NEED FOR LOW COST HOUSING

Housing is one of the basic requirements of any individual next to food and clothing. All of us dream for owning a suitable house in our life span. In todays context when India is heading towards economic growth and entering into an era of overall development, it is more than essential that we create an enabling environment for affordable housing for one and all.

FACTORS AFFECTING A NEED FOR LOW COST URBAN SHELTERS:

-Alarming trend of migration to the cities

-Rural migration to cities due to widespread poverty in villages, due to off-shoot of tremendous socio-economic disparity prevailing in our villages -Urban poverty is a significant cause of inadequate shelter -Low-quality shelter compounds the problems of poverty. In particular, poor quality shelter is associated with significant health risks -For those who build their own homes, consolidation is generally slow due to both an absolute lack of finance, and an inability to spread costs through acquiring loans

FACTORS AFFECTING A NEED FOR LOW COST URBAN SHELTERS:

-Alarming trend of migration to the cities

-Rural migration to cities due to widespread poverty in villages, due to off-shoot of tremendous socio-economic disparity prevailing in our villages -Urban poverty is a significant cause of inadequate shelter -Low-quality shelter compounds the problems of poverty. In particular, poor quality shelter is associated with significant health risks -For those who build their own homes, consolidation is generally slow due to both an absolute lack of finance, and an inability to spread costs through acquiring loans

STATUS OF URBAN HOUSING: A World bank study conducted in 1975 shows that: 55% of the households in Mexico city, 35% in Bangkok, 68% in Nairobi, 47% in Bagota, 64% in Ahmedabad and 63% in Chennai Were unable to afford the cheapest dwellings available in the open markets of those cities. Percentage of households living in one-room units is 77.4% in Mumbai, 57% in Delhi, 67.6% in Kolkata, 65% in Pune, 60% in Ahmedabad and 53.6% in Chennai. About a million people live precariously in 90,000 old and diapilated buildings in Mumbai, waiting imminent collapse

STATUS OF RURAL HOUSING: The scenario in rural housing is far worse

According to NBO estimates, the housing shortage in rural areas is 20.6 million units
About 75% of houses in the countryside belonged to the category of semi or non-permanent construction About 74% of national population live in about 5.83 lakh villages According to the study by Institute of Development Studies(IDS) nearly half of the rural housesare more than 50 years old requiring urgent renovation on war footing The number of 'Kutcha' construction has increased testifying the fact that the rich get richer and the poor still poorer in the country

To Conclude, Inadequate availability of land and its high prices due to a variety of legal and administrative constraints is leaving vast numbers of households with no alternative but to illegal settlement on poorlyserviced land, or overcrowding in poorly-serviced diapidated structures.
Moreover the rising values of land under pressure of urbanisation and population growth make it difficult for the public authorities to accuire land for social housing programmes

It is hoped that the, Urban land ceiling and regulation act, 1976, and Rent control act with some ammendments might help accelerate the pace of housing activity in the country

Agencies currently employed in undertaking Low cost building techniques in Rural and Urban sectors: -National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD) -Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) -Building Material and Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC) -Central Building Research Institute (CBRI)

-National Building Organization (NBO)

OPTIMUM RESIDENTIAL DESITIES

The following desities are normally considered Optimum:

i) Single storeyed houses

ii) Two-storeted houses iii) Three-storeyed houses iv) Four storeyed houses v) Five-storeyed houses

: 50-65 houses per gross hectare

: 75-100 houses per gross hectares : 100-125 houses per gross hectare : 125-150 houses per gross hectare : 150 houses per gross hectare

If above densities are adhered to and the layouts are prepared by qualified town planning agencies, it may be feasible to ensure adequate open Spaces, wide Roads, Parks and other sites for communal facilities consistent with land use economy

Thank you