Lok Raj Sangathan and Gulshai e Taiba, Aam Admi Party, Halat Ekta Forum, Movement for Peace and Justice, Lal Bauta Powerloom and Asangatith Kamgar Union, Sahara Samajik Sangathana, Savitribai Phule Bidi Kamgar Union, Ekta Forum Bhiwandi, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, Lok Hind Party, Jamait e Ulema, Jamait E Islami, Anjuma e Ettihad formed the Bhiwandi Jan Sangharsh Samiti and carried out a weeklong long campaign on the issues of good roads, safe drinking water, good medical services and proper sanitation.
In Bhiwandi city about eight lakh people live in congested dwellings in narrow by lanes. The houses are built of bricks and are often unpainted and their roofs are covered with tin sheds. They are supplied impure drinking water, their roads are dotted with pot holes and health services are meager.
The campaign was conducted for five days preceding the main dharna on 29th July, 2019. Despite torrential rains, several areas were covered by the campaign team, including a chowk near Ghousia Masjid at Shanti Nagar, Garib Nawaz Chowk, Nai Basti, Diwan Shah Darga and Mandai.
A total of ten thousand leaflets highlighting the issues were distributed. Speakers of Lok Raj Sangathan pointed out that the condition of the people in our country is atrocious because power is not vested in their hands, but in those of about 150 of the richest industrialists. Though the authorities of the Bhiwandi Municipal Corporation claim that they have no money to improve services for the people, they did find it possible to spare the private electricity distribution company Torrent from paying Rs. 250 crores as rent for its offices! Speakers of various organisations pointed out that there were two classes – the malik and the mazdoor. For the last 70 years the plight of the mazdoor has not improved while only the rich have gained. The residents attentively listened to the agitators and eagerly signed the demand letter.
The campaign ended in a dharna in front of the Bhiwandi-Nizampur City Corporation office. A delegation met the Municipal Commissioner and gave him the letter of demands. In the discussion the Commissioner promised to repair all the urinals immediately and also build a few more in the congested areas. He promised to repair the arterial roads, to improve the health centers and write a letter to the Indira Gandhi Hospital about the hospital facilities.
The leaders of the participating organisations assessed the campaign very positively. They agreed to meet and check up on the authorities and their promises and take the agitation to wider areas as required.