July 24, 2024
June Maliah’s Zero Hour mention on the need for the Indian Railways to provide basic amenities to the thousands of people living on land owned by it in Kharagpur
Madam, instead of one minute, I would request you to give me two minutes. Thank you for giving me an opportunity to be heard as a first-time parliamentarian. The needs of my State and its people have been ignored in the Budget which was presented yesterday. So, I feel it necessary to rise to speak in this august House and raise the voice of the people residing in the railway colonies situated in Kharagpur town which falls under my parliamentary constituency, Medinipur, West Bengal. Kharagpur, as we all know, is the oldest and busiest junction station in South Eastern Railway Zone after Howrah. Approximately, 13,000 to 15,000 households with a population comprising 70,000 to 80,000 people reside on the land owned by the Railways in Kharagpur. They have been residing there for more than 50 years. The main problem is that these people come from a very low-income group and they are extremely poor. But the Railways do not provide these colonies even with basic infrastructure facilities like water supply, electricity supply and sometimes, toilets. About eight wards of Kolkata Municipality fall under these railway colonies which are run by the Government of West Bengal. Every time, people come to take help from our councillors and the municipalities. But they get absolutely no cooperation from the Railways… Madam, I am coming to my demand. The hon. Railway Minister is present here. He had been to Kharagpur and is aware of this situation. So, on behalf of my people, I would like to know about the steps taken by the Railways to provide ownership rights to them. Why is the Railways not taking enough initiative for the development of these colonies? Madam, please let me finish. It is my maiden speech. The people are compelled to live in such despair… Madam, one more minute.
