Struggle for Housing in Calcutta-Proposal for Extortion

The proposal of the mayor's advisory council of the Calcutta Municipal Corporation to charge the city's 60,000 pavement dwellers a daily rent of Re one would not give the dwellers the right to permanent occupation and they could be evicted at anytime in the public interest. In launching such a scheme of extortion, the local government will be merely stepping into the shoes of the goonda.