Maharashtra Urban Citizen’s

Manifesto 2019
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#आमचीशहरं आमचाजाहीरनामा
Maharashtra Urban Citizen’s
Manifesto 2019
Introduction
Maharashtra, a state with a population of almost 12 crores, is the richest state in India.
It has a massive informal workforce, additionally, it has the largest slum population of
almost 11 million with another over 2,10,000 people who are homeless in cities. This
clearly shows the inequality that plagues the state of Maharashtra.

We are a group of concerned citizens engaging with different facets of its cities. We
have been working with these questions in various forms and practices but all our
actions are directed towards upholding an equal, just, plural, and secular and a
democratic republic of India.

We see cities as the future but the ever-changing characteristics of the cities and the
resultant inequalities and discrimination have shrunken claims over urban spheres. In
this regard, we - civil society members, workers and urban poor collectives - seek to
recreate urban spaces that are more inclusive and sustainable by ensuring that every
city dweller has an equal right to the city.

Preamble
The principles governing the discourse on land, housing, relief and rehabilitation
should be based on inclusivity; promoting equity, justice, and dignified living. In the
last 3 decades, we have witnessed the shifting discourse on housing from the
centrality and importance of land to means of construction of housing. As a result,
the provision of housing in 2nd and 3rd tier cities in Maharashtra has been derailed
and distorted. The right to land and proper housing is fundamental, linked to which
is the access to other rights and services. We strongly believe that provision of
free housing is not the solution to the housing crisis in the state, and neither
is ‘affordable housing’.
Land and Housing
Our demands
The principles governing the discourse on land, housing, relief and rehabilitation
should be based on inclusivity; promoting equity, justice, and dignified living. In the
last 3 decades, we have witnessed the shifting discourse on housing from the
centrality and importance of land to means of construction of housing. As a result,
the provision of housing in 2nd and 3rd tier cities in Maharashtra has been derailed
and distorted. The right to land and proper housing is fundamental, linked to which is
the access to other rights and services. We strongly believe that provision of free
housing is not the solution to the housing crisis in the state, and neither is ‘affordable
housing’.

Demands:

1. Maharashtra Human Settlements Report must be developed:

At the moment there is no comprehensive study of human settlements across
cities in the state. This report, when developed, can be fundamental in providing
a definition and framework to affordable housing. This report can also be a
means to assess number of vacant houses, housing needs and housing
projection. We demand that during such surveys, all adults need to be
enumerated and not just the head of household to assess housing demand.

2. The Maharashtra Housing Policy must be finalised:

There have been several versions of the state housing policy that have been
discussed and deliberated. In the current situation where the housing policy
has been in paralysis, the state lacks a housing policy to guide coordinated
housing efforts.

3. Roles and capacities of MHADA must be enhanced:

Strong systemic support is needed to strengthen financial capabilities
of MHADA, to provide multiple housing options and facilitate housing finance
that is accessible to the EWS and LIG who are able to access ‘pattas’.

4. Pattas for slums in Maharashtra must be ensured:

To ensure effective implementation of the ‘Beneficiary Led Construction’
vertical of the PMAY (U), the GR on ‘pattas’ or land titles for slums were
made applicable in all cities of Maharashtra except Mumbai, Pune and
Pimpri Chinchwad. This must be implemented in all other cities too to
increase access to ownership rights among people. This should be
applicable to slums on central government land (defense land, railways,
ports etc) and must be regularized.

5. Roles and capacities of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) must be

strengthened:
SRA promoted the market financed slum redevelopment scheme has far
 reaching impact on construction of low cost housing, not just in Mumbai,
Maharashtra but across the country. The scheme has ensured that land
share of the poor in the city be systematically reduced. A couple of years
ago the scheme entered its 20th years. Over the years the schemes itself
has undergone number of anti-poor amendments. Therefore it is an
urgent need to examine the role of such para-statal in provisioning of low
cost housing and subsidising the developers. There is also a need to
review the scheme itself on its impact on the provision of low cost
housing and it successes and failures. We demand a thorough and
in-depth review of the institution SRA and of the scheme SRS.

6. Housing provided by private developers must be scrutinized

thoroughly:
Developers do not have the capacity to cater to all housing needs across
the state. Repair and retrofitting of buildings can be taken care of by local
communities and alternate local mechanisms. Proper maintenance of
buildings provided by private developers along with quality of housing
must be checked and audited by the government. Moreover, there must
be an increase in the percentage of inclusive housing provided to EWS in
all private developments from the current 5 % to 20 %.

