Advocacy for housing rights
Advocating for the housing rights of unorganised-sector workers, migrant labourers, bonded labourers, victims of human trafficking and homeless destitute labourers.
Shelter · Article 21
Worker’s Housing Rights
Advocacy and rehabilitation for unorganised-sector workers, migrant labourers, bonded labourers, trafficking survivors and homeless destitute labourers denied adequate housing.
12
States of operation
150+
Housing and rehabilitation cases
1,000+
Volunteers
17.7 lakh
Homeless workers (Census 2011)
Context
Why this work exists.
Housing is a fundamental human right, essential for safety, comfort and well-being. It provides a foundation for family, community and economic participation. Adequate housing encompasses not only shelter but also access to basic amenities like clean water, sanitation, healthcare and education.
Millions worldwide lack even the most basic form of housing. This is particularly acute for labourers in the informal economy. Of the workers in the unorganised sector, numbering 50 crore, most are forced to live in slums, under tents, tin sheds and thatched roofs. Migrant workers face even greater challenges, with many living in conditions far below human dignity standards.
While the 2011 census recorded 17.7 lakh homeless workers, grassroots organisations suggest a far more critical situation today, estimating that up to 50 crore workers currently lack adequate housing. India’s Constitution, in Article 21, guarantees the right to life, which inherently includes the right to adequate housing.
How we work
What the programme actually does.
Slum rehabilitation
Working for the rehabilitation of labourers living in metropolitan slums, including in the National Capital Territory of Delhi — providing housing facilities and improving existing ones.
Basic amenities
Ensuring cleanliness, provision of clean drinking water, maintenance of community centres, and construction of houses that support the needs of women and children.
Toward a housing law
Working towards a law that would guarantee and protect housing in India, building hostels for migrant labourers, and providing shelter to homeless companions.
Outcomes
What a closed case looks like.
- Rehabilitation support for evicted and displaced labour families
- Improved amenities — water, sanitation and community facilities — in existing settlements
- Housing designed around the needs of women and children
- Advocacy for subsidised and equitable housing for marginalised gender groups
Legal basis
The law we work under.
- Article 21, Constitution of India
- Judgements on Housing and Shelter
- List of Slums by DUSIB
Questions
Frequently asked.
What counts as “adequate housing”?+
The UN definition: “Adequate shelter means more than a roof over one’s head. It also means adequate privacy; adequate space; physical accessibility; adequate security; security of tenure; structural stability and durability; adequate lighting; heating and ventilation; adequate basic infrastructure, such as water supply, sanitation and waste management facilities; suitable environmental and health related factors; and adequate and accessible location with regard to work and basic facilities: all of which should be at an affordable cost.”
Which states does the housing programme cover?+
Delhi, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Odisha, Karnataka and Telangana.
Is housing a legal right in India?+
Article 21 of the Constitution guarantees the right to life, which inherently includes the right to adequate housing. The denial and inaccessibility of housing is therefore a violation of a fundamental right.
Related
Other areas of our work.
Bonded Labour
Identification, case registration, rescue and statutory rehabilitation of workers held in debt bondage — a practice outlawed in India since 1976.
Read moreGig Workers
Mobilisation, advocacy, capacity building and legal aid for platform-based workers left in regulatory limbo by India’s labour codes.
Read moreMigrant Workers
Awareness, outreach, rehabilitation, legal aid and social support for workers who leave home to find employment in other regions.
Read moreBring us a case, or fund the next one.
Reports can be anonymous. Every case above began with someone deciding to speak.