South Asia State of Minorities Report 2019 facilities, and to make them somewhat economically stable,’ he says. The colony has no formal electricity or water connections. Attempts to draw electricity from nearby poles have, in fact, been repeatedly thwarted by local authorities in the past, causing extreme distress to the residents in the summer heat. Joshi’s efforts have resulted in the installation of solar panels and generator sets within the camp. The lack of official recognition as refugees has also made the residents’ access to services difficult. While it is possible to use illegal means to obtain Indian documents like the Aadhaar card, not many are able to afford the exorbitant fees charged by middlemen. Those who do have such documents have managed to send their children to local government schools. However, many of the children, some as old as 12 or 13, are either illiterate or ill-versed in English and Hindi, requiring them to attend foundational classes within the camp before they are ready for formal schooling. Healthcare also remains a major issue within the colony, particularly during the summer, when the prevalence of diseases flares up. Residents say that the nearest hospital is overcrowded, and that the local clinics are inadequate. Another crowdfunding campaign has resulted in the provision of basic medicines and periodic visits by doctors to the colony. Recently, Joshi’s efforts have resulted in an arrangement where the residents’ medical bills are taken care of by the fund. While there is a palpable sense of discontent with government efforts, particularly the local authorities, most of the residents cling to the hope that things will change for the better soon. The Modi government has made a number of receptive moves, such as decentralising the process of granting citizenship to the district-level in certain states, and passing an amendment of the country’s citizenship law that will reduce the minimum residency requirement for Pakistani Hindus to claim Indian citizenship. However, Modi’s appeal to the world’s Hindus to make India their homeland is yet to translate into a real tangible change in the lives of the residents of the Adarsh Nagar settlement, many of whom will not be eligible for Indian citizenship even after the recent legislative amendments. A few have even sought to return to Pakistan, where they at least formally have the protection of citizenship. Others remain steadfast in their decision to leave Pakistan. ‘There is discomfort here, but I am not scared for my family’s safety. I am finally able to sleep peacefully at night,’ says Aakash, as he greets his daughter who has just finished her classes for the day. * 48 Names of all camp inhabitants have been changed to protect their identity.