Commonwealth Games in New Delhi cause ‘common worry’

(July 29, 2010) Social activists have slammed India’s national government over the eviction of the poor and homeless in preparation for the October Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. More than 1 million families have already been evicted as a result of Games-linked development projects. Another 40,000 families are likely to be displaced in the lead up the October 3-14 mega event, says a report of the Housing and Land Rights Network, a member of the Habitat International coalition. The claim that the Games are helping to make a Delhi a “world class” city has already been proven wrong, the report says, citing “grave human costs” including slum demolitions, destruction of livelihoods, environmental degradation and arrests. Father Jose Vattakuzhy, secretary of the Labour Commission of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India agreed. “India is not mature enough to host such a big event,” he said. Behind the “bright and shining” image of India that the government wants to project, there lies “a very ugly face,” he added. As well as displacing the poor, Games construction has also led to the deaths of at least 64 workers. But their families have not been compensated properly, Father Jose said. Social activist Dhananjay Singhal, who works on homeless and urban poverty issues, said that thousands of children are also being used as bonded labourers on the project.