Demolition of Dhobighat to Commence on 11th March, 2025

Demolition of Dhobighat to Commence on 11th March, 2025

Hamara Manch, March 09, 2025

The Institute authorities have decided to go ahead with the demolition of the dhobighat on March 11th without putting an alternate facility in place. They have assigned the work to a contractor whose men have made several visits to the dhobighat. The authorities have decided to bulldoze over the sentiments of all sections of the community – including the explicit resolution by the formal body of the student community, the alumni, other members of the community and the dhobis themselves. HM has shared several updates on the issue over the last three months which can be accessed here. Given the finality of the situation, we would like to briefly put the position of the three main constituencies in this entire issue – the students, dhobis and the Institute administration.

 Students’ Position (based on the emergency CoSHA meeting on February 19, 2025)

·         Unanimous agreement amongst students against use of machines and continuation of the present dhobi service. Almost all hostels have washing machines and yet over 4000 students prefer the dhobi option. 

·         No eviction of dhobis and demolition of dhobighat until an alternative viable workspace for them is in place.

·         Open House with dhobis, students and institute administration officials after the mid-semester break.

All the above have been rejected by the Institute administration.

 Dhobis’ Position

·         This occupation is the primary source of livelihood for these 32 dhobi families.

·         They want to continue to provide this service to the community and for that they need an appropriate facility including – place to wash, space to dry, space to store and iron clothes. They would give up the present space as soon as a proper alternate arrangement is made. They have communicated this several times to the Institute authorities in writing right since December 2024.

·         The 6x6 feet windowless, dirt-floor tin sheds made of discarded material are not acceptable in place of their existing storage cum workspace.

Institute’s Position

The Institute has been shifting their position several times over the last three months. The only thing consistent about their position is that they would evict the dhobis from the dhobighat by any means.

·         On 27th November they served notices that the dhobighat would be demolished because it is uninhabitable and an earthquake hazard. They claimed it is based on some studies which have not been made public in spite of repeated demands by the concerned community.

·         On 3rd January 2025 the Institute served a notice of eviction declaring the dhobi families as illegal occupants of the dhobighat and involved in illegal commercial activity in spite of all of them having allotment papers and other relevant documents. A farcical judicial proceeding was carried out where the dhobis were not allowed to present their papers or response. The Institute at present appears to be completely ignoring this entire ‘legal’ proceeding it undertook.

·         In the social media handle the Institute has claimed that they require the space for a hostel and that the dhobis are an integral part of the community and proper arrangement would be made for them.

·         The latest position of the Institute is that they will replace the dhobi services by machines even if the primary users (the students) are unanimously against it.

 HM’s Question to the Community

The dhobis have been putting up a persistent struggle to sustain their livelihood while providing impeccable service to the community for the last three months. And yet, barely two days before Holi, the Institute authorities have decided to forcibly evict them from the space which has been a workplace for all the 32 families over generations and also place of living for many of them. No consideration has been made for those children who are in the midst of their final exams including the boards. The dhobi families have decided to stand firm on their position – to not voluntarily leave without appropriate alternative.

 As we prepare to celebrate Holi, our question to the community is - do we have any role on the impending demolition of the dhobighat? If yes, the time to act is now. Tomorrow would be too late.