In 2008, the state government declared that Chennai would be slum-free by the end of 2013. By January 2011, over 1,00,000 people were evicted from the city center to make way for new commercial and apartment buildings. Photojournalist Shuchi Kapoor visits a resettlement area, Semmancherry in Chennai and documents the gross inequalities that forces almost one lakh residents to be devoid of access to quality healthcare and education- a life devoid of dignity.
In the four decades since its founding in 1970, the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board has largely failed to fulfill its objectives of improving the living conditions of slum residents and preventing the development of new slums. Between 1971 and 2001, the city’s slum population grew from some 7,00,000 to nearly 11,00,000.
Reclaiming the city’s many waterways has become the administration’s priority, and the perceived key to achieving that goal is clearing the slums along those waterways. In 2008, the state government declared that Chennai would be slum-free by the end of 2013. As of January 2011, over 1,00,000 people had been evicted from the city center to make way for new commercial and apartment buildings. The advocacy group People’s Union for Civil Liberties published a report showing that, in the rush to meet slum clearance goals, evictions and resettlements had violated a number of national and state government guidelines.
One such area where the violations are evident is Semmancherry (meaning Semman - Red soil, eri - river), where tenements were constructed by the government as a rehabilitation measure. Semmancherry is a lowland which is prone to flooding even during regular rainfall. With no basic amenities, waste disposal or drainage systems, the dwellers were one of the worst affected during the floods in 2015 as it was impossible for any relief to reach to them. In theory, each lane in the new settlement has a freshwater well, but the well on some lanes is filled in with rubble and garbage. Running water first arrived in Semmancherry two years after the families had been resettled here. It took five years for electricity to come and six years for the city to send waste collectors.
There is one sparsely stocked market on the complex’s main road. Vegetables and rice cost twice as much as in other parts of town, so most of the women carry their groceries for miles on their way home from work in the city. The settlement zone doesn't have a police station to address.
Families were each being allotted 160 square feet or less to live in, instead of the 540 square feet they were entitled to. Some of the apartments held families of 12 or more people, spanning three and four generations. People from different settlements all over the city were housed in a single building. To them, it was like combining people from different countries, so different were their customs and habits and even their dialects. The residents describe simmering mistrust and periodic violent clashes.
The relocation of these people far away from the economic hubs of the city is essentially cutting them off at the fringe, forcing them to continue the cycle of ghettoization, leading to nefarious activities and stagnancy that the urban centre conveniently ignores as far as it stays out of its way. Those settlements already existing at the fringe, for instance in the district of Ennore, have never witnessed models of inclusiveness and have no say in the effects of encroaching industrialization on their lives.
The question that begs to be asked is- Where do people on the fringe go for a better life? Why must they have to go anywhere? What is rehabilitation if it only means allotment of another space, far removed from the hub, with nothing sustainable about it? This cleanup act of the centre only furthers the divide and living on the fringe is what is being showcased through this series.
What you won't be able to see is the stench and the alienation that is a constant.
YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS ENSURING THAT PEOPLE WHO LIVE ON THE PERIPHERY OF DEVELOPMENT HAVE A CHANCE TO GET ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION AND QUALITY HEALTH. DONATE NOW
About the Author
Shuchi Kapoor is a photojournalist known for her work on human rights, environment, gender, sexuality and mental health Know more here.
About Oxfam India's Inequality Project
Oxfam India believes that reducing inequality is fundamental to fair and sustainable development of any nation or society. Hence we have launched a campaign to create awareness about the widening gap between rich and poor, and take action. Every year (during the World Economic Forum at Davos in January) Oxfam releases a global report to track inequality in the world. This year, the report found that in India, Richest 1% population cornered 73% of the country’s wealth generated in 2017.
For centuries, too many people have lived and died in poverty on the margins of society, suffering discrimination and robbed of opportunity because they are born girls, born poor, or born into the marginalized section of the society. Today these age-old disparities have been further entrenched by an unprecedented concentration of wealth and power into the hands of a small elite
Through the India Inequality Project, Oxfam India aims to create an engaging photo series (inventive, urban & youth centric) to deepen the understanding and emotional engagement of people with the inequality in India.
Find out how Oxfam India is enabling communities by working to provide a life of dignity and equal opportunity for all.Get to know more about Oxfam India`s latest projects.
