Muslim Woman Allotted Flat Under CM Scheme in Vadodara Faces Resident Protests
14.06.2024: A 44-year-old Muslim woman, recently elected as a Trinamool Congress (TMC) Lok Sabha MP from Baharampur, West Bengal, has found herself at the center of a controversy in Vadodara. The woman, employed with the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Skill Development, was allocated a flat in the Vadodara Municipal Corporation’s (VMC) low-income housing complex at Harni under the Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana in 2017. Her joy of moving in with her son was short-lived due to protests from other residents.
Initial Objections and Ongoing Protests
In 2017, before she could move into her new home, 33 residents of the 462-unit housing complex sent a complaint to the District Collector and other authorities, objecting to her presence, citing potential “threat and nuisance.” These protests first began in 2020 when the residents petitioned the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) to invalidate her house allotment. Although the Harni police station recorded statements and closed the complaint at the time, the issue resurfaced with fresh protests on June 10, 2023.
Resident Complaints and Response
The protesters argue that her presence in the predominantly Hindu neighborhood could disturb the peace. The memorandum from the Motnath Residency Cooperative Housing Services Society Limited states, “Harni area is a Hindu-dominated peaceful area and there is no settlement of Muslims in the periphery of about four kilometers… It is like setting fire to the peaceful life of 461 families.”
Residents claim that allowing Muslim families could lead to a “law-and-order crisis.” One signatory said, “It is the fault of the VMC that they have not cross-checked the credentials of the allottee… We would not like persons from other religious and cultural backgrounds to live in our colony.”
Affected Woman’s Perspective
The woman, who currently lives with her parents and son in another area of Vadodara, expressed her frustration: “I always wanted my son to grow up in an inclusive neighborhood but my dreams have been shattered. The discrimination will affect him mentally.” Despite the ongoing opposition, she remains determined to keep her property, stating, “I do not wish to sell off my hard-earned property just because of this opposition. I will wait…”
She has faced challenges in obtaining a share certificate and paying maintenance dues. Although she has paid a one-time maintenance charge, she has not been recognized as a resident by the managing committee.
Support and Official Stand
Not all residents oppose her presence. One resident said, “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.”
Officials from VMC’s housing department clarified that government housing schemes do not segregate applicants based on religion, and the housing draw was conducted according to the norms. They suggested that the matter should be resolved by both parties or through competent courts.
This case highlights the challenges of ensuring inclusivity and combating discrimination in government housing schemes. While the legal provisions support the woman’s right to her allotted flat, the social resistance she faces underscores the need for continued efforts towards fostering communal harmony and understanding.