Mumbai: After the protest at Azad Maidan demanded affordable housing for 1.5 lakh mill workers in Mumbai, organized by 14 groups including the Rashtriya Mill Mazdoor Sangh, the government has acknowledged the protest and plans to provide housing based on land availability in Mumbai and nearby areas.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde reassured labor unions that accepting houses in Shelu is not compulsory for mill workers. While a large number of applications were received by MHADA for the mill land housing scheme, only 25,000 workers were included.
Due to space constraints in Mumbai, the government decided to construct 81,000 houses in Shelu and Vangani, leading to protests from mill workers' heirs who marched to Azad Maidan. Following this, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde met with protesters, resulting in significant decisions from the government.
In a recent X post Maharashtra deputy chief minister has stated that the purchase of houses at Shelu is voluntary for mill workers, and their housing claims will not be terminated if they opt out in 2024.
The cancellation of point number 17 from the government resolution was announced. A quota will be set for housing mill workers under the slum rehabilitation project, and a request is being made to the central government for salt pan lands in Mumbai for their housing, reflecting efforts for justice for mill workers.
The government aims to ensure that every eligible mill worker secures housing. Industries Minister Uday Samant stated that Shinde decided in the meeting to construct houses for mill workers in Mumbai and nearby areas wherever land is available.
There is a confirmation that taking housing in Shelu is voluntary, countering misinformation about compulsory allocations. Furthermore, mill workers not securing housing by 2024 will still retain their claims, and a decision has been made to cancel a particular point in the prior government decision.
Additionally, plans for a housing quota for mill workers in the slum rehabilitation project are underway, and requests are being made to the Center for housing on salt pans in Mumbai as part of the government's effort to ensure justice for the mill workers.
