Sanitation workers of Maharashtra to get ownership homes, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis makes big announcement

Mumbai, Dec 6 (City News Mumbai)

Maharashtra's sanitation workers will now be given ownership homes along with service quarters. The state government has taken a decision in this regard and its implementation has also begun. In the future, no sanitation worker will have to worry about accommodation for their family. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed this confidence.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was speaking at the inauguration and key distribution program of newly constructed staff quarters under Phase-2 of the Ashray Yojana Cell at Panchsheel Nagar in Colaba, South Mumbai. On this occasion, 140 quarters were inaugurated.

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Assembly Speaker Advocate Rahul Narwekar, Mayor Ritu Tawde, Deputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi, Corporators Makarand Narwekar, Harshita Narwekar, and Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide along with other officials were present at the event.

Target to provide service quarters to sanitation workers by 2028

Chief Minister Fadnavis said that sanitation workers protect the health of Mumbaikars without caring about their own health. It is the government's responsibility to provide better and convenient housing to such employees.

He informed that Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Shramsafalya and Valmiki Housing Scheme have been started for sanitation workers. Under the service quarter arrangement, after the retirement of the concerned employee, the quarter is transferred to the son appointed in his place. A target has been set to provide service quarters to sanitation workers by the year 2028.

The Chief Minister informed that until now, pre-fabricated technology was mainly used in the construction of large private buildings. For the first time, a Municipal Corporation building has been constructed using this technology. Community amenities have also been provided in the complex.

He said that the Ladpage Committee was constituted in the year 1973, but due to some reasons its functioning had stopped. In the year 2015, the government restarted the committee through a new decision and implemented the system of appointment on compassionate grounds.

A decision has also been taken to give Class-3 jobs to qualified children of sanitation workers. The government has won the legal battle and implemented the recommendations of the Ladpage Committee. Apart from this, a decision has also been taken to give minimum wages and necessary facilities to employees working under contractual, daily wage, and other temporary arrangements.

Sanitation workers are the real heroes of Mumbai: Eknath Shinde

Praising the sanitation workers, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that when Mumbai is fast asleep, sanitation workers protect the health of the city's residents by cleaning the streets. Even during the Covid pandemic, these employees rendered services without caring for their lives. These employees work continuously even during deep cleaning drives and waterlogging situations during the rains. Therefore, the real heroes of Mumbai are the sanitation workers themselves.

He informed that the first phase of the scheme to provide service quarters to 29 thousand sanitation workers of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation has started. All employees will be given better housing by redeveloping 146 staff colonies of Mumbai in a phased manner.

In this project, instead of 150 square feet earlier, 300 square feet houses are now being provided. The Mumbai Municipal Corporation has constructed these houses rapidly using pre-fabricated technology for the first time.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that many sanitation workers live outside Mumbai and have to travel long distances by train every day. Getting housing in Mumbai itself will improve their health and work efficiency and help in keeping the city clean and healthy.

They directed the municipal corporation to prepare a special scheme for the higher education of the children of sanitation workers, so that they can become doctors, engineers, lawyers and architects and advance in the mainstream of society.

29 thousand sanitation workers' homes dream begins: Rahul Narvekar

Legislative Assembly Speaker Advocate Rahul Narvekar said that the dream of providing homes to Mumbai's 29 thousand sanitation workers began with the distribution of keys to 140 houses in Panchshil Nagar. This is an important step towards providing dignified housing to the sanitation workers who keep Mumbai clean and healthy.

140 houses have been built in two buildings of Panchshil Nagar. They are equipped with 10 lifts and necessary facilities. A clean campus, study facilities for children and a conducive environment for various activities have also been prepared.

The program began with the cutting of the ribbon and the inauguration of the houses. After that, the Chief Minister and other guests inspected the buildings.

Under the Shelter Scheme 12,144 houses are being built

Under the Mumbai Municipal Corporation's Shelter Scheme, 35 projects in 30 colonies are being redeveloped in three phases.

Under this scheme, 11,371 houses of 300 square feet and 773 houses of 600 square feet will be built. Thus a total of 12,144 houses will be made available.

The plan is to provide service housing to all 29 thousand sanitation workers of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation.

Keys symbolically handed over to five sanitation workers

During the program held in Panchshil Nagar, keys to the houses were symbolically handed over to five sanitation workers. They are Bharati Dhotre, Sachin Solanki, Vandana Goregaonkar, Shyam Singh Valmiki, Prashant Sawant and Satish Marchande.