Maharashtra Earmarks ₹1500 Crore for Mill Workers’ Housing

The Mahayuti government of Maharashtra has allocated a substantial ₹1500 crore towards housing for textile mill workers. This allocation, derived from the Maharashtra Niwara Nidhi (shelter fund), is set to offer long-overdue housing solutions to a significant section of Mumbai’s working-class population, the backbone of the city’s historic industrial sector. Mumbai’s textile mills were once a thriving part of its economy, but following the closure of 58 mills after the devastating strike in 1982, the city’s mill workers were left grappling with unemployment and inadequate housing.

This fresh allocation aims to resolve part of the housing crisis that has plagued these workers for decades. The government plans to channel the funds through MHADA (Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority), enabling the construction of residential units in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. According to the recently released government resolution, each housing unit will span 300 square feet, with an estimated construction cost of ₹15 lakh per unit. The state has pledged to subsidise ₹5.5 lakh per house, leaving the mill workers to contribute ₹9.5 lakh.

The financial burden will be shared among the state, the BMC, and the Maharashtra Niwara Nidhi, with the latter’s ₹1500 crore contribution allocated for immediate disbursal. This move not only addresses the long-standing housing issue but also holds significant political implications, given that mill workers’ families constitute a major voter base in Mumbai. Comparatively, this is the largest allocation towards mill workers’ welfare in the state’s history, underscoring its importance ahead of the elections. To date, 15,000 houses have been allotted across different locations, with 18,000 mill workers having already received their homes. Another 2500 houses in Panvel and Kon are ready for allotment, although possession remains pending.

The ongoing programme reveals that out of 1.78 lakh mill workers who applied for housing, 78,000 were found eligible. This underscores the immense demand for affordable housing solutions among the urban working class, a demographic that the government is keen to appease. While this initiative is undoubtedly a step in the right direction, the future depends on the timely execution of the project and the proper utilisation of allocated funds. Land acquisition from 11 remaining mills in Mumbai continues to pose challenges, but the potential rehabilitation of these workers could reshape the socio-economic landscape of the region.