You are the Superintendent of Police of a city where a large slum has developed in recent decades on the property of Indian Railways. The Indian Railways has prepared a plan for expansion of the city railway station for which they want to get the slums demolished. They have requested the assistance of local police for the same, however, the people residing in those slums have responded angrily to this step and have occupied the railway tracks, resisting any action by the officials. Slum dwellers are asking for a suitable rehabilitation, citing that the city is under the grip of a cold wave as the month of December is in progress. This has not only halted the railway traffic on the route causing immense hardships to railway passengers but also posing risk of violence between slum-dwellers and the police. (a) Identify various issues involved in the case along with different stakeholders. (b) What course of action would you follow to end this situation of confrontation and resume normal functioning of the Railways?

(a) Various issues involved in the case are: (i) Right to livelihood and shelter of slum dwellers. (ii) illegal occupancy on the property of railways. (iii) Economic losses due to halting of railway functioning. (iv) Threat to life of people blocking the tracks. (v) Social conflicts and violence between slum dwellers & police. (vi) Troubles to passengers which can lead to further issues.

(b) Course of action:-

(i) My immediate priority will be law and order situation where no threat to life and property should happen.

(ii) I will talk to slum dwellers and persuade them to end the blockage by taking them into confidence regarding rehabilitation.

(iii) I will write to the administration to allocate a place for rehabilitation as soon as possible.

(iv) I will utilise the resources and provisions of existing scheme such as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) → one component is in situ slum rehabilitation.

(v) I will also talk to the railway authorities to take their help in expediting the process of rehabilitation.

(vi) Under no circumstances the place will be cleared without rehabilitation as it can cause loss of shelter as it can cause loss of life in winters, social disharmony, increase in crime rate etc.

(vii) I will further take the help of civil society organisations like NGO to help in the rehabilitation process.