Demolition in Kogilu Layout leaves 500 homeless, exposes gaps in welfare access

The Hindu
The Hindu
3h ago
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Demolition of over 150 houses in Kogilu Layout displaced 500 people who now face homelessness and financial strain. Many lost essential documents, and welfare access remains limited.
Demolition in Kogilu Layout leaves 500 homeless, exposes gaps in welfare access
A What happened
In Kogilu Layout, Yelahanka, government agencies demolished over 150 houses in informal settlements, leaving about 500 people homeless. Displaced families sheltered in a government school now face eviction risks. Residents report severe financial stress due to loans taken for daily survival and medical needs, now compounded by loss of homes. Many children lost educational materials and identity documents, complicating exam participation and school admissions. An NGO survey of 34 households showed near-universal possession of identity documents but minimal enrollment in welfare and health insurance schemes. The demolition highlights systemic gaps in urban social safety nets for vulnerable, long-term residents.
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Key insights

  • 1

    Mismatch between identity and welfare access: Despite most residents possessing official identity documents like Aadhaar and voter cards, access to welfare benefits and social security remains minimal, exposing structural barriers beyond documentation.

  • 2

    Informal settlements' vulnerability to eviction: Long-term residents of informal settlements face sudden homelessness without alternative housing options, revealing a governance gap in urban housing policy and emergency support.

  • 3

    Financial precarity worsened by demolition: Many residents took high-interest loans for survival, which become untenable when homes are lost, compounding poverty and debt cycles among displaced urban poor.

Takeaways

The Kogilu Layout demolition illustrates challenges in protecting informal settlement residents from displacement without adequate social safety nets or alternative housing, calling for policymaker attention to urban housing security and welfare inclusion.

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