Self Eviction

Poor people coming from rural settle in an urban place. This place may be private or public property. Many peoples with their families make a settlement. This type of settlement is called slum. Slum dwellers live their without tax or rent. But sometime, some musclemen of the slum make tent and rent to the others. However their living is illegal. When the land owner (private or public) wants to do anything in the place, they may give them verbal or written notice to leave the place. The slum dwellers don’t want to leave the place as they have no alternatives for shelter. Then by force they are displaced. Sometimes, it needs police or other force for the purpose. This incident is called eviction. We are familiar about this.

Here we will discuss about another type of eviction. In this eviction, it needs no formal notice or no force. Automatically people leave the place. We are calling this “Self Eviction”. Where there is a big industry, peoples come from outside and settle for their livelihoods. They are engaged as day laborers or some way. Some people open small shop to sell vegetables, bakery items or grocery. They live there with family in temporary sheds. As long the industry runs well, they live with happiness. The industry may be closed for loss or government order or any other cause. After hearing the news of closing the industry, people themselves start to migrate from the place. After a period of time the entire settlement goes out of the place. This type of eviction is called self eviction, where there is no police, no force.

Example: Khulna Textile Mill was established in the area beside new market of Khulna City. For employment there were many peoples came to the place and settled around this mill area. Their professions were: Day laborers, Hawkers, mobile traders, Grocery shopkeepers, vegetable sellers, shoe menders etc. Their shelters were not permanent even long years. In 2009, the mill was closed by the government. Hearing the news of closing of the mill, many of the inhabitants of the mill area started to leave the place for uncertainty. Within 3 years all the people of the area went away. No one evicted them by force, but they went away themselves. This is the eviction which is termed as “Self Eviction”.

Causes of Self Eviction:

- Uncertainty of future.

- Saving from force eviction.

- Seeking another scope of living.

- Following someone who is leaving the place.

- Reaumur of threats.

Eviction is the common phenomena of all the country, especially developing countries. This is the threat of the poor people and they are always frightened about it.  No eviction whether it is by force or spontaneous is not good for the society. Rehabilitation should be thought and implemented by the authority. The authority may be government or non-government. For the greater interest of the society as well country the poor should be addressed properly. Eviction makes only the problem, not a solution at all. So, before eviction, alternative place with system of rehabilitation to be adopted.