Fadnavis: All Mumbai sanitation workers to get BMC staff quarters by 2028

Good news has come for Mumbai's sanitation workers around Diwali. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that all of the city's sanitation workers will be provided with staff quarters (BMC Staff Headquarters) by 2028. He made the announcement at an event to hand over house keys to some workers under Mumbai's Aashray Yojana.

Under the civic body's Aashray Yojana Cell, Phase-2, two buildings have been constructed at Rajwadkar Street, Panchsheel Nagar, in Colaba. A total of 140 new staff quarters of 300 sq ft each are ready here for sanitation workers. The flats have separate bathrooms and toilets, along with several other facilities.

Fadnavis said the Mumbai Municipal Corporation had done good work. According to him, workers under the Aashray Yojana had for years lived in dilapidated 150 sq ft homes with community toilets and without many facilities. These brothers, sisters and employees of the corporation, who keep the city clean, have now been given a 300 sq ft home. He congratulated the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor and the Commissioner for this.

The Chief Minister said that until now only private buildings were constructed using modern technology, but this time the same technology was used to build a block for municipal employees. The building has a life of 100 years and the construction is good. About 30 to 40 per cent of the space has been left open. Community facilities have been provided, along with a community hall. The developer will carry out maintenance for ten years. According to Fadnavis, once the workers move in, they will not have to look after anything for ten years.

He said sanitation workers keep everyone healthy and keep Mumbai clean, and Mumbaikars benefit from it. But their own lives were passing in cramped, coop-like homes. A corporation like Mumbai's is among the wealthiest in Asia, and it is not a matter of pride that its employees should live in such conditions. Fadnavis said that after seeing the scene today he certainly found a solution, and that the start of giving them a better life has been made.

The Chief Minister also congratulated Rahul Narwekar. According to him, such schemes face obstacles, and Narwekar gave important help in removing them, without which it would have taken two to three more years.

Fadnavis further said the Lad-Page Committee was formed in 1973, but its work later stopped because of a court decision. The heir-based system (varas padhati) was then introduced, under which workers' children get Class III jobs. When obstacles arose again, a legal battle was fought in court and the Lad-Page Committee recommendations were implemented. It was decided to retain the workers' distinct rights, and a decision was also taken on the minimum wage they should get. He said matters did not end there, and the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Shramsaphalya Yojana and the Valmiki Yojana were also launched.