Environmental Justice Struggles and Neoliberal Intervention in Access to Sustainable Housing of Marginalised Communities: A Study of Mumbai’s Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy

Abstract

This study examines the impact of rehabilitation and resettlement policies on marginalised communities in Mumbai, with particular attention to Muslim communities and Dalits (Scheduled Castes). Drawing on secondary literature and qualitative ethnographic fieldwork conducted between September 2024 and June 2025, the research investigates how displacement associated with urban development projects affects livelihoods, health, education, and access to adequate housing. Using a case study approach across three sites and employing in-depth interviews, participant observation, and photographic surveys, the study collected data from 70 participants representing both state and non-state actors. Findings indicate that resettled communities are frequently relocated to peripheral areas near industrial zones, chemical factories, and dumping grounds, where poor infrastructure, limited green space, congested housing, and environmental hazards create socially and environmentally unsustainable living conditions. Interviews reveal that inadequate planning, limited community participation, and the increasing influence of private developers contribute to socio-spatial segregation and environmental injustice. The paper argues for participatory planning, environmental sustainability, social sustainability, improved public health considerations, and alternative housing models that prioritise the needs of marginalised communities. It concludes that housing policy should be framed as a matter of justice rather than charity and aligned with the goals of inclusive and sustainable urban development.