National Slum Dwellers Federation

The National Slum Dwellers Federation was started after the demolition of the Janata Colony in Mumbai. It was one of the largest slums in Mumbai and had mostly a South Indian population. In 1967, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre gave an eviction notice to all residents to vacate the land. Jockin Arputham, who was 18 years old then, was also a resident. To contest the eviction, the residents had to prove that they were permanent residents and have the right to live there. This colony was formed in 1947 and the rent was anywhere between 50 Indian Paise to 2 Indian Rupees.[5] The documentation proved that this was a permanent settlement and a legal settlement thus the residents were not illegally staying there. By 1970, Jockin was travelling all around Mumbai and India to meet other slum leaders and dwellers to help fight the eviction order. All the activists involved worked to make sure that eviction notices could not be served. However, when the eviction notices were finally ordered, the activists went to the district court and won. The Atomic Energy Commission took it to the High Court and won. Finally, the case was taken to the Supreme Court and the acitivists won. However, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was personally interested in that land and one Supreme Court judge, while speaking to Jockin, mentioned how it is too late to stop the eviction due to the Prime Minister. After a long while, a meeting was conducted with Indira Gandhi and a conclusion was reached that there will be no demolition of the slums without the consultation of the slum dwellers and their leaders. Yet, due to the National Emergency declared by Indira Gandhi, fresh eviction orders were given and an arrest warrant for the slum leaders was also issued. A huge demolition took place and all 70,000 people were moved to Cheetah camp.[5]

In 1975, the NSDF was formed and multiple slums around India followed this example and formed their own committees.[5]