Mill workers in Mumbai have opposed the acquisition of houses in Vangani Shelu, and in this regard, labor unions have called for a protest at Azad Maidan in Mumbai.Out of the 250,000 mill workers, only 25,000 can be provided with housing in Mumbai, while the rest will be provided with housing outside the city.
Trade unions oppose taking over Vangani Shelu’s house
Mill workers have opposed the houses being provided outside Mumbai city, i.e. in Vangani Shelu, and have launched a protest at Azad Maidan in this regard.Former Chief Ministers of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray and Aditya Thackeray, as well as NCP leader Jitendra Awhad and MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar, visited the protest.
Speaking in this protest, Uddhav Thackeray said that the government does not know the history of mill workers and mills. The ruling party is plotting to take out the mill workers and Marathi people who shed their blood in the fight for a united Maharashtra.He also said during the protest that this is the government’s plan to evict Dharavi residents by disqualifying more and more residents of the Dharavi redevelopment project.He also said that as long as Shiv Sena exists, he will not allow anything like this to happen. Uddhav Thackeray also said that he stands firmly behind them.
This protest is currently being carried out through the Mill Workers’ Joint Struggle Committee. The call for this march has been given under the leadership of Sachin Ahir of the National Mills Union. This march includes approximately 14 organizations.In fact, there were plans to take out a grand march from Ranichi Bagh to Azad Maidan, but since permission was not given for this march, the protesters directly reached Azad Maidan and protested against the demolition of houses in Vangani Shelu directly at the Akar Maidan.This time, the protesters also raised slogans like “No Vangani, No Shelu, We Want a Rightful Home in Mumbai”.
A decision has been taken to provide houses to mill workers at Vangani Shelu. In this regard, a project of 81 thousand houses has been undertaken. This project will be built through private development. Applications and consent letters are also being taken for these houses.These houses were opposed by labor unions in the past, but despite their opposition, the project was taken forward, but now the mill workers have expressed strong opposition to these houses.The mill workers also said that the developer who is building this house has also objected to the development and that this project is being imposed on us.
The workers were somewhat fond of the houses in the Shelu area, but the workers expressed their displeasure at the time because the prices of these houses were expensive.Also, the workers did not like the houses in the Vangani area, so they have opposed the houses in both these vangani shelu areas and have also insisted that they want houses in the city itself.Various labor organizations have participated in this protest at Azad Maidan, which is why this protest has acquired special significance at present.
The number of mill workers is enormous and their contribution to the United Maharashtra struggle is also unique.Therefore, out of the 2.5 lakh mill workers, it is possible to provide houses to only 25 thousand mill workers in the city. There is a project to provide houses to the remaining mill workers in Vangani Shelu, but the workers have opposed these houses.
In April, labor unions had written a letter to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and also met him to express their opposition to this project.During this meeting, Eknath Shinde also gave instructions regarding whether NTC and some other land in the city would be provided for the houses of these mill workers, but no further action has been taken in this regard.Along with Uddhav Thackeray, various leaders of various parties were present in this protest held at Azad Maidan and the state government should take serious note of this entire matter. Uddhav Thackeray, have also demanded that the workers of Mumbai be given their rightful homes in Mumbai city itself.