Read MoreMay 30, 2023 | Savvy
Mar 31, 2023 | Savvy
Mar 30, 2023 | Savvy
Mar 2, 2023 | Savvy
Jan 17, 2023 | Savvy
Mar 9, 2023 | Savvy
Dec 23, 2022 | Savvy
Dec 2, 2022 | Savvy
Nov 28, 2022 |
Nov 22, 2022 | Savvy
Nov 14, 2022 | Savvy
Oct 31, 2022 | mahika@oxfamindia.org
Oct 3, 2022 | Savvy
Sep 15, 2022 | Savvy
Aug 12, 2022 | Savvy
Aug 9, 2022 | Savvy
Jun 29, 2022 | Savvy
Jun 29, 2022 | Savvy
May 30, 2022 | Savvy
May 30, 2022 | Savvy
May 5, 2022 | Savvy
May 26, 2022 | Savvy
Mar 21, 2022 | Savvy
Feb 20, 2022 | Savvy
Feb 16, 2022 | Savvy
Jan 25, 2022 | Savvy
Jan 13, 2022 | Savvy
Jan 9, 2022 | Savvy
Dec 31, 2021 | Savvy
Jan 17, 2022 | Savvy
Dec 17, 2021 | admin
Dec 16, 2021 | Savvy
Dec 14, 2021 | Savvy
Feb 28, 2022 | Savvy
Oct 15, 2021 | Savvy
Oct 12, 2021 | Savvy
Oct 10, 2021 | Savvy
Oct 10, 2021 | Savvy
Oct 8, 2021 | Savvy
Oct 6, 2021 | Savvy
Oct 4, 2021 | Savvy
Sep 29, 2021 | Savvy
Oct 10, 2021 | Savvy
Sep 16, 2021 | Savvy
Sep 5, 2021 | Savvy
Sep 1, 2021 | Savvy
Sep 15, 2021 | Savvy
Aug 7, 2021 | Savvy
Jul 23, 2021 | Savvy
Jul 7, 2021 | Savvy
Jun 4, 2021 | Savvy
May 17, 2021 | Savvy
Jun 7, 2021 | Savvy
Apr 15, 2021 | Savvy
Apr 9, 2021 | Savvy
Apr 1, 2021 | Anisha
Mar 14, 2021 | Savvy
Mar 12, 2021 | Savvy
Mar 2, 2021 | Savvy
Feb 19, 2021 | Savvy
Feb 14, 2021 | Savvy
Jan 12, 2021 | Savvy
Jan 12, 2021 | Savvy
Dec 23, 2020 | Savvy
Dec 3, 2020 | Savvy
Jan 4, 2021 | radhika
Apr 1, 2021 | radhika
Dec 23, 2020 | radhika
Sep 30, 2020 | Savvy
Sep 30, 2020 | Savvy
Sep 30, 2020 | Savvy
Sep 30, 2020 | Savvy
Aug 25, 2020 | Savvy
Sep 30, 2020 | radhika
Aug 9, 2020 | Savvy
Aug 5, 2020 | Savvy
Aug 21, 2020 | radhika
Aug 4, 2020 | Savvy
Sep 30, 2020 | radhika
Sep 30, 2020 | radhika
Aug 1, 2020 | Savvy
Jul 17, 2020 | Savvy
Jul 15, 2020 | Savvy
Mar 5, 2021 | Savvy
Jun 30, 2020 | Savvy
Jun 30, 2020 | radhika
Jun 30, 2020 | Savvy
Jun 30, 2020 | Savvy
Jun 30, 2020 |
Jun 30, 2020 | radhika
Jun 24, 2020 |
Jun 24, 2020 |
Jun 30, 2020 |
Jun 15, 2021 |
Jun 30, 2020 | Savvy
Jun 30, 2020 | radhika
Jul 29, 2020 | Savvy
May 31, 2020 | Savvy
Jul 29, 2020 | Savvy
May 31, 2020 | Savvy
May 31, 2020 | Savvy
May 31, 2020 | Savvy
May 28, 2020 | Savvy
May 31, 2020 | radhika
May 31, 2020 |
May 31, 2020 | radhika
May 31, 2020 | radhika
May 31, 2020 | Animesh Prakash
May 31, 2020 | radhika
May 31, 2020 | radhika
Jun 3, 2020 | radhika
Jun 3, 2020 | Anisha
Jun 3, 2020 | radhika
Jun 3, 2020 | radhika
Dec 5, 2019 | radhika
Jun 3, 2020 | radhika
Dec 18, 2019 | radhika
Dec 5, 2019 | radhika
Dec 5, 2019 | radhika
Oct 23, 2019 | Anisha
Dec 5, 2019 | radhika
Oct 9, 2019 | radhika
Oct 9, 2019 | radhika
Dec 5, 2019 | radhika
Dec 18, 2019 | radhika
Sep 25, 2019 | radhika
Dec 18, 2019 | radhika
Sep 25, 2019 | radhika
Sep 25, 2019 | radhika
Nov 21, 2019 | radhika
Sep 19, 2019 | radhika
Dec 5, 2019 | radhika
Feb 20, 2020 | radhika
Dec 18, 2019 | radhika
Dec 5, 2019 | Anisha
Aug 19, 2019 | radhika
Dec 18, 2019 | radhika
Dec 18, 2019 | radhika
Dec 5, 2019 | radhika
Dec 5, 2019 | radhika
Dec 18, 2019 | radhika
Dec 18, 2019 | Anisha
Dec 5, 2019 | radhika
Aug 1, 2019 | radhika
Jul 31, 2019 | radhika
Dec 5, 2019 | radhika
Dec 18, 2019 | radhika
Dec 5, 2019 | radhika
Dec 5, 2019 | radhika
Dec 5, 2019 | Anisha
Dec 5, 2019 | radhika
Dec 18, 2019 | radhika
Dec 5, 2019 | radhika
Jun 27, 2019 | radhika
Jun 19, 2019 | radhika
Dec 18, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 27, 2019 | Anisha
Jun 19, 2019 | Anisha
Dec 18, 2019 | Anisha
May 27, 2019 | sanya
May 24, 2019 | Anisha
Jul 23, 2020 | ursila
Sep 9, 2019 | ursila
Sep 9, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 9, 2019 | ursila
May 13, 2019 | ursila
Sep 30, 2019 | ursila
Sep 19, 2022 | ursila
Sep 10, 2019 | ursila
Oct 24, 2019 | ursila
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Oct 24, 2019 | ursila
Feb 20, 2020 | ursila
Nov 11, 2019 | ursila
Oct 30, 2019 | ursila
Jun 3, 2020 | ursila
Nov 18, 2019 | ursila
Sep 27, 2019 | ursila
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
May 31, 2020 | ursila
Oct 24, 2019 | ursila
Oct 24, 2019 | ursila
Oct 24, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | ursila
Nov 18, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 27, 2019 | ursila
Feb 20, 2020 | ursila
Sep 9, 2019 | ursila
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Sep 23, 2019 | ursila
Oct 24, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 10, 2019 | ursila
Sep 27, 2019 | admin
Oct 24, 2019 | ursila
Oct 31, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | ursila
Feb 20, 2020 | admin
Sep 9, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | admin
Sep 9, 2019 | ursila
Oct 7, 2019 | admin
Oct 7, 2019 | admin
Oct 24, 2019 | admin
Oct 24, 2019 | admin
Apr 5, 2019 | admin
Oct 24, 2019 | admin
Oct 7, 2019 | admin
Oct 24, 2019 | admin
Apr 5, 2019 | admin
Sep 27, 2019 | admin
Oct 24, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 24, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 27, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 12, 2022 | admin
Apr 5, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Oct 1, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 30, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Oct 24, 2019 | Anisha
Apr 5, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 10, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Oct 24, 2019 | ursila
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Oct 24, 2019 | ursila
Oct 24, 2019 | ursila
Oct 30, 2019 |
