Beena Jadhav
Nominated for : Got displaced residents of city slums Rehabilitated.
Initiative - Fighting for the rights of those who are victims of
the system.
Nominated for : Got displaced residents of city slums Rehabilitated.
Initiative - Fighting for the rights of those who are victims of
the system.
Thanks to ben, we have a roof over our heads, says one of the recently rehabilitated families in Ganeshnagar, Vatva. This sentiment is echoed by several other families who were displaced to make way for the Sabarmati Riverfront and BRTS projects but, due to the efforts of social worker Beena Jadhav, now have a house to live in.Thanks to ben, we have a roof over our heads, says one of the recently rehabilitated families in Ganeshnagar, Vatva. This sentiment is echoed by several other families who were displaced to make way for the Sabarmati Riverfront and BRTS projects but, due to the efforts of social worker Beena Jadhav, now have a house to live in.
The 50-year-old’s relentless efforts to help the displaced have earned her the soubriquet of Ben (elder sister). However, Jadhav prefers to be identified as a crusader of Mahatma Gandhi’s ideal of a society in which all are equal. Jadhav, known for her struggle for the ‘Right to Shelter’ for people displaced due to the various development projects of AMC, is a one-person army whose persistent efforts have forced AMC to rehabilitate as many as 19,500 families.
The residents place so much confidence in Jadhav that every time they have a problem, she is the first person they approach. “We know that she will help us. She doesn’t make empty promises, she just goes ahead and does what has to be done. She fought for our rights. She was our hope when there was no hope. She still is,” another resident said.
Speaking of her struggle to get the displaced rehabilitated, Jadhav said, “According to the AMC records, there were only 8,000 people who were entitled to be rehabilitated. But the figure wasn’t even close to reality. There were over 19,000 slum dwellers who had been displaced and their homes had been demolished. It would have been cruel to leave them on the streets after taking away their only home.”
Jadhav worked with various government agencies and persuaded AMC to provide 11,500 more houses to the victims. But Jadhav claims it was a joint effort by the slum dwellers and her that got results. “I am a medium to take their voices to the concerned authorities. The fight is theirs and that is how it should be. I support and encourage them to help themselves.”
Jadhav’s struggle for the homeless started in 2006, but she has been working for the uplift of the victims of the system and society since 1988 when she started working for communal harmony and the welfare of workers of closed mills in the city. She also did a short stint with funding agencies like Action Aid. She has also worked with several prominent faces in the state to raise awareness on the plight of the less fortunate people in society.
Jadhav is a member of the Rehthan Adhikar Manch. However, she doesn’t take monetary help from anyone or any organisation. All her efforts to help the victims are funded by her from her income. Her belief in organising the victims and encouraging them to raise their voices for their rights has resulted in formation of 20 community- based organisations.
“These organisations are autonomous bodies and I help them whenever they need me,” Jadhav said. These organisations, formed in areas like Danilimda, Khodiarnagar, Gulbai Tekra and many other slums of the city, have helped the poor fight for their rights.
The 50-year-old’s relentless efforts to help the displaced have earned her the soubriquet of Ben (elder sister). However, Jadhav prefers to be identified as a crusader of Mahatma Gandhi’s ideal of a society in which all are equal. Jadhav, known for her struggle for the ‘Right to Shelter’ for people displaced due to the various development projects of AMC, is a one-person army whose persistent efforts have forced AMC to rehabilitate as many as 19,500 families.
The residents place so much confidence in Jadhav that every time they have a problem, she is the first person they approach. “We know that she will help us. She doesn’t make empty promises, she just goes ahead and does what has to be done. She fought for our rights. She was our hope when there was no hope. She still is,” another resident said.
Speaking of her struggle to get the displaced rehabilitated, Jadhav said, “According to the AMC records, there were only 8,000 people who were entitled to be rehabilitated. But the figure wasn’t even close to reality. There were over 19,000 slum dwellers who had been displaced and their homes had been demolished. It would have been cruel to leave them on the streets after taking away their only home.”
Jadhav worked with various government agencies and persuaded AMC to provide 11,500 more houses to the victims. But Jadhav claims it was a joint effort by the slum dwellers and her that got results. “I am a medium to take their voices to the concerned authorities. The fight is theirs and that is how it should be. I support and encourage them to help themselves.”
Jadhav’s struggle for the homeless started in 2006, but she has been working for the uplift of the victims of the system and society since 1988 when she started working for communal harmony and the welfare of workers of closed mills in the city. She also did a short stint with funding agencies like Action Aid. She has also worked with several prominent faces in the state to raise awareness on the plight of the less fortunate people in society.
Jadhav is a member of the Rehthan Adhikar Manch. However, she doesn’t take monetary help from anyone or any organisation. All her efforts to help the victims are funded by her from her income. Her belief in organising the victims and encouraging them to raise their voices for their rights has resulted in formation of 20 community- based organisations.
“These organisations are autonomous bodies and I help them whenever they need me,” Jadhav said. These organisations, formed in areas like Danilimda, Khodiarnagar, Gulbai Tekra and many other slums of the city, have helped the poor fight for their rights.
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