After multiple surveys proved futile and attempts by families to establish their identity yielded no progress, residents whose houses were demolished in parts of Fakir Colony and Waseem Layout in Kogilu Layout, Yelahanka, in December have decided to approach a retired judge and submit their documents for an independent review of their claims, as many continue to remain without shelter more than five months later.

The houses were razed by government authorities, who claimed that the families had encroached on government land. The demolition resulted in close to 160 houses being demolished.

However, following criticism from CPI(M) leader and former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the State government intervened. Ministers, including Housing and Minority Welfare Minister, B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan had assured that eligible families would be allotted houses in Byappanahalli in January. However, even as of March, only 29 families had been provided houses.

Speaking to The Hindu, the families and the NGO working with them said they remain stuck because one section claims that everyone had lived there for more than 20 years, while another claims that nobody had lived there for less than five years. They contend that neither claim reflects the reality, as over 20 families were living there for more than 15 years, while many came in and settled in between.

Members of the Fakir community, NGO representatives said, have been living there for many years, while several other families claimed the same had not. The NGOs point to surveys done by them for families of fakirs spanning years, which record their presence.

While satellite images show a small pond in the area in pictures generated five years back, many families still maintain that they had been residing there for over 20 years.

Residents said the confusion stemmed largely from the involvement of caste leaders, one representing Dalits and another representing Muslims, who initially claimed they could secure houses for the families, allegedly collected ₹2 lakh from each family, and later instructed them to maintain that they had been living there for many years. 

Families who lost their homes said they are uneducated and followed the advice of their caste leaders as they trusted them. “Many documents were lost during the demolition. We submitted whatever documents remained during the Housing Department survey, hoping that houses would be allotted to us. It has been more than five months, but there is still no clarity on when we will receive them,” a resident said. Families also said they have decided not to move elsewhere under any circumstances, fearing that even the tents they currently occupy may be removed. 

The families are being asked to furnish as many as six documents by various departments involved in the housing allotment process, The Hindu has learnt. These include income certificates, voter IDs, ration cards, bank details, and other supporting records. A mass documentation drive has also been started recently, under which NGOs and activists are helping families obtain and verify documents. Once this process is completed, the families plan to approach a retired judge and present the documents in an effort to substantiate their claims.