Before 1982, a slum inhabited by 64 families occupied the space where the M.S. Building now stands in the heart of Bengaluru. In that year, the slum was relocated to government land in Laggere village. The residents were primarily from North Karnataka and predominantly worked as masons in the city.
Shambanna, a local resident, recalled that back then he attended the school located inside the premises of the Governor’s House that was close by. However, after they were relocated, they had to walk to Mahalakshmi Layout to catch a bus to school. “Soon after we moved, there was a bus strike, leaving my younger brother and me stranded without a means to return home. This incident frightened our parents, and they didn’t allow us to continue attending school. That’s why I work as a mason today,” he said.
