Renovation not relocation: the work of Paguyuban Warga Strenkali (PWS) in Indonesia

Abstract

This paper describes the changes in official policy on riverside development in Surabaya, negotiated by the residents of low-income riverside settlements through their organization, Paguyuban Warga Strenkali Surabaya (PWS). They shifted the official policy from relocation to redevelopment by organizing the riverside communities and by developing their own proposals to show how flooding could be avoided and city development promoted through upgrading. As a member of the province’s parliament noted, there is a large difference between communities threatened with eviction saying: “ Help us because we are poor” and “ Listen, we have this problem and here is a possible solution.” The riverside communities now have five years to upgrade their homes and work with the government to clean up the rivers and clear space for riverside roads without evicting residents. The paper describes the work that is underway and how it is supported by savings groups. It also describes the constraints, which still include eviction threats and the lack of funding available to support the communities’ own processes and priorities. PWS plans to develop a revolving fund to support house renovation.

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