. “Therefore, no one can give a house to a Muslim in a Hindu colony here. Still the government officials did not implement that rule and gave the house to the Muslim.”
However, the Vadodara Municipal Corporation has denied these allegations, stating that the allotment was made through a lottery system and that the necessary documents were filed before the Disturbed Areas Act was implemented
