Jockin Arputham
Encyclopedia
Jockin Arputham has worked for more than 40 years in ‘slums’ and shanty towns, building representative organizations into powerful partners with governments and international agencies for the betterment of urban living. Arputham is the president of the National Slum Dwellers Federation
which he founded in the 70s and of Slum Dwellers International
which networks slum and shack dweller organizations and federations from over twenty countries across the world. The National Slum Dwellers Federation works very closely with Mahila Milan
, a collective of savings groups formed by women living on pavements and in slums across India, and with SPARC
, a Mumbai-based NGO, and together they have been instrumental is supporting tens of thousands of the urban poor access housing and sanitation. He has also worked with the police to set up 'police panchayats' in many of the informal settlements in Mumbai. Here, for the first time, police are assigned to work in these settlements and are supported by a committee of ten residents from the community (three men seven women).
Jockin realized that slum dweller organizations had to change their strategy. They had to make governments see them as legitimate citizens with knowledge and capacities to implement solutions. So they sought to work in partnership with government to address their housing problems – and other problems. He has often said that how can you reduce urban poverty if you do not listen to and work with the urban poor.
He has visited many other countries to encourage and support slum or shack dwellers to organize and to encourage them to take their own initiatives to show government what they are capable of.
He is currently residing in Mumbai
; his office is in Dharavi. He was the winner of the 2000 Ramon Magsaysay Award
for Peace and International Understanding. In 2011, the Government of India bestowed on him its highest civilian honor, the Padma Shri award. He is well known for his charisma and excellent public speaking.
district of Karnataka
, India
, in 1947. In 1963 he moved to Mumbai where he worked as a carpenter and building contractor. He quickly became involved in community action within the settlement where he lived and worked, organising efforts to get the household wastes collected, setting up informal schools for children, and establishing water connections.
When the 70,000 people who lived in Janata colony (including him) were threatened with eviction, he helped organize protests and court cases. He was arrested many times – even though Janata colony was not an illegal settlement. He even squatted in the Parliament in Delhi until the then Prime Minister would see him. But in 1976, 70,000 people were eventually evicted, although the strong community organizations that had emerged meant that they got much better terms than most evictees - land and support for housing in Cheetah Camp.
National Slum Dwellers Federation
The National Slum Dwellers Federation in India was established by Jockin Arputham when he fought on behalf of a community of 70,000 to appeal a 1976 eviction order....
which he founded in the 70s and of Slum Dwellers International
Slum Dwellers International
Slum Dwellers International is a global non-governmental organization that manages networks of the urban poor and slum dwellers that are organised into federations and which are usually based in the Global South. Its funders include the World Bank, USAID and the Gates Foundation.SDI argue that...
which networks slum and shack dweller organizations and federations from over twenty countries across the world. The National Slum Dwellers Federation works very closely with Mahila Milan
Mahila Milan
Mahila Milan, meaning "women together," is a credit scheme designed to assist women pavement dwellers in Bombay.Assisted by SPARC, Mahila Milan runs a number of programmes...
, a collective of savings groups formed by women living on pavements and in slums across India, and with SPARC
Society for the Promotion of Area Resource Centers
-Introduction:The Society for the Promotion of Area Resource Centers is one of the largest Indian NGOs working on housing and infrastructure issues for the urban poor...
, a Mumbai-based NGO, and together they have been instrumental is supporting tens of thousands of the urban poor access housing and sanitation. He has also worked with the police to set up 'police panchayats' in many of the informal settlements in Mumbai. Here, for the first time, police are assigned to work in these settlements and are supported by a committee of ten residents from the community (three men seven women).
Jockin realized that slum dweller organizations had to change their strategy. They had to make governments see them as legitimate citizens with knowledge and capacities to implement solutions. So they sought to work in partnership with government to address their housing problems – and other problems. He has often said that how can you reduce urban poverty if you do not listen to and work with the urban poor.
He has visited many other countries to encourage and support slum or shack dwellers to organize and to encourage them to take their own initiatives to show government what they are capable of.
He is currently residing in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
; his office is in Dharavi. He was the winner of the 2000 Ramon Magsaysay Award
Ramon Magsaysay Award
The Ramon Magsaysay Award is an annual award established to perpetuate former Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay's example of integrity in government, courageous service to the people, and pragmatic idealism within a democratic society. The Ramon Magsaysay Award is often considered Asia's Nobel...
for Peace and International Understanding. In 2011, the Government of India bestowed on him its highest civilian honor, the Padma Shri award. He is well known for his charisma and excellent public speaking.
Biography
Jockin Arputham was born to Tamilian parents in the KolarKolar
Kolara is a city in the South Indian state of Karnataka. It is the headquarters of Kolar District. It is known for being one of the gold mining sites in India....
district of Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, in 1947. In 1963 he moved to Mumbai where he worked as a carpenter and building contractor. He quickly became involved in community action within the settlement where he lived and worked, organising efforts to get the household wastes collected, setting up informal schools for children, and establishing water connections.
When the 70,000 people who lived in Janata colony (including him) were threatened with eviction, he helped organize protests and court cases. He was arrested many times – even though Janata colony was not an illegal settlement. He even squatted in the Parliament in Delhi until the then Prime Minister would see him. But in 1976, 70,000 people were eventually evicted, although the strong community organizations that had emerged meant that they got much better terms than most evictees - land and support for housing in Cheetah Camp.