Mumbai's 29,000 sanitation workers to get housing as BMC begins phased redevelopment of their residential colonies

Mumbais 29000 sanitation workers are set to benefit from a major housing initiative with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC beginning the phased redevelopment of their residential coloniesMaharashtra Chief Minister CM Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said the state government would provide sanitation workers with homes under ownership rights in addition to service quarters as part of efforts to improve their living conditionsThe announcement came during the inauguration and key distribution ceremony for 140 flats at Panchsheel Nagar in Colaba constructed under Phase II of the BMCs Ashray YojanaCM Fadnavis said the initiative had already begun and would ensure that sanitation workers no longer had to worry about owning a home in the futureDeputy CM Eknath Shinde Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide and other civic and political representatives were present at the eventGovernment aims to provide service quarters by 2028The CM said the government had introduced the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Shram Safalya Yojana and the Valmiki Housing Scheme for sanitation workersUnder the existing service accommodation arrangement when a sanitation workers son is appointed in place of his father the accommodation is transferred to himThe government aims to provide service quarters to sanitation workers by 2028 he saidHighlighting the construction technology used for the Panchsheel Nagar project Fadnavis said it was the BMCs first building constructed using prefabricated technology which had so far largely been used for large private buildings The complex also includes common facilities for residentsSanitation workers take care of the health of Mumbaikars without prioritising their own health It is the governments responsibility to provide them with spacious and quality homes he saidFadnavis also referred to the Lad Page Committee established in 1973 to address the concerns of sanitation workers Its functioning was subsequently discontinued but revived in 2015 through a government resolution reinstating the hereditary appointment system he saidThe government has also decided to provide Class III jobs to children of sanitation workers who meet the required educational qualifications It has won a legal battle to implement the committees recommendations he addedMinimum wages and other facilities will also be extended to sanitation workers employed on contractual dailywage and substituteworker arrangements Fadnavis saidBMC to redevelop 146 sanitation worker colonies ShindeDeputy CM Eknath Shinde said the first phase of the initiative to provide service quarters to the BMCs 29000 sanitation workers had begun A total of 146 sanitation worker colonies in Mumbai would be redeveloped in phases to provide better accommodationDescribing sanitation workers as Mumbais real heroes Shinde highlighted their contribution to keeping the city clean particularly during the COVID19 pandemic and monsoonUnder the project workers would receive 300squarefoot homes instead of the existing 150squarefoot accommodation The BMC has adopted prefabricated technology to speed up construction Shinde saidHe pointed out that several sanitation workers live outside Mumbai and commute by local trains every day affecting their health and work efficiency Providing them with accommodation within the city would improve their living conditions and help make Mumbai cleaner and healthierShinde also asked the BMC to formulate a separate scheme to support the higher education of sanitation workers children encouraging them to pursue careers in fields such as medicine engineering law and architecture140 flats mark beginning of housing initiative for 29000 workers NarwekarMaharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar said the distribution of keys to 140 flats at Panchsheel Nagar marked the beginning of the initiative to provide homes to 29000 sanitation workers in MumbaiHe described the project as an important step towards ensuring dignified accommodation for those responsible for keeping the city clean and healthyThe two buildings at Panchsheel Nagar house 140 flats and are equipped with 10 lifts and other essential amenities The complex also has clean surroundings study facilities for children and spaces suited for various activities Narwekar saidThe programme began with a ribboncutting ceremony followed by an inspection of the newly constructed buildingsAshray Yojana to provide 12144 homes in three phasesUnder the BMCs Ashray Yojana 30 sanitation worker colonies are being redeveloped through 35 projects across three phasesThe plan includes 11371 homes measuring 300 square feet and 773 homes measuring 600 square feet taking the total to 12144 homesThe civic body aims to provide service accommodation to all its 29000 sanitation workersKeys handed over to sanitation workersKeys to the 140 flats at Panchsheel Nagar were distributed during the ceremonyFive sanitation workers were to receive keys in a symbolic handoverThe names listed among the beneficiaries were Bharati Dhotre Sachin Solanki Vandana Goregaonkar Shyamsingh Valmiki Prashant Sawant and Satish Marchande