Sanitation Workers in Mira-Bhayander Demand Free Housing Under Special Government Approva
Labour leader and former MLA Narendra Mehta has urged the Maharashtra Urban Development Department to grant special approval for providing free homes to eligible sanitation workers and project-affected families under the Affordable Housing Scheme in Mira-Bhayander
A major demand has been raised in Mira-Bhayander seeking free permanent housing for eligible sanitation workers under a special government approval mechanism. The proposal aims to allocate houses developed under the state’s Affordable Housing Scheme to sanitation workers and project-affected families in need.
The demand was formally submitted through a letter addressed to Additional Chief Secretary of the Urban Development Department, Aseem Gupta, by labour leader and former MLA Narendra Mehta, who is also the founder president of Shramik General Kamgar Union.
Union office bearers, sanitation employees, labour workers, and officials have expressed gratitude to Narendra Mehta for taking initiative on the long-pending issue concerning housing rights of sanitation workers in the city.
According to the state government’s Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Shram Safalya Scheme, sanitation workers who have completed 25 years of service, as well as families of deceased sanitation workers, are entitled to free permanent housing. Based on current records, around 212 eligible sanitation workers in Mira-Bhayander require housing benefits under the scheme.
However, the Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation currently does not possess sufficient housing stock to fulfil this requirement.
Meanwhile, nearly 400 housing units have reportedly been constructed under the state government’s Affordable Housing Scheme. As per government norms, 25 percent of these houses are to be transferred to the municipal corporation, 25 percent to the state government, and the remaining 50 percent to MHADA.
Considering the present financial condition of the municipal corporation, constructing separate housing units exclusively for sanitation workers is said to be difficult. Therefore, a special approval has been sought from the government to allocate the available affordable housing units to eligible sanitation workers and project-affected families free of cost.
The issue has now gained attention among labour unions and civic workers, who are demanding swift action from the Maharashtra government to ensure housing dignity for sanitation staff serving the city for decades.
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