CHAPTER-4 HOUSING AND BASIC SERVICES

Overview
In India, the construction sector,which includes housing, accounts for 8.2 percent of its gross
domestic product (GDP) and employs approximately 12 percent of the workforce. The demand
for housing rises in direct proportion to the increase in urban population, and the supply is
dependent on a large number of factors including the decisions of individual households.
Matching the demand and supply is often difficult.

Housing Sector's Contribution to Indian Economy

The residential building industry contributes 1.24% of the Indian economy's overall production
(11.39% of all construction). The housing industry, which adds an additional 6.86% to the GDP,
can be used as a gauge of economic expansion. The Indian government has been aggressively
tackling the issues of providing access to suitable housing, notably for the low income people
and slum residents, through its numerous policies and programmes.

Dilemma of Growing Housing Stock and Housing Shortage

The urban housing stock has increased from 52.06 million to 78.48 million (51% increase) in the
last decade. Availability of funds for the housing sector has enabled an increase in the housing
stock in urban areas. The total disbursement of Housing loans during 2013-14 by Public Sector
Banks and HousingFinance Companies was INR 987.87 billion and INR 1040.57 billion
respectively.

Housing Policies and Programmes in India: Shifting Positions

Since the 1950s, India's housing and urban development plans have changed in four stages to
correspond with the country's economic expansion. The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)
or "Housing for The by 2022" initiative aims to provide homes for all urban poor over a
seven-year period, addressing the housing needs of the urban poor, including slum residents.

SALIENT FEATURES OF NEW HOUSING POLICIES OF STATES OF ODISHA

AND RAJASTHAN

➔ Policy for Housing for all in Urban Areas Odisha, August 2015
Objective is to meet the requirement of construction of 0.1 million dwelling units over the next
five years for EWS and LIG households. It offers seven models for development in convergence
with PMAY.
1. Mandatory development of EWS housing
2. Incentives for market-based development of EWS and LIG Housing
3. Development of affordable housing projects.
4. In-situ slum redevelopment.
5. Beneficiary-led individual housing construction or enhancement
6. Relocation and rehabilitation
7. Rental housing

New initiatives under Odisha Policy:

Single-window clearances by the authority
● Online registration of applicants/ beneficiaries along with biometric details to be followed by
social audit of all submitted documents
● Facilitation Centers to be set up by Odisha Housing Mission to aid applicants who do not have
access to computer and internet
● Beneficiaries to be members of Slum Level Registered Society

Chief Minister’s Jan Awas Yojana Rajasthan, September 2015

The government's initiative to alleviate the 1.05 million housing deficit must be put into action.
Provisions that are aligned with PMAY
1. Requirements for all residential projects by ULBs, UITs, Development Authorities, RHBs,
private developers, and projected industrial areas
2. Private developer's joint development of affordable housing on private property
3. Building EWS/LIG homes on public property in predetermined ratios based on allotment or
auction

New initiatives under Rajasthan Policy:

Incentives for developers and subsidies for beneficiaries
● Intelligent management of FAR through development control regulations
● Indicative building plans of EWS and LIG flats included in policy document
● Fast track approval to the projects provided within 60 days

Housing Policies and Programmes in India: Shifting Positions

Since the 1950s, the housing and urban development policies in India have transitioned in four
phases. The Housing For All (Urban) Mission offers the following four verticals to meet the
urban housing shortage of the country. Slum rehabilitation with participation of private
developers using land as a resource. Promotion of affordable housing by credit-linked subsidy.
Affordable housing in partnership with the public and private sector.

Initiatives towards Catalyzing Market for Affordable Housing

The Government of India has taken up a number of governance reforms for catalyzing the
market for affordable housing. These include simplification of procedures, single-window
approach for construction permits and delegating these to the ULB level and release of Model
Building bye-laws. States have also been formulating landmark legislations having far-reaching
impacts on the affordable housing market.

Slums and Squatter Settlements

A slum is a compact area of poorly built congested tenements in an unhygienic environment.
They are usually built with inadequate infrastructure and lacking in proper sanitary and drinking
water facilities. Census of India defines a slum as a residential area with a population of at least
300 or 60–70 households.
A slum is a building that has been dilapidated, overcrowded, faulty layout, lack of ventilation
and inadequate access to basic services.
The absolute number of households living in slums has increased from 10.15 million in 2001 to
13.75 million in 2011. The mega cities of Greater Mumbai, Delhi NCR and Kolkata house about
42 to 55 percent of their population in slum areas.
The Government of India has formulated various schemes to address the issues of slums. While
the earlier Environment Improvement of Urban Slums (EIUS) scheme had limited success, the
government introduced a more comprehensive National Slum Development Programme (NSDP)
in 1996 as an additional central assistance scheme.
In 2009, Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY) was launched in pursuance of the vision for a "slum free
India" wherein financial support was extended for providing housing, im - provement of basic
civic infrastructure and social amenities.

Provision of Basic Services

Affordable housing is one of the core infrastructure components in the Smart Cities Mission.
Physical infrastructure such as drinking water, sewerage, access for housing projects under
PMAY is envis - aged to come out of AMRUT and state schemes. This requires synergy among
various projects during planning and execution.

Status of Solid Waste Management

The Swachh Bharat Mission targets to achieve 100 per cent collection, transporta-- processing
and disposal of solid wastes in statutory towns in a phased manner up to 2018–19. The
Municipal Solid Waste Rules were put in place in the year 2000 but revised rules have been
notified in 2016.

Conclusion
The major challenge is provision of serviced urban land at affordable costs to the homeless and
urban poor. Innovative approaches with respect to land development, shelter provision and the
use of space are being devised to meet requirements of planned settlements. The flagship
housing programme of PMAY—Housing for All (Urban) by 2022 focuses on sustainable hu
-\man settlement development to address unmet housing demand of all urban poor in India.