The Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Maharashtra government have been directed by the Supreme Court to retain the current housing status for conservancy workers who have long yearned for home ownership. Due to BMC intentions to revamp the colonies as part of the Ashray Yojana Program, many workers who reside in BMC colonies have received eviction notices. The workers' union requests owning apartments in accordance with government directives, but the BMC has not implemented these suggestions. While the greater housing issue for conservancy employees is yet unresolved, the Supreme Court's interim injunction offers transient relief.
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The Supreme Court has issued an interim order to the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Maharashtra government, directing them to maintain the current situation regarding housing for conservancy workers. These workers have long sought ownership of houses as per a government resolution issued in 1985.
Conservancy workers, known as safai karmacharis, reside in BMC colonies throughout the city, and their right to housing is tied to their employment. The BMC, however, has recently sent eviction notices to redevelop these buildings under the Ashray Yojana, a scheme where houses are allocated as long as at least one family member works in the solid waste management department.
The workers' union has opposed this and demanded ownership flats in accordance with the 1985 government circular and subsequent recommendations. Govindbhai Parmar, the president of the Akhil Bhartiya Safai Mazdoor Congress (ABSMC), criticized the BMC for not providing permanent housing to conservancy workers as recommended by expert committees.
The Lad Page committee, for instance, recommended that workers with 35 or more years of service should be given ownership of their living quarters. However, the BMC has not followed these recommendations, leaving conservancy workers tied to this occupation for housing.
The BMC's proposed redevelopment of staff colonies occupied by around 5,592 conservancy workers is being carried out under the Ashraya Yojana, but details of the scheme have not been provided to the workers. The BMC has failed to acknowledge government resolutions aimed at improving the living and working conditions of conservancy workers, primarily from the Dalit community.
Manisha Lalit Khakhadiya, a BMC conservancy worker, explained that families in these colonies have been living there for nearly a century, often working as sweepers or conservancy workers for generations. The BMC argued in the Bombay High Court that there was no provision under the Mumbai Municipal Act to grant ownership of houses to workers and that the civic body was facing a space crunch to house its employees.
Following a stay on evictions until August 31 issued by the high court, the petitioners approached the Supreme Court. On August 29, the Supreme Court ordered, "The status quo, existing as of today, to continue till the next date of hearing."
This issue highlights the ongoing struggle for housing rights faced by conservancy workers in Mumbai and raises questions about the implementation of government resolutions aimed at improving their living conditions. The Supreme Court's interim order provides some relief to conservancy workers, but the larger issue of providing them with permanent housing remains unresolved. BMC Commissioner Iqbal Chahal declined to comment on the matter.
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