7. Housing facilities for workers must be provided:

Informal workers have very specific housing needs. In a situation of
housing poverty for LIG and EWS housing people have been forced to
live and work in inhabitable conditions. Acknowledgement of work
spaces within the slum, provisioning of slums to create better living and
working conditions. Workers hostels for both men and women should be
constructed for new migrants to the city.

8. Need of and need for Resettlement & Rehabilitation colonies must

be reviewed:
In existing R&R buildings, the tenure of existing owners must be clearly
mentioned. In case of new R&R settlements, the need for colonies must
be assessed. Construction of R&R colonies more than 2 km away from
the current place of residence should be avoided

9. Cities must be made more equitable to all its citizens:

We aspire to make cities increasingly equitable to its citizens and
therefore demand that no household whether formal, informal should be
denied access to basic amenities like potable water, sanitation –
adequate toilet and connection with the sewerage network, solid waste
management and Urban Primary Health Centre.

10. Presence of slums on Cantonment areas must be acknowledged:

Also, provisioning of basic amenities and facilities and upgradation of
housing to be ensured to achieve better quality of life. The same must be
done through the implementation of PMAY.

11. A separate rental housing board must be set up:

A separate rental board should be established to promote the
construction of affordable rental housing.
Urban Governance
Our demands
1. Financial Powers to Urban Local Governments (ULGs) must be given:
To undertake research and to determine better ways to enhance existing
revenue sources of ULGs, they should have the necessary financial backing. For
example, securing grants out of GST collections can be one of the ways of
securing a stable revenue source.

2. Review of implementation of 74th Constitutional Amendment Act must be

undertaken and participatory process must be ensured in overall functioning:
Ensuring proper monitoring and review of 74th CAA processes implemented till
date to understand the devolutionary function and its progress. To encourage
innovative techniques towards increasing public participation and to secure
financial backing for the same to make ULGs more transparent and participatory
in nature.

3. The onus of strengthening human resource capacities must lie with ULGs and
state government must enable them to carry out their duties effectively:
Ensure all sanctioned posts lying vacant in every urban local government are
filled, assessing whether sanctioned posts need to be revised according to local
ULGs needs and creating and filling up such posts on a Mission footing, and
strengthening capacity building programmes for different classes of officials so
as to build in-house capacities.

4. Proper review of different metropolitan and regional authorities/parastatals

functioning must be carried out in a non-democratic and non-transparent
manner in cities across the state with the aim of:

a) Short term:
Give ULGs the authority to convene a coordination platform where all
metropolitan/regional authorities operating in the city are bound to participate
and cooperate with it. This platform will serve to better coordinate across
agencies through reporting to the ULGs on communication of plans, sharing
data etc.

b) Long term:
Regional authorities/parastatals should be merged with the ULGs so that they
are in charge of the functions that parastatals perform while also to ensure that
the parastatals report to democratically elected ULGs and support their
functioning.

5. Ensure Re-municipalisation and devolution of powers to ULGs :

In the purview of 12th schedule, 8 functions and functionaries are yet to be
devolved to ULG. We demand all the 18 functions and functionaries to be
devolved and withdraw already outsourced municipal services and bring it back
under the ambit of the urban local government through re-municipalisation.
Transgender Community
Our demands
1. All important identity documents eg.birth certificate, passport, ration card and
driving licence must recognise transgenders:
Gender identification is essential for further provision of other rights such as
the right to vote, right to own property and the right to choose whom to marry.
Hence, a survey should be conducted in Maharashtra to check if all transgender
persons have proper identity proofs (having written transgender on it) and at
every district, camps should be organised to help them prepare identity cards
(Aadhar card, ration cards, voter identity cards) for transgender persons.

2. The police at all levels must conduct sensitization workshops in order to break
prejudices towards transgender persons:
A law should be passed in order to protect the transgender community from the
frequent harassment, both mental and physical by the society as well as the
state machinery.

3. Proper Implementation of NALSA Judgement must be ensured:

For instance a transgender person does not necessarily have to undergo any
specific treatment or surgery as the Transgender Bill states. However, if one
wants to go through Sexual Reassignment Surgery that should be respected.
The state should provide them with the best medical facilities at an affordable
cost. More than that, sensitization in hospitals about transgender community is
absolutely necessary.

4. Housing facilities as well as pension policy for old transgender persons must
be secured:
The prejudices existing in society results in people disowning their own
children. And more often than not, the transgender people live in ghettos, away
from their biological family. Transgenders who grow old have no economic
support and housing facilities. Hence securing pension policy and housing
facilities to transgender communities along with all basic amenities should be an
important step by the government to bring the transgender group into
mainstream society.

