Mumbai slum dwellers lead first self-redevelopment SRA project

In a landmark move for housing justice and community empowerment Mumbai has begun talks for its first SelfRedevelopment Project under the Slum Rehabilitation Authority SRA The initiative led by renowned social activist Medha Patkar and supported by the Maharashtra State Cooperative Housing and Apartment Federation aims to usher in a new era of peoplepowered urban developmentVsion by people for peopleThis project isnrsquot just about bricks and mortar mdash itrsquos about rebuilding lives and communities Over 250 families evicted from Janta Nagar Mandala Mankhurd during a massive demolition drive in 2006 are now reclaiming their homes through collective action In a historic shift slum dwellers are no longer waiting for government schemes or private developers to rebuild for them mdash they are choosing to be their own developersAdvocate Shreeprasad Parab addressing the gathering on MondayldquoWith a foundation rooted in selfhelp mutual cooperation and democratic control these residents have opted for a cooperative redevelopment model completely cutting out private builders once the project is approved by SRA and the state governmentrdquo said Advocate Shreeprasad Parab expert director of the Maharashtra State Housing Federation who addressed a public meeting at Chembur on October 6 ldquoThis reflects the true spirit of the cooperative movement mdash empowering people to take control of their own futuresrdquo he addedMilestone for MaharashtraTraditionally SRA projects have relied on private developers who construct free homes for slum dwellers in exchange for development rights This new model flips that equation mdash for the first time the residents themselves will act as developersSlum dwellers attend the community meetingThe community will decide on the design quality and timeline of their new homes mdash ensuring dignity transparency and ownership Many families despite years of displacement have pledged to contribute financially to the initial SRA requirements once approvals come through ldquoThis willingness to contribute speaks volumes about their unity and faith in each other in the cooperative system and in their shared visionrdquo Parab saidAffordable housing not freeMedha Patkar who has been advocating for peopleled housing models for years said ldquoSelfredevelopment is the best solution the cooperative movement is the path to make it happen This model allows the poor to own their dream homes at an affordable cost though not for free Wersquove had positive discussions with SRA officials and Pravin Darekar who heads the State Housing FederationrdquoState and federationrsquos roleThe state government under Pravin Darekarrsquos leadership recently established a dedicated authority to promote selfredevelopment across Maharashtra The Maharashtra State Cooperative Housing and Apartment Federation has taken on an advisory and facilitative role helping communities navigate the legal technical and financial complexities from registration to construction and final allotment ldquoThis is more than redevelopmentrdquo Parab said ldquoItrsquos a revival of the cooperative movementrsquos values mdash selfhelp selfreliance and social justice If successful this model can be replicated across thousands of slum clusters in MaharashtrardquoFlashbackActivist Poonam Kanougiya associated with the Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan Save Homes Build Homes Movement recalled ldquoWe gathered around 200 residents from Mandala and nearby areas mdash most of them evicted in the 2006 demolition that affected nearly 5000 homes Many lost documents in the 267 floods The MMRDA fenced off 15 acres of land and families have been fighting for rehabilitation ever since Now the formal proposal for redevelopment is ready and will soon be submitted to the authoritiesrdquoMust back selfredevelopmentAdvocate Parab outlined several key steps to make selfredevelopment viable and scalable Singlewindow clearance If passports take seven days and GST registrations two hours cooperative housing approvals shouldnrsquot take monthsSpecial incentives Peopledriven projects deserve extra FSI and fiscal benefits over profitdriven builder modelsClear legal templates One of the main reasons redevelopment projects face delays and disputes is the lack of clarity in agreements Standardised agreements and MoUs to prevent disputes and delaysTimebound dispute resolution All redevelopment conflicts must be resolved within three months Digital transparency Online monitoring systems to ensure accountability at every stage Green redevelopment Encourage sustainable ecofriendly building practicesHomes of hopeFor the families of Janta Nagar this project represents more than just housing itrsquos about dignity ownership and the right to shape their own destiny ldquoThe slum dwellers of Mumbai have proven that with courage cooperation and collective spirit they can lay the foundation for their own homes without a builderrsquos chequerdquo Parab said ldquoItrsquos time for the state to make selfredevelopment the new norm not just for the middle class but for every family dreaming of a dignified homerdquo