It was the evening of August 2025. Anjum* sat outside his house; pangs of worry overwhelmed her, a sense of insecurity she could not understand. She felt something had pricked his heart; the reason, she did not know. The next morning, the tap-tap of the shoes of people was heard. The sound of bulldozers roared. She went out and saw heaps of debris, dust, and wood. One house, two, three, then came hers. It was reduced too.
Anjum’s house was built through years of hard work and sacrifice. “What did I do that my house was snatched away?” she said, with tears glimmering in her eyes.
Having been deprived of security, she now stands outside a temporary shelter made of heavy tarpaulin, tied together with ropes and hope. The sheet traps heat during the day and offers little protection at night, but Anjum said the discomfort of the shelter is nothing compared to the damage the demolition has caused to her life.
“The government was there earlier too, so why didn’t they consider it illegal then? They never checked our papers, never looked at anything, just came and demolished it,” Anjum said while talking to Miles2Smile.
The house she lost was more than a structure. It was where her children grew up, where family gatherings took place, and where memories passed down from her grandfather were preserved. Within hours, it was reduced to rubble under the label of “illegal encroachment.”
When the Roof Fell Away
Life after the eviction has been a daily struggle. Anjum explained that the absence of washrooms forced women to relieve themselves in the open, often before sunrise or after dark, exposing them to health risks and fear. Managing menstruation without privacy or basic facilities became another burden. The tarpaulin shelter, while offering some cover, turns unbearably hot and leaks during rain.
“Our grandfathers, our fathers—we all have documents. They should have checked those. We are Indians, not Bengali Muslims,” Anjum claimed.
On being asked about the one urgent help she needed, she said, “washroom.” Anjum took the team of Miles2Smile to various shelters. Every woman had the same story to narrate. The urgent need for a washroom.
After listening to the perils of Anjum and several other women like her, Miles2Smile constructed washrooms near the settlement, giving women like Anjum access to basic sanitation, privacy, and safety. The organization also provided tarpaulin sheets, which families used to build makeshift shelters after their homes were demolished. Though these efforts cannot replace a permanent home, they have reduced the immediate hardship of living in the open.
“We are happy that we have people who care about our well-being. I am grateful to Miles2Smile for their care, love, and help,” said Anjum.
