New Delhi: The SPECT Foundation unveiled its report, “Segregated Citizens: The Lack of Civic Amenities in the Muslim Majority Parts of Delhi,” here Monday. The report sheds light on the dire state of civic infrastructure in Zakir Nagar and Abul Fazal Enclave.
Focusing on the pervasive neglect of basic services in Muslim-majority neighbourhoods, the report underscores the indifference of successive governments to addressing fundamental issues of livelihood and dignity for residents of Zakir Nagar and AF Enclave. The research marks the first in a series aimed at analysing the deprivation of civic amenities in minority-populated regions of Delhi.
The findings highlight systemic discrimination in public services, including schools, healthcare facilities (hospitals, mohalla clinics, and health centres), public transport, banking services, Mother Dairy booths, and post offices. Conversely, the report points to an overwhelming presence of coercive state apparatus such as police and paramilitary forces in these areas.
The report traces the demographic influx into these neighbourhoods to major communal events, including Babri Masjid demolition, 2002 Gujarat riots, and 2020 Northeast Delhi riots, which pushed many Muslims to seek refuge in these localities.
Speaking at the event, Syeda Hameed, former Planning Commission member, reflected on the founding vision of Jamia Millia Islamia. “When Jamia was established, its founders envisioned diversity and mutual coexistence as part of a composite culture,” she said.
She also noted that while the report focuses on two localities, over 25 similar neighbourhoods in Delhi face comparable challenges.
Senior journalist Prashant Tandon, sharing his perspective, emphasised the report’s significance for future policymaking. He described the issue as not merely a civic or municipal problem but a political one.
“These ghettos are a creation of the state, not the Muslims,” he stated, adding that political persecution and an atmosphere of insecurity have forced the formation of such enclaves. Unlike other parts of Delhi facing infrastructure challenges, these areas are deliberately marginalised.
Sazid Ali and Banojyotsna Lahiri of the SPECT Foundation presented detailed findings of the report, emphasising urgent need for remedial action to address these systemic inequities.
The report’s recommendations include broadening of main roads, regular repairing of potholes and broken roads, clean drinking water supply across the locality, gas pipelines for cooking gas, completion of proposed government hospital in Sarita Vihar, increase in number of Mohalla Clinics and government coaching centres for NEET/JEE and other competitive exams, deployment of Safai Karamcharis and trucks for waste disposal, temporary buildings to dump garbage, immediate relocation of high tension wires, increase in number of green spaces, children’s parks and joggers’ parks and plantation of trees inside the localities, and increase in the number of government schools in these localities.
