Residents of Mumbai's gaothans have made a representation to the Maharashtra Chief Minister about the discrimination faced by 'sons of the soil' in gaothan areas under the housing policy of 2024.

In their representation, citizens' group, The Watchdog Foundation, said that the policy changes have created an unjust disparity between the rights of gaothan residents and those occupying slum lands on municipal, collector, or government properties. Watchdog Foundation said that the housing policy of 2007 allowed for reconstruction or redevelopment in Gaothan areas with the following Floor Space Index (FSI) provisions: the consumed FSI of the existing building - utilised unauthorisedly, or normal permissible FSI of the zone, plus 100% of the consumed FSI of the existing building.

However, under the Housing Policy of 2024, the FSI allocation for gaothan areas has been drastically reduced to 1.5 if the road width is less than 6 meters and limited to 2  if the road width is 9 meters or more, the letter said, adding that a majority of gaothan areas lack nine-metre roads. As a result, the residents of these areas are unable to avail the higher FSI of 2, which severely restricts their redevelopment opportunities.

While the original gaothan residents are deprived of adequate FSI, occupants of slum lands on municipal, collector, or government properties are being granted an FSI of 4 or more for redevelopment. The representative also said that the 'Gaothan Extension Policy', meant to benefit the original inhabitants of Gaothan areas, has not been effectively implemented in Mumbai, further exacerbating the challenges faced by these residents.

The group has demanded revision of the housing policy of 2024, ensuring that the original residents receive at least the same redevelopment benefits as slum dwellers, allow an FSI of 4 for gaothan areas regardless of road width, ensure the effective implementation of the 'Gaothan Extension Policy' in Mumbai to provide the rightful benefits to the original inhabitants.