Mumbai Slum Rehabilitation: Government Approves Scheme To Offer Housing To Residents Of Slums Built Between 2001-2011

The Maharashtra government has made a significant announcement to offer housing to qualifying slum residents living in hutments built between 1 January 2000, and 1 January 2011.

This undertaking is part of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) scheme and entails a charge of Rs 2.5 lakhs per dwelling for these individuals.

The decision was taken by the state housing department, headed by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

A government resolution issued on 26 May stated, “Eligible slum-dwellers will be entitled for a house at Rs 2.5 lakh. The scheme under SRA will extend to slum-dwellers living in the city from the year 2000 to 2011”.

The initiative is likely to benefit more than 12 lakh families living in slums in Mumbai.

Earlier, the government took a decision to provide free housing to slum dwellers until the year 2000.

Under the existing regulations of the Maharashtra Slum Areas (Improvement Clearance and Redevelopment) Act of 1971, individuals residing in slums constructed before 1 January 2000, are afforded legal protection and cannot be displaced unless they are provided with a free tenement.

However, the provision of houses for eligible slum dwellers until 2011 through a paid rehabilitation scheme had been under consideration.

The Approved Rehabilitation Policy

According to a report by Hindustan Times, in May 2018, the then Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government decided to rehabilitate those residing in hutments built before January 1, 2011.

However, not for free, as they do not fit into the category of eligible slum dwellers following a decision by the Supreme Court.

Following the recent approval on Thursday, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “We have kept our promise. It has always been our endeavour to provide houses to all segments including slum-dwellers”.

He added, “The housing for slums cut-off date was 2000. During my tenure as CM in 2018, we brought in legislation to protect the slum colonies in existence in Mumbai up to 2011. However, as per the court directives, it was mandatory to provide houses to slum-dwellers at nominal rates instead of giving it for free. In accordance with court orders, the government took the decision to make houses available to slum-dwellers at Rs 2.5 lakh,”, reports Indian Express.

The government's slum protection policy aims to allocate 300 square feet rehabilitation homes to eligible beneficiaries.

The cost of these homes was determined by a sub-committee established under the housing minister to calculate the construction expenses for the rehabilitation flats.

Residents who can provide documentation proving the existence of their hutments at any point during this specified period will be eligible for a rehabilitation flat upon payment of the predetermined amount.

Valsa Nair-Singh, additional chief secretary of housing, asserts that the policy is applicable to all SRA projects.

She stated that, “It is expected that more people will now come forward to purchase these flats. They will need to produce documents such as electricity bills, birth certificates, voter ID cards to prove the hut existed during this period”.

According to the 2011 census, approximately 42 per cent of Mumbai's population lives in slums

Previously, as part of the housing scheme for slum dwellers before 2000, around two lakh households have already been granted free rehabilitation.

In 2015, the SRA mapped over 3,000 slum clusters in the city.

This much-awaited policy is expected to support in managing the city's increasing slum population and providing affordable housing options, in addition to the various slum redevelopment projects ongoing in the city.

Following reports, Satish Lokhande, CEO of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA), confirmed that there are currently 2,205 houses ready for immediate possession under the new decision.

The completion of the next 700 to 800 houses is underway and will be rolled out soon.

Additionally, the scheme will serve as a crucial strategy for the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena alliance to secure the support of slum dwellers in upcoming elections.

In Mumbai, slum colonies hold significant influence and can significantly impact the electoral results in approximately 40 per cent of the total 227 wards.