5. A comprehensive sex-education programme must be included in mainstream

education:
School curricula that modifies the heterosexist bias in education and provides
judgement-free information with regards to matters of sexuality, orientation,
identity. Additionally, grammar of all languages should include identity of
transgender ( for example, They).

6. A transgender welfare board must be formed:

We urge that proper representation of the transgender members in its
committee who speak for their community as well as hold decision making
positions.
7. Equal representation of transgender persons in every political party must be
ensured:
Ensuring to confirm their place as a benefactor, not just beneficiaries. One
transgender person should be included in all government departments and
committees like BMC, WCD etc.

8. Vocational training centres must be established:

New occupational opportunities to be provided for transgender persons.
Reservation in government jobs would also motivate transgender people to go
for higher education. Lucrative opportunities should also be offered and provide
entrepreneurial opportunities by providing loans at lowest interest rates.

9. The laws against domestic violence and rape, and the rights to property must
be inclusive of the interests of the transgender community.

10. Gender neutral toilets must be constructed in public places:

To avoid persecution of transgender population and to prevent them from falling
prey to sexual harassment.

Youth demands
Our demands
1. Effective implementation of the Maharashtra Youth Policy along with
spreading proper awareness among the youth in the state must be ensured:
After the Maharashtra Youth policy was framed in 2012, it was supposed to be
reviewed after 5 years which is still pending. The review should be carried out
with proper youth participation and involvement.

2. An independent ministry for youth affairs must be set up:

One-fifth of the Maharashtra population constitutes of youth. In the same
light, there should exist an independent ministry for youth affairs. The number
of human resources in the various government departments should be
increased. This should also ensure proper streamlining of employment in the
state.

3. At the University level, student council elections must be held to encourage

leadership among the youth.

4. Cultural and sports centres must be constructed in every basti and ward and
must be managed by the youth themselves:
These spaces must be used as a safe space for their emotional/mental
wellbeing addressing substance use, and drug addiction.
5. A forum must be created for youth to engage and participate in addressing
urban issues and ensure citizen participation in the backdrop of the 74th
Amendment.

6. Post lying vacant at national level must be filled on a priority basis:

The fee amount for the examination should be lessened or after the
completion of the examination, the fee amount should be reimbursed to
examinees who do not get selected.

7. Ensuring employment opportunities for youth:

In government service and projects, contractual employment must be reduced
while the number of permanent jobs must increase. Also, employment
(registration) centres should be set up at the district/taluka level as well as in
government colleges. For small and medium scale industries, a list of reserved
sectors should be prepared. Large entrepreneurs should be prohibited from
entering these sectors. If the government fails to increase the employment
opportunities and the necessary financial backing for industries as per the
ever-increasing population, the unemployed population should receive an
unemployment allowance.

8. Skill India and other skill development schemes to be implemented:

Review to be undertaken of Skill India and quality training should be imparted
to the individual as per his or her achieved employment opportunity. The
developed skill should also contribute towards a dignified life for the
individual. The minimum salary should be increased as per the employment
provided by the Skill Development Centre. A press release should be released
declaring the effects of demonetisation and GST on the employment and
entrepreneurship scenario in the country.

9. Equal and quality educational opportunities to be ensured:

In schools and colleges, the syllabus should be up-to-date with the changing
times and the current employment needs of the market. Campus placements
should be made available in all major colleges. Youth studying in colleges and
who are engaged in the informal sector should be supported and assisted in
opening bank accounts to increase their economic engagement and market
linkage. This will also help them in gaining proper entitlements regarding jobs
and other employment opportunities. Additionally ensure rental housing
opportunities as they come to cities for various opportunities.
Informal workers
Our demands
As per Maharashtra State Development Plan, the contribution of the informal sector
to the economy was 74.32% in 2001. Given the rise of informality in work
arrangements within the formal economy, the total share of informal employment
would be much higher in comparison. These workers form the backbone of the state
economy but lead their lives in wretched poverty, earning less than minimum wages,
braving everyday risk to life toiling under deplorable working conditions, with no
social security and legal protection. If the state of Maharashtra aims to address
poverty in a substantial way, it needs to attend to the state of its workers and their
work and living conditions in the informal sector.

1. Payment of minimum wages must be guaranteed:

Minimum wages to be not less than INR 18, 000 which is to be set as the floor
wage per month with additional provisions of indexation.

