For years, slum redevelopment in Mumbai has been treated like an act of charity. The idea was simple: families were moved out of small, unsafe homes into apartments built by private developers under the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA). On paper, it looked like a win–win. Developers got extra building rights, and residents got a new flat. But here’s the catch: most slum dwellers are treated as beneficiaries, not partners.
It’s time to rethink this approach. The real strength of Mumbai’s SRA model is its people. Therefore, it’s crucial to invest in financial education, property rights awareness, and ways for residents to share in the long-term value of redevelopment. Every redevelopment project not only creates apartments; it improves infrastructure, opens new commercial spaces, and raises the overall value of the locality. However, while developers and investors take home the larger economic gains, residents only gain a fraction of this value.
We must not forget that redevelopment is only possible because of these residents who are present on the land. Therefore, they deserve to be seen as stakeholders and not just residents who benefit from home ownership alone.
Ways To Empower Residents As Stakeholders
Financial literacy as a foundation: For many slum families, this will be the first time owning a formal apartment. Without financial knowledge, families might sell their homes for quick cash, struggle with maintenance charges, or fail to see the long-term appreciation of property value.
Simple financial literacy programs can help residents learn how to calculate property value, understand housing loans, and plan for maintenance. Even basic concepts like how to use property as collateral responsibly can empower families to treat their homes as wealth-building assets.
Clear and simple property rights: Residents should receive their legal rights in simple documents, translated into local languages, and explained in plain terms. Helplines, legal support, and awareness sessions can help families truly believe that their new homes belong to them and will remain theirs.
A share in project value creation: Developers and policymakers can explore ways for residents to share in the economic value generated by redevelopment. This could be done through community funds, cooperative ownership, or equity partnerships. Even a modest share can give residents a financial cushion that extends beyond a single apartment.
Protecting livelihoods: Projects should include provisions for small businesses and shops. Ground-floor spaces, designated vending zones, and mixed-use planning can allow families to sustain their incomes. This not only supports residents but also creates vibrant, self-sustaining communities.
The Bigger Picture: Redevelopment As Partnership
Families bring resilience, networks, and community knowledge. Developers bring technical know-how, finance, and execution capacity. The government brings policy support and regulation. When all three come together, the result is both better housing and shared progress.
This partnership approach also solves some of the challenges developers face. Projects often stall because of mistrust between residents and developers. When families see themselves as stakeholders with a voice and a share in the outcome, that mistrust reduces. Negotiations become smoother, cooperation improves, and timelines are easier to meet.
Building Mumbai’s Future Inclusively
Mumbai is at a turning point in its redevelopment journey. An estimated 41.3 per cent of Greater Mumbai’s population still lives in slums. Redevelopment, led by the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA), is the city’s most powerful solution, but it will only work if slum residents are treated as real partners in the process.
The SRA has set a bold target: Five lakh new homes in the next five years, more than double what has been built since 1996. To make this possible, stricter rules now allow the SRA to take action against defaulting builders and use their assets to pay rent to displaced families. This brings a long-overdue sense of accountability.
However, true success goes beyond constructing flats. Giving people free homes, like the 350 sq ft apartments planned under the Dharavi project, is not just housing; it’s justice for the hardworking communities that built Mumbai.
Still, these homes must mean more than just shelter. They should give families stability, a legal address, and a real stake in the city’s future. Redevelopment must create not just walls and roofs, but dignity, opportunity, and a fair share in Mumbai’s growth story
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publication. |
