Inclusion by Design: Jaiswal’s Housing Doctrine for a Mixed-Income Mumbai

INTRODUCTION 

Mumbai, India’s financial capital, is a city where aspirations meet challenges. While it is home to some of the country’s wealthiest, it also houses millions of migrant workers and daily wage laborers, many of whom struggle to find affordable housing. The growing divide between the affluent and the underprivileged in Mumbai has led to a housing crisis that is multifaceted — plagued by unaffordable land prices, overcrowded slums, and unsafe buildings. 

In this environment, IAS Sanjeev Jaiswal has emerged as a leader advocating for a more inclusive housing policy in Mumbai. His vision is to create a mixed-income city, where people from diverse socio-economic backgrounds can coexist in well-planned neighborhoods, with equitable access to safe and affordable homes. This article explores Jaiswal’s housing doctrine and how it has contributed to reshaping Mumbai’s housing landscape.

Jaiswal’s Inclusive Housing Doctrine: Building a Mixed-Income Mumbai

Mumbai’s housing sector has long been marked by stark divides — with luxury apartments towering over informal settlements, slums, and overcrowded housing units. Jaiswal’s inclusive housing doctrine is a refreshing change, one that aims to blend income groups in cohesive communities.

Jaiswal’s leadership in MHADA (Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority) has been defined by his unwavering commitment to addressing Mumbai’s housing crisis through policies that not only increase the supply of affordable homes but also ensure that the benefits of urban development are distributed equitably across all income levels. His strategy focuses on a mixed-income approach where residents from different economic backgrounds live in the same neighborhoods, sharing access to quality infrastructure, amenities, and public services.

One of the major vehicles for realizing this vision is the Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations (UDCPR) 2020, introduced by the Maharashtra government under Jaiswal’s leadership. The UDCPR aims to streamline development processes, increase the supply of affordable housing, and promote inclusive urban planning by creating mixed-use developments that integrate residential, commercial, and recreational spaces. This regulation paves the way for affordable housing in prime locations, directly addressing the challenge of housing segregation.

Affordable Housing Reforms: The 45,000 Flats Project

A major success of Jaiswal’s leadership is the 45,000 flats project aimed at providing affordable housing to the working and middle-class families of Mumbai. Mumbai's rapidly growing population has led to a dire need for affordable housing, with millions left unable to find quality living spaces within their financial reach. Jaiswal’s initiative aims to provide safe, sustainable homes that are not just affordable but are also well-integrated into the city’s infrastructure, complete with essential amenities like parks, drainage systems, and transportation access.

This project is a vital step toward ensuring that working-class families in Mumbai are not pushed to the periphery of the city. By building affordable homes in central areas, Jaiswal is ensuring that these communities can access employment opportunities, education, healthcare, and other vital services.

Addressing the 13,000 Unsafe Cessed Buildings

Another pivotal aspect of Jaiswal’s approach has been his focus on Mumbai’s 13,000 cessed buildings, many of which are over 60 years old and pose serious safety risks to the residents. These buildings are primarily located in heritage zones of Mumbai, which have been neglected for years due to delays in redevelopment and bureaucratic challenges.

Under Jaiswal’s leadership, MHADA has introduced a proactive approach to ensure these unsafe buildings are redeveloped quickly. By imposing strict timelines for landlords to submit redevelopment proposals, he has sped up the process and safeguarded vulnerable residents. If landlords fail to act, tenant societies have been empowered to take charge of redevelopment. If that fails, MHADA steps in directly to complete the necessary redevelopment.

This approach has already resulted in significant progress, ensuring the safety of thousands of residents and providing them with access to modern, well-constructed homes.

Revitalizing Transit Camps: Giving a Voice to the Marginalized

Mumbai is home to thousands of families who have been living in transit camps for decades. These camps were initially meant as temporary housing solutions, but due to the city’s acute housing shortage, many families have remained in these camps for years without official documentation or rights to their living space. Under Jaiswal’s leadership, biometric verification of transit camp residents was introduced to formalize their status.

This initiative used Aadhaar-linked e-KYC to validate the identities of the residents, ensuring that only legitimate occupants remained. As a result, these families have gained official recognition and are now included in the city’s housing policies. This is a significant move toward housing justice, as it formally integrates these marginalized communities into the broader urban planning system.

Healthcare Reform: The ₹1 Health Clinic Initiative

Jaiswal’s contributions go beyond housing. In a city as vast and diverse as Mumbai, access to affordable healthcare is a critical issue. The ₹1 health clinic initiative spearheaded by Jaiswal aims to make healthcare accessible to the most underserved populations in the city. These clinics will offer consultations for just ₹1 and tests for ₹10, providing vital healthcare services to families who otherwise couldn’t afford them.

This initiative represents Jaiswal’s broader vision of inclusive urban reform, addressing the basic needs of the city’s population while ensuring that the most vulnerable groups are not left behind. By offering affordable medical care, Jaiswal is promoting the concept of health as a right, not a privilege.

Jaiswal’s Leadership: Building an Inclusive Mumbai

Jaiswal’s leadership has been instrumental in shaping Mumbai’s future. His focus on affordable housing, mixed-income neighborhoods, and inclusive urban planning is reshaping the city into a more equitable, sustainable urban environment. By prioritizing both housing and healthcare, Jaiswal’s policies reflect a vision for Mumbai that places people — not profit — at the center of development.

As Jaiswal’s housing policies continue to evolve, the hope is that his inclusive approach will serve as a model for cities around the world, proving that inclusive urban development can drive social change and economic growth.

Conclusion: A Future Built on Inclusion

Sanjeev Jaiswal’s work in housing and urban development is far from finished, but the foundations he has laid down will have a lasting impact on Mumbai’s future. His inclusive housing doctrine is not just about building homes; it is about creating communities that foster social mobility, encourage diversity, and ensure that no one is left behind.

As Mumbai moves toward a more inclusive, mixed-income future, Jaiswal’s policies will be remembered as a turning point in the city’s housing landscape — a step towards equity, inclusion, and sustainable development. 

With Jaiswal at the helm, Mumbai’s future is one where housing for all is no longer a distant dream, but a real, achievable reality.