2. A mechanism to register and identify informal workers must be created

across the state irrespective of the size of the establishment they work with:
Written work contracts between workers and employers need to be made
mandatory, irrespective of the size of the establishment. To start, all shops and
establishments must be mandated to issue work contracts, work IDs an
maintain employment records such as a worker registration register of workers
hired. All informal workers to receive identification which helps them access
social security benefits.

3. State Social Security Fund [SSSF] must be immediately constituted for

providing social security benefits under the Unorganised Workers Social
Secrity Act, 2008 [UWSSA 2008]:
Moreover, at least 5% of State GDP to be allocated for creating contingency fund
to ensure effective implementation of UWSSA. Education scholarship to be
provided to children belonging to drought prone areas of Maharashtra from
primary education to higher education. Additionally, proper implementation of
the Right to Education Act should be ensured to support children of informal
workers irrespective of the sector of work and geographical location in the state.

4. Maharashtra Construction Workers Rules 2007 and Maharashtra Domestic

Workers Welfare Board Act, 2008 must be amended:
Trade unions are given certification rights to propose for enrolment of workers
to the welfare board. A mechanism has to be created to make sure that naka
workers are able to enrol with the board. The coverage provided by the
construction workers’ welfare board must be expanded to include workers
involved in recycling construction materials as well. The registration process
should be carried out electronically, where a worker or trade union member can
track the status of application through web portals or SMS services. The right of
certifying workers by the employer must be made time bound.

5. Employment generation must be emphasised upon and the prevailing

 unemployment crisis must be addressed:
To secure the livelihood of workers, every adult who registers for any production
work should get 200 days of work in a year. Income inequalities should be
reduced and job security should be improved by way of developing robust
policies to address the wage gap between casual workers and formally
employed organized sectors’ workers by 30 percent over five years. Substantial
reduction should be targeted with work and employment security in stipulated
time period. . It is also a known fact that home-based workers do not get work
on a regular basis, provision of unemployment compensation should form an
important part of their social security net.

6. The Maharashtra state housing and habitat policy must be implemented:

Workers engaged in various economic activities have different needs and
hence, occupation linked housing for the workers is necessary. Labour camps
(labour accommodation) should be included in the housing and habitat policy.
Effective implementation of the Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act and Rules to
ensure proper delivery of provisions including housing in the state where the
migrant worker is currently employed. It is pertinent to mention here that under
the mission of Housing for all the central government directs the state
government to build rental housing for workers towards their welfare.

7. Working hours must be human (8 hours) and overtime hours (beyond 8 hours)
must be compensated at double the rate:
This is directed by current labour laws. In the upcoming Occupational Safety
and Health code, state government should clearly state the legal limit of 8 hour
work days, specify provisions for overtime work and efficiently monitor and
regulate the same.

8. Worksite safety must be made a high priority by the government irrespective

of the size of the establishment:
The government takes adequate measures to ensure that safety at workplace is
not compromised and no lives are lost due to the indifference or inability of the
government to regulate working conditions. Government needs to identify work
sectors that are prone to accidents and that pose maximum risk to lives of
workers and ensure suitable steps to ensure the safety of workers. Worksite
safety audits and safety certification must be made mandatory for all units.
A city level accident response system needs to be created where in case of
accidents, workers and their families can seek state support for both healthcare
and legal aid.

9. Special provisions must be provided as required by the migrant workers’

community:
Examples are creation of migration facilitation centres, worker registration,
access to legal and financial services, community kitchens and setting up of
mobile creches for their children, with further hand-holding for the integration of
their children in formal schooling systems. Inter-state cooperation mechanism
between Maharashtra and the key migrant sending states is required to address
cases of abuse, bondage and trafficking.

10. Dilution in coverage of labour laws and labour protection mechanisms must be
checked:
With reference to the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments Act, 2018, its
applicability must be reversed to 5 workers or more. The previous increase in
the threshold to 10 workers or more is an encouragement to further
informalization of the workforce. With reference to the labour code, we demand
 that the threshold of “establishments” to be brought down to 5 workers or more.
This will help the law reach out to much larger number of workers and fulfil its
promise to cover informal workers.

11. As an investment in mechanisms to strengthen the outreach of the labour

department to informal workers, a phone-based Labour Helpline must be
setup by the government to aid in reaching out to workers in distress:
It should focus on addressing issues of rampant wage theft, disseminating
information on social security and providing help in case of emergency. There
are good experiences of a similar helpline supported by the labour department
of Rajasthan which can be referred to.

12. With special focus on women workers, Prevention of Sexual Harassment

(POSH) committees must be set up specially to deal with workers in the
informal sector:
This would help support women who face sexual abuse and assault at
workplace, especially in the unregulated informal /small sector. Vending areas
especially for women to be set up. Spaces must be created within markets for
hawking by women that could serve as markets for goods produced by the
SHGs.

13. Social protection like provision of pension and insurance along with financial
inclusion with access to markets and loans must be provided to home-based
workers:
The workplace of home-based workers are their respective homes. Hence,
security of tenure along with a no eviction policy would ensure their continued
engagement. Additionally, the process of providing insurance under the Jan
Shree Bima Yojana should be streamlined as it is currently inadequate. The child
support programme under the scheme must cover children from age group 6- 18 yrs.

14. Transparent and accurate implementation of Street Vendors Act 2014 must be
ensured:
The Act, since 2014, has not been effectively implemented and thus, there is an
urgent need to capacitate the actors and street vendors in TVCs on their rights,
duties and responsibilities.

15. Town Vending Committees to be elected and not selected:

To make the street vendors an active participant in the Town Vending
Committee meetings, preference should be given to the language of the street
vendors and not the government officials who use English for the purpose of
communication.

16. Amendment of all Master Plans in ULGs:

The Street Vendors Act 2014 states that 2.5% of the land in the cities should be
reserved for street vendors to conduct their business. This requires amendment
of all existing Master Plans and other planning documents/ schemes to ensure
space for street vendors as stipulated in the Act. This needs to be decided upon
with the consultation of TVCs intervention.
Homeless People
Our demands
While Mumbai requires at least 125 shelters right now (as per SC guidelines) and 570
shelters (as per NULM guidelines). MCGM has reserved only 66 homeless shelters in
the Development plan of Mumbai (2014-2034). Existing shelters are majorly 70
shelters under NULM- scheme for urban homeless. Where there are no family
shelters which is need of migrant families in the cities like Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur.
Homeless Survey has not been completed in all the cities till the date, which is also a
big issue in understanding the number of homeless. Census data of 2011 says that
the total population of homeless in Maharashtra is 210908.

Over the last few years, the drastic transformation of the cities, and the various
development projects underway, means that they have been subjected to
increasingly frequent evictions, demolitions, displacement and harassment by Local
Authorities and Civilians Furthermore, as the urban governing bodies heighten
restrictions around the homeless dwelling on the streets, they are forced to keep
their belongings packed at all times of the day to just to save their bare essentials
from being confiscated

1. Shelters are not a solution to homelessness, thus, larger linkage to housing

policy and urban policy must be ensured:
Rehabilitation should be done with tenurial rights within 3 kms radius of current
place of residence (E.g. through Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Mahatma Gandhi
Path Kranti Yojana etc.). Mandatory provision should be made in the City
Development Plans (CDPs) for reservation of land for housing for low income
groups must be stated. Rental housing with the subsidies rates should be
provided to migrant workers and homeless with proper rental housing policy
and scheme introduced for the same. It should also be ensured that land rights
of the rural poor are protected and that investment is made in rural housing and
infrastructure while also recognising the inter-linkages between rural and urban
poverty, migration and inadequate housing.

2. No evictions of the homeless must be ensured:

No eviction should be conducted without provision of proper rehabilitation.
Special emphasis should be given to create adequate, functional shelters with
access to free healthcare, clean drinking water, toilets, childcare and children’s
educational facilities as per the guidelines put forth by the Supreme Court of India.

3. Homeless people must be recognised as the most marginalised section and

must be prioritised for inclusion:
We should be treated as equal citizens by all those in authority. Homelessness
should be understood as a social problem and not a crime. Towards this,
circulars to be sent to all government departments and service providers to treat
homeless citizens with dignity. As there are many instances of death of the
homeless on the streets, all such deaths should be duly investigated. The
Cabinet Secretary and the Chief Secretary of the state concerned should be
made accountable for such deaths.
4. Homeless must be given identity and their identity as city makers must be
strengthened:
We urge that this should be taken into priority in order to give them right to the
city and citizenship. This has always acted as a deterrent for them to receive and
rightfully access the basic infrastructure. Homeless informal laborers like Naka
Workers, Street Vendors, Domestic Workers and Waste-pickers should be given
a legal identity documents and entitlements.

5. The lens of criminalisation of homeless must be stopped:

Harassment and confiscation of property by Police and BMC should be
completely prohibited. No homeless resident should be harassed while he/she
is acquiring identity proofs. Repeal the draconian laws like the Bombay
Prevention of Begging Act, 1959. Harassment towards women by the police
should be completely prohibited as the officials are often known to get violent
with homeless women.

6. Homeless must be given access to all basic services:

CityMakers should be given the first priority in all welfare schemes and
programmes of the government, as they are the ones living without any rights
and entitlements. Proper provision of basic identification documents for
homeless citizens like Voter ID card, Aadhaar card, Ration Card, Homeless Card
etc. Additionally, at least one public tap should be provided for every 5 families,
ensure provision for public water source . Proper provision of affordable,
accessible and clean public toilets should be ensured, additionally build
community toilets. Good quality and free healthcare should be provided to all
homeless citizens by the government. Easy linkage to healthcare schemes like
Rajiv Gandhi Health Card etc. should be facilitated. Open schools and hostels
for the children on the street should be provided by the local authorities and
provision for the quality education should be provided.

7. Homeless must be included in Master Plans:

Master plans should amend the provisions of homeless as specified in the city
level plans for homeless in NULM and SUH also Homeless should be included
in the process of planning and drafting of the city-level Development Plans
along with involvement in the city-level policy making process.Homeless should
be included in the process of planning and drafting of the city-level
Development Plans along with involvement in the city-level policy making process.

8. Homeless shelter board at state-level must be set up:

Following from NULM guidelines, DUSIB a new welfare should be set up for
better monitoring of shelter homes and welfare of homeless.

9. Sufficient shelters must be built for homeless women and adequate number of
safe and hygienic toilets for women must be provided in towns and cities:
Building 24x7 shelters for homeless women and transgender to be made a
priority by the state. Proper provision of subsidised public toilets and bathing
areas for women should be ensured.

10. Immediate and effective support system for homeless people must be ensured:
The aim of setting up the Helpline must also be to address their specific
concerns at the state, district and local level, a counselling centre must also be
formed considering their social and emotional needs.

11. Safe environment for homeless women must be ensured:

Harassment towards women by the police must be completely prohibited as the
officials are often known to get violent with homeless women.
Environment and Ecology
Our demands
In the context of the massive, widespread and irreversible damage to the natural
ecosystems, biodiversity, and the environment caused by the flawed models of
development and governance, and certain demographic trends, we put forth a list of
demands to safeguard our environment and overall ecosystem.

1. State Government must facilitate independent studies:

Conduct studies with a focus to establish the ecological limits (using the best
available traditional and modern knowledge) ensuring economic planning
through participatory approach that respects these limits at all levels.

2. Maharashtra’s contribution to the global ecological problems must be assessed:

This should also include biodiversity loss, especially in the Western Ghats and
other ecologically sensitive regions, climate crisis, share of toxics and pollution,
and accordingly take measures towards being a responsible global citizen.

3. An independent assessment of the state’s climate action plan must be facilitated:

In the context of the National Action Plan on Climate Change and with a view to
making it more robust and impactful, a thorough assessment should be carried out.

4. Land-use and urban planning integrating conservation of natural assets along with
it must be improved:
Encourage and incentivise zero waste settlements by prioritising prevention of
the creation of waste (using traditional or new alternatives that are ecologically
safe). Prohibition on products that create toxic waste, focus on recycling and
composting of the waste. Programs and studies to develop Urban Biodiversity
Strategy and Action Plans in a participatory manner. Ensure that at least 5% of
the national and state budgets are dedicated to the above stated activities.
Programs and studies to develop Urban Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans
in each city and town through public participation processes.

5. Cleaner, greener, and cheaper energy must be promoted:

This must be done through an accelerated transition to renewable energy. No
new coal plants must be commissioned in the next five years.

6. Best practices from Pune’s exemplary efforts in solid waste management must
be adopted:
Waste pickers must be made equal stakeholders, waste management must be
decentralised and waste must be segregated and treated as wealth and not just
land fillers.

7. Integrity and sustenance of natural ecosystems along with prohibition of

construction on the riverfront must be promoted and maintained:
Re-orient all conservation measures using models established under the Forest
Rights Act and avoid concretization of areas near the river ecosystems.
Transportation and Mobility
Our demands
The Motor Vehicles Act, which is the primary law for regulating transportation has
major gaps related to scope and specific instruments. These pertain to road safety,
mobility planning, integration of mobility planning with land-use planning, affordable
housing, facilities for non-motorized transport (walk and cycle), public transport, etc.
The institutional framework for regulation and planning for transportation described
under the Motor Vehicles Act is also out-dated.

1. Preparation of a new legislation on Sustainable Urban and Regional Mobility

must be initiated:
This must be done with the objective of providing affordable,
environmentally-sound mobility services, to meet the needs of women, children,
senior citizens, and people with disabilities.
2. Reduction of emissions from the mobility sector must be emphasised upon
and stakeholders regarding road safety and infrastructure design must be
capacitated:
Improve institutional understanding, capacities and implementation related to
road safety, infrastructure design, user training while also pushing for
enforcement to address behavioural risk factors, and emergency response.
3. Public participation must be ensured at all levels of public transportation:
High quality public transport (especially bus-based public transport) for all; this
must include setting up of benchmarks for public transport service levels
through a public participation process, involving current and potential users of
public transport.
4. Para-transit and shuttle operations must be promoted:
Support for improvement of para-transit and shuttle operations (including
share-rickshaw, six-seater etc.) for local area shared mobility and last mile
complementary services to mass transit, intra and inter-city bus services.
5. Provision of high quality facilities for pedestrians and cyclists in all cities and
towns must be ensured:
This must be a top priority with an urgent need for safer and encroachment-free
walking paths and good lighting at bus depots, bus stops, taxi and auto stands
and railway stations.
6. Building of infrastructures like flyover must be prohibited:
Strictly curtail building of flyovers, grade-separators, foot over bridges, unless
absolutely necessary, the need for which must be demonstrated through
competent studies.
7. Implementation of National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP) across all cities in
the state must be prioritised:
Other transport policies must be revised to align with the goals of NUTP. All
transport projects, especially mega infrastructure projects, must be measured
with the set goals of the NUTP and should not be approved if they contradict it.
Gender
Our demands
Gender inequality exists in all societies and at all levels of society. Urban women,
while generally sharing specific gender interests arising from a common set of
responsibilities and roles, constitute a fairly diverse group. There are elderly women,
working women and women whose major responsibility is in the domestic sphere.-
Women living in slums and low resource areas face disadvantages, which are very
different from those faced by women from middle class families. Slum dwellers also
experience an unequal level of service, women are especially more disadvantaged
due to poor access. Cities, especially large urban areas also have more numbers of
women-headed households, single women living by themselves, professional
women who travel extensively, etc., and urban development planning must respond
to the needs of these diverse groups.

1. Affordable housing must be provided to the vulnerable:

Affordable housing in different forms like working women’s hostel, hostel for
students, affordable housing and rental housing must be adequately
constructed in the city and must be provided without discrimination on the basis
of caste, class and religion.

2. Provision of facility centers (example: Aadhaar Kendra in Mumbai) must be

ensured:
Those in distress and to mainly support women who have faced violence at
home, the facility centres must be provided. The facility should be located in a
place where high footfall can be expected, preferably around market areas and
railway stations and on the main roads to ensure visibility.

3. Old Age Homes of 1000 sq m plots to be built in each ward, preferably near
hospitals and gardens.

4. Affordable, safe and clean public toilets, adequate community toilets blocks
for women must be constructed.

5. Affordable, adequate, and timely supply of potable water must be made

available in all workers’ colonies irrespective of their domicile status:
All informal water connections must be made formalized so that the menace of
tanker mafias and water dadas can be contained.

6. Implementation of all existing laws must be effective:

Proper delivery of compensation for rape survivors (manodhairya yojna) to be
ensured. Separate court room should be established for domestic violence cases.

7. Access to proper health services must be ensured:

Along with spreading awareness about menstrual hygiene and upholding
reproductive rights, mental health awareness and counselling at primary health
centres should be given utmost importance.
8. Proper urban planning and safety and security must be ensured:
Ensure more vibrant and safe streets by introducing mixed land use planning,
planned hawking zones etc. Adequate Street lights in the neighbourhoods,
parks, parking lots, gardens, subways, etc. Access to police/phone booths
especially in unsafe zones, adequate and availability of safe public transport
systems at night and during non-peak hours.

9. Equal rights overall economic resources including ownership rights:

Marriage registration should be made compulsory, women’s name should be
included in the ration card and joint property rights for all women should be
mandated across all classes, religions, and castes.

10. Alternative Educational opportunities must be ensured:

Distance learning courses to be offered to women with convenient class
timings, making it comfortable for women to attend.

11. Special emphasis must be given to making disabled-friendly environment for

women:
The Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and full
participation) Act, 1995 and Rights of Persons with Disability Act, 2016 (RPWD)
requires equal opportunities to be offered to differently-abled people,
specifically non-discrimination in transport, on the roads and in built
environment.

Children
a) School-wise Child Protection Committees to be set up, each including a
counsellor (currently ward-wise)

b) Ward-wise child sabhas to be set up and child safeguard policies to be in place.

c) To ensure that the syllabus is gender inclusive in schools. At the school level,
encourage active participation of children in school development plans

d) Proper awareness and implementation drives of the POSCO Act should be

conducted.

e) Systematic budgetary provision for all of the above.

Basis Services
Our demands
The Motor Vehicles Act, which is the primary law for regulating transportation has
major gaps related to scope and specific instruments. These pertain to road safety,
mobility planning, integration of mobility planning with land-use planning, affordable
housing, facilities for non-motorized transport (walk and cycle), public transport, etc.
The institutional framework for regulation and planning for transportation described
under the Motor Vehicles Act is also out-dated.

1. Implementation of drought relief measures laid down by the Supreme Court in

its 2016 judgement must be done in an effective manner:
All forms of privatization in the water sector must be strictly prohibited and
government agencies mandated to provide water must be strengthened and
made more responsible and accountable.

2. Water policy must be based on the principle of equitable distribution of water:

Instead of linking water rights to land ownership, it should be linked to livelihood
and rights should be conferred on individuals. All underground water sources
must be removed from private ownership and must be declared a community
property resource forthwith.

3. Water Security Act (on the lines of the Food Security Act) must ensure drinking
water and water for household purposes:
Promotion of rainwater harvesting and water reuse in urban areas must be
seriously taken up.

4. Universal basic services must be ensured to all:

This means that healthcare, food security, education, water supply, sanitation
and housing must be ensured not only as important entitlements, but they will
also contribute to higher quality economic growth while creating large number
of jobs. Further, ongoing social services must not be replaced by cash transfers
in any situation.

5. Water is a fundamental right and must be provided to every citizen, which must
be the responsibility of urban local governments:
Create a regulatory mechanism for municipal areas, by amending the
Maharashtra Groundwater Regulatory Act. A comprehensive water
management action plan should be prepared covering rivers, ponds and
traditional water conservation methods in urban areas.
Solid Waste Management
(Lens of Waste Pickers)
Our demands
1. We demand survey and registrations of AIW recognized organizations:
Declare mechanism for survey and recognition as part of state SWM policy as
per SWM Rules, 2016.

2. Mandating local bodies to give priority to existing informal waste-pickers for

integration into contracts:
Preservation of existing livelihoods should be top priority of local bodies.
Waste-pickers should be integrated into waste collection systems and provide
the right over dry recyclable waste to promote livelihoods and recycling of dry waste.

3. We demand to provide spaces and capital to waste-pickers to set up

cooperative scrap stores:
Promote their right to livelihood and link them social security and social welfare
schemes (Similar to Central Scheme for scholarship to children of persons in
unclean occupations).

4. Funds under EPR should not be used to disrupt or disturb the existing informal
scrap trade:
All EPR plans must be focused on materials having low or no value in the
recycling trade and should be channelized through waste-picker organisations.

5. We urge for effectively monitor the adoption of SWM rules for a transparent
and effective implementation:
Include waste-pickers in segregated waste collection as prescribed by SWM
guidelines 2016 for Dry waste (recyclables, low and no value inert waste), Wet
(organic) waste and Sanitary/hazardous waste. Involve waste-pickers and
informal waste collectors as an important professional partner in processing of
organic waste.

6. Planning for Solid Waste Management in the Cities and Master Plans:
There is an urgent need to change the planning norms as per the directions in
the SWM 2016 and amend the master plans in the cities for securing places of
work, solid waste management, of the waste pickers.

7. Capacity building of Public and Civic Agencies:

We urge to invest more on raising awareness on segregation and
decentralization of SWM and the need for locally handling the waste, particularly
targeting the wider public and ULBs to effectively manage the waste locally.

8. We demand for secure marketplace for scrap business, a recycling hub, and
minimize the need for dumping site and incinerators-
Supporting waste picker collectives by facilitating funding to support micro
enterprises of waste-pickers and informal waste collectors to expand their
business who handle solid waste management effectively rather than the companies.
Contributors of
the charter –
Amrita Sharma
Aravind Unni
Avinash Madhale
Bhagwan Keshbhat
Brijesh Arya
Chandan Kumar
Evita
Hussain Indoriwala
Jagdish Patankar
Jammu Anand
Jyoti Mhapsekar
Kishore Kardak
Lalitha Kamath
Marina Joseph
Meccanzie Dabre
Mohan Chavan
Nisha Rani
Pooja Yadav
Raju Bhise
Raju Vanjare
Sachin Nachnekar
Shweta Tambe
Sister Christy
Sitaram Shelar
Stalin Dayanand
Supriya Jan
Varsha Vidya Villas
Vicky Shinde
Vindhya Jyoti
And many more