- Jockin Arputham
Jockin Arputham has worked for more than 40 years in ‘
slums ’ andshanty towns , building representative organizations into powerful partners with governments and international agencies for the betterment of urban living. Arputham is the president of theNational Slum Dwellers Federation and ofSlum Dwellers International aWorld Bank andUSAID endorsed internationalNGO that has built thousands of houses around the world. He is currently residing inMumbai . He was the winner of the 2000Ramon Magsaysay Award for Peace and International Understanding. He is well known for his charisma and excellent public speaking.Biography
Jockin Arputham was born to
Tamilian parents inBangalore ,India , in 1947. In 1963 he moved to Mumbai where he worked as a carpenter and building contractor. He quickly became involved in community action within the settlement where he lived and worked, organising efforts to get the household wastes collected, setting up informal schools for children, and establishing water connections. [HabitatJam: [http://www.habitatjam.com/webuploads/files/pressRelease/eng/Jockin_Arputham.pdf Jockin Arputham] ]In 1976 the settlement of some 70,000 people in which he lived were made the subject of an eviction order, however under the leadership of Arputham the eviction order was successfully fought and the National Slum Dwellers Federation was established to protect slum dwellers and promote the development of slum areas.
Other important shack/slum dweller leaders
*
S'bu Zikode , South AfricaReferences
External links
* [http://www.homeless-international.org/News_1.aspx?id=0:264&news=1:28132 Article about Jockin Aruptham on Homeless International website]
* [http://www.rmaf.org.ph/Awardees/Citation/CitationArputhamJoc.htm Citation for Jockin Arputham on Ramon Magsaysay Award website]
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