New Delhi, A concerning trend of forced evictions across India has come to light, with a report revealing that more than half a million people were displaced in 2023 alone, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities, especially Muslims. The findings, which underscore the severity of home demolitions under the Modi government, indicate a marked increase in such incidents, impacting the nation’s most vulnerable populations.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the report, entitled “Forced Evictions in India: 2022 and 2023,” was published by the Housing and Land Rights Network (HLRN), a New Delhi-based advocacy group. This document, the sixth of its annual series, uncovers a drastic escalation in the demolition of homes between 2022 and 2023, with over 1.5 lakh households torn down, leading to the eviction of over 7.4 lakh individuals.

The year 2023 alone saw the demolition of 1,07,449 homes, resulting in at least 5,15,752 people being uprooted – the highest annual figure recorded by HLRN since it began its documentation in 2017. This widespread displacement spanned 23 states and four Union Territories, with major urban centers and smaller cities alike witnessing significant demolition activities. Delhi emerged as the city with the highest number of evictions, where approximately 2.8 lakh individuals were displaced over the year. Notably, court orders were instrumental in the eviction of more than 2.9 lakh people across the two years.

The report accentuates the disproportionate impact of these evictions on marginalized groups, with Muslims being the primary victims in nearly half of the documented cases. The lack of rehabilitation efforts and failure to adhere to due process by state authorities have led to widespread human rights violations. Currently, an estimated 17 million people across India live under the constant threat of eviction and displacement for a variety of reasons.

HLRN’s recommendations call for an immediate halt to all eviction activities and stress the importance of due process and consent from affected communities before proceeding with any evictions. The report also advocates for the provision of rehabilitation and suitable alternative accommodations for all displaced families and urges the recognition of informal settlements as legitimate residential areas to prevent further evictions and stigmatization.