Design & People identify how design can intervene to make a contribution to the ongoing efforts to improve the lives of people disadvantaged by war, disability, and political and environmental conditions. We unite and encourage graphic, industrial and architectural designers to use their experience and skills towards social and humanitarian projects. Mission: Design For People In Need.
Design & People (December 2007)
Background: Vaduthala, a densly-populated area of Cochin Corporation has been silently bearing the after-effects of two railway lines that pass through the Vaduthala Crossing, Chittoor Road. This is how Vaduthala has contributed to the growth of Cochin city. Constructing another railway line through the Vaduthala Crossing is more than what the residents can bear. The Vaduthala residents pledge to conserve their land till the last breath. More over the people and their supporters would never allow such a foolish and unscientific proposal to become a reality at Vaduthala.
Prominent artists from various creative fields, human rights activists and environmentalists from various parts of the city participated in the event. The Chief Guest of the evening was Shri KT Ravindran, Architect, Urban Designer and the Head of the Urban Design Department at the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi. In his Opening address he chose to focus upon the multitude of issues cities of growing economies are faced with in contemporary world amidst a global surge of capital. Taking the particular case of Kochi, he opined that the land acquisition process in connection with the installation of a rail line was only a "small tip of a huge disaster". In its full grown state, the Container Terminal posed a threat to the air quality of the city due to highly increased road traffic, its estuary and related eco-systems and not the least the cityscape as seen along the extensive water edges the city has been blessed with owing to the size of the project. He also inaugurated the online signature campaign.
There were also brief talks by Shri Geo Jose, an experienced human rights campaigner, as well as by Shri Martin, one of the top brass leaders of the Vaduthala Jankeeya Samithi who have managed to sustain this struggle for close to three years now. Geo was particularly critical of the inappropriateness of applying land-use laws introduced in the colonial era to address contemporary issues. He also pointed out that the Social class of intellectuals and cultural activists were largely oblivious to the 'true' happenings around them in their own city. In this context, the work of Design & People becomes significant.
A highlight of the evening was the symbolic "straightening the convoluted line", where the campaign logo "eviction", written with rope, was pulled from both ends by the people who had gathered for the evening. This was followed by an Open Forum where activist groups and individuals involved in this struggle voiced their manifold concerns regarding the same. Especially heartening was the presence of affected families and housewives sharing some of their first-hand experiences in dealing with the high-handedness of the state machinery. The meeting concluded with the screening of Ruzbeh N Bharucha's "Yamuna gently weeps" which portrayed the eradication of the Yamuna Pushta slum in Delhi and its aftermath.
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