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Oct 7, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 1, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 27, 2019 | ursila
Oct 24, 2019 | ursila
Oct 1, 2019 | ursila
Nov 14, 2019 | ursila
Oct 24, 2019 | ursila
Oct 1, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 24, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | ursila
Nov 18, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 9, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 10, 2019 | Anisha
Nov 21, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 10, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 27, 2019 | ursila
Oct 24, 2019 | ursila
Sep 20, 2022 | Anisha
Nov 11, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 24, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 1, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 10, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 24, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 30, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 1, 2019 | ursila
Oct 24, 2019 | ursila
Oct 30, 2019 | ursila
Oct 30, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 1, 2019 | ursila
Sep 27, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 10, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | ursila
Sep 27, 2019 | ursila
Nov 18, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Oct 24, 2019 | ursila
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Sep 10, 2019 | ursila
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Nov 11, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 24, 2019 | ursila
Nov 11, 2019 | ursila
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | Ravi
Oct 1, 2019 | Ravi
Sep 27, 2019 | Ravi
Oct 7, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 10, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | Ravi
Sep 27, 2019 | Ravi
Dec 5, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 24, 2019 | Avantika
Jan 9, 2020 | Avantika
Oct 24, 2019 | Avantika
Oct 24, 2019 | Avantika
Oct 1, 2019 | Avantika
Oct 1, 2019 | Avantika
Oct 24, 2019 | Avantika
Sep 10, 2019 | Avantika
Nov 18, 2019 | Avantika
Sep 9, 2019 | Avantika
Sep 9, 2019 | Avantika
Sep 27, 2019 | Avantika
Sep 27, 2019 | Avantika
Oct 24, 2019 | Avantika
Oct 24, 2019 | Avantika
Sep 10, 2019 | Avantika
May 13, 2019 | Avantika
Oct 1, 2019 | Avantika
Apr 5, 2019 | Avantika
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | Avantika
Oct 1, 2019 | Avantika
Nov 14, 2019 | Avantika
Sep 27, 2019 | Ravi
Oct 24, 2019 | Avantika
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
May 27, 2020 | oxfamadmin
Sep 10, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Dec 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Jun 12, 2020 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 3, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 9, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 10, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 9, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Nov 18, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Nov 18, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Nov 6, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 10, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Jan 9, 2020 | oxfamadmin
Sep 10, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 30, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 9, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Dec 16, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 10, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Nov 18, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Feb 20, 2020 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Jan 9, 2020 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Nov 21, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 10, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 30, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 30, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Nov 15, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Jan 9, 2020 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Dec 16, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 9, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Nov 18, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | Avantika
Oct 30, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Jan 9, 2020 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Feb 20, 2020 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 30, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 30, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 10, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 10, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 3, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Dec 16, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 9, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 30, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 3, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 10, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 10, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Dec 5, 2019 |
Nov 18, 2019 |
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 9, 2019 |
Oct 7, 2019 |
Oct 24, 2019 |
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Nov 15, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 10, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 30, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin