Right to Housing Act

Demolition of slums and eviction of urban poor have been going on a massive scale all over India. Whether it is Mumbai or Delhi, Lucknow or Chennai or any other city, for that matter- everywhere the poor are being uprooted from their homes and means of livelihood. The progressive, pro-poor interpretation of Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution is giving way to blatant disregard of constitutional provisions by both state agencies as well as the courts. The agencies demolishing these clusters are blaming the courts and the courts blame the agencies for proliferation of slums. In this tug of war, poor slum dwellers are being pushed into a precarious situation.

Although all states/ULBs in India have some or the other policy for ameliorative action for slum dwellers, these policies have clearly proved to be inadequate to safeguard the interests of slum dwellers. In fact only the anti-poor provisions of these policies are implemented on a selective basis.

Therefore, there has been a strong demand from various quarters for a Right to Housing Act which would provide a justiciable instrument to the urban poor in their struggle to realise secure housing and access to employment opportunities and basic amenities. Hazards Centre has prepared a draft to Right to Housing Act. The immediate context of this effort is the proposed move by the Ministry of Urban Development to introduce a Bill in the Parliament ensuring complete moratorium on the sealing of shops in Delhi. We have to see whether we can use this opportunity to lobby for the introduction of a Right to Housing Bill as well.

This draft is being put up for your comments/ suggestions/ criticisms. Your feedback is requested.

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