On October 20 and 21, 2025, when the whole country was shining with lamps, there was golden light in the houses, there was laughter and excitement in the markets, at the same time there was silence and fear in the narrow streets near the Polytechnic intersection of Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh.
Here, more than 200 people from 27 tribal families could not celebrate Diwali this year due to a strange fear. Children and elderly are all included in these.
The survey was conducted in the locality of Kalpana Singh Wakhla near Polytechnic intersection in Bhopal. He was told that this is a survey of Ladli Brahmin Yojana. He thought that now perhaps he would get Rs 1500 instead of Rs 1250. But it is said that that survey was not about sleeping under Sukun’s roof, but about snatching the roof.
Families settled for 70 years are being removed
Kalpana Singh Wakhla says, “We tribals have been living here for 70 years. We have paid electricity bills, taxes, everything. If the government is removing us, then let us know. Our slum is near Manas Bhawan. If this is forest land, then why are we being removed? If it is a matter of development, then build us a house here.”
Karma Bai said – “If they break this, we will lie down here.”
Karma Bai’s entire life was spent in a small 10×10 room made of bricks and stones. A family of ten people. Stay there, cook. Karma Bai, who used to earn her living by washing utensils in people’s homes, is now in fear of losing her roof.
She says, “I can’t walk properly. It is difficult to stand. Still, they caught us and took us to the court. Do the collectors and officers have the papers of their houses? We fill the potholes, wash the utensils, only then we get two paisa. Now they will demolish our house. If they demolish it, we will lie down here. They will make the children lie down. They will make our Marghat here.”
Colorless Diwali 2025
Chhaya Singh lives in a small 7×15 house with her father, sister and brother. A room is divided into two parts. On one side is the kitchen, on the other side is God’s place. Father now just keeps looking at the pictures hanging on the walls.
Chhaya says, “We had already been told that our house is going to be demolished before Diwali. Therefore, we did not clean or paint anything. This time the lamps were not lit. We have vacated a land in the colony so that vehicles can come. If there is sadness in our hearts, then how can we be happy? Painting has not been done for two years. I thought we will do it this time.”
“The survey was conducted by pretending to be the survey of Ladli Brahmin”
Maan Singh says, “We have been living here since we were very young. The survey was said to be of Ladli Brahmin Yojana. There was no painting, no lights on Diwali. 27 families have been living here since this area was barren land. Now the government says that this is encroachment on revenue land.”
“Flats of PM residence are being given”- SDM
SDM Deepak Pandey told that “These people have encroached on government land. Therefore, the Tehsildar made a case and heard it, after which everyone has been given a notice to vacate the place. But since these people have been living there for a long time, they are not being removed but are being displaced. They are being given flats under PM Awas Yojana. This land belongs to the Revenue Department, although on the papers it is called ‘Jungle Maid’. It is written. The Municipal Corporation’s action letter will come in a day or two.”