The BJP-led Nitish government’s vision of a “smart” city is one that does not include the poor, even though these very individuals are the ones who sustain and support the backbone of the city. In the name of transforming Patna into a "Smart City," the government has ruthlessly driven out the poor from the city, all while prioritizing the interests of the wealthy and influential. The exclusion of the most vulnerable members of society from the supposed modern urban spaces stands as a glaring contradiction in the government’s proclaimed mission - Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas!!
The urban poor are often marginalized at the edges of city development, majority belonging to Dalit communities who have a history of long endured violence, discrimination, and neglect by mainstream development. There have been several recent cases illustrating the rise of anti-Dalit violence in Bihar and also nationally. Last year in October, 30 houses of Mahadalits in Nawada were torched by the alleged land mafia. In the same month, Rinku Manjhi of Muzaffarpur was beaten and urinated upon for asking for his due wages from his upper caste employer. Rinku Manjhi faced death threats for filing complaints with the police. Just the previous month, a Dalit woman was stripped and urinated on for a police complaint about a moneylender in Patna. The cases of atrocity have been on rise recently. As per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)’s most recent comprehensive data, in 2022, a total of 57,582 cases were registered for crimes against Scheduled Castes (SCs), marking a 13.1% increase from the 50,900 cases reported in 2021. Increasingly fewer crimes against Dalits are investigated in Bihar, a small number of them end up in courts and only a fraction among them ends in conviction (The Hindu).
Demolition drive of Manjhi families from Buddh Murti, Musahari
A recent incident in Patna City’s Buddh Murti Musahari area of Kadamkuan brings this issue into sharp focus. For years, hundreds of Majhi families have lived along the roadside, enduring inhuman conditions without access to basic necessities like clean water, sanitation, or proper shelter. These families, including young children, elderly individuals, and women, were abruptly forced to vacate the footpaths with no discussions or plans for resettlement. Instead of providing assistance and solutions, the government’s actions have only intensified their suffering
In an attempt to defend the rights of these families, a delegation from the CPI-ML, led by Phulwarisharif MLA Gopal Ravidas, met with the Patna Municipal Commissioner on January 22, 2025. They called for an immediate halt to the eviction process until the affected families were properly rehabilitated. The commissioner promised that the government would ensure the rehabilitation of the evicted families within 15 days. However, these promises turned out to be empty words. Instead of fulfilling their commitment to rehousing the families, the government continued with the evictions.
On February 11, 2025, in a shocking turn of events, the Deputy Chief Minister, disgusted by the sight of the lined up jhuggis, gave orders to vacate the area occupied by Manjhi families in Buddh Murti, Musahari. This decision highlights the deep-rooted feudalistic mindset that permeates the BJP government’s policies. In response to this, CPI(ML) MLA Comrade Gopal Ravidas along with the displaced families launched a hunger strike on February 13, 2025, to demand justice for the evicted Manjhi families. Since the eviction, around 50 families have been living on the streets in the severely cold month of January along with small children and the sick.
Anjali Manjhi, a 15 year old, has always lived on the street. Both her parents are rag pickers while one elder brother is a contract worker with the Patna municipality. She has never gone to school but learnt sewing and proudly shows her machine tucked on a cart. She shared she wants stitching work but caste discrimination has been the main challenge in finding work in the nearby area.
Sabatiya Devi, a 55 year old widow, has been living at Buddh Murti, Musahari, as far as she could remember. She has been living on ragpicking but recently there has not been much income. She depends on her sons who are daily wagers. She thoughtfully comments on how the livelihood of rag pickers like her has been destroyed since the municipality took over the cleaning and maintenance. It is very difficult to find waste to pick now. And her small shanty was all she had for her old age.She is also one of the protestors along with other women.
Sushila, 21, has been married for two years now. She has two young sons, both born in her shanty in Buddh Murti. She has studied till class 7 but dropped out to work after that. She shyly shares her love marriage story, how she defied her parents for pressuring her to marry a boy who was demanding a motorcycle as dowry.
She along with her two toddlers have been on the streets since the demolition. She and her husband hope to find a small room for her family soon, with or without government help.
Dukhiya Devi, 50, is a firebrand speaker and local leader of the party. She has been a vocal voice regarding the demand for permanent housing.
Dukhiya was 10 years old when she was married by her aunt after both her parents died. Her in-laws had to migrate to Musahari after Ranvir Sena violence made it impossible for the families to survive in their village. She along with her husband Satish Manjhi, have been rag-picking for decades. For the last five years, her husband Satish has been paralysed and under her care. Her sons send her monthly expenses, since work is scarce.
She says ‘the government thinks we are dirty creatures. We are not allowed to touch the plants or enter the garden’.
While the Majhi families were being forcefully evicted from their homes, just 100m away the Deputy Chief Minister and his family were constructing a lavish mansion (see photo). The internal roads of the society are being broadened to give a ‘posh’ look for the VIP members who will be frequenting the area with plantations on the sides. The government’s vision for the city is focused on beautification and modernization. By prioritizing the aesthetics of urban space and catering to the elite’s interests.
Where do the Manjhis stand for fair compensation?
Recent government ranking by Smart City Mission placed Patna in 83rd place out of 100 cities, severely lagging behind. A total amount of 1679 crores has been allotted for 39 projects in Patna city alone. In the year 2011, Bihar launched ‘Bihar State Slum Policy, 2011’ (BSSP) to make the cities slum free. BSSP requires that livelihood security and opportunities be considered while planning for the development of the slums, especially where relocation is the option. In the same direction City Development Plans 2030 (CDP) was prepared for 28 ULBs in Bihar for holistic development of urban areas with special focus on rehabilitation.
Most of the policies and plans take into consideration only the people with proper documentation. Most of the Dalits have either distress migrated to the cities or have been settled in the nearby areas by their individual feudal lords. They were allowed to live and thrive on these lands till now but had no ownership of the lands. The government process is not sensitive towards such historical contexts. They cancel any permanent rehabilitation on such ‘technicalities’. The government should immediately make permanent housing provision for the socially and economically most vulnerable Manjhi community who have been the invisible workers who keep the city running and yet are continually pushed to the margins, denied their rights, and treated as expendable.
On the third day of the hunger strike, Patna corporation authorities promised to relocate the evicted families in a nearby plot. The protest fast was ended on the basis of this assurance, but given the government's dubious record of reneging on assurances and even written agreements, the evicted families and all their comrades will have to remain vigilanr to ensure rehabilitation in real life.
