Explain the Concept “ Housing For All ” and “ Slum Free
India ” with refrence to housing supply in urban areas.
Housing for All
The main motto of providing housing for all is to make available low cost flats
and low budget apartments for all income group people.
The word "All" mentioned here includes seniors, senior citizens, the elderly
people, single mothers, disabled, low income families and all the others falling
in the low income group. Affordable housing is a precious resource for the
entire community. The emphasis here lies on bringing about housing solutions
to all.
National Urban Housing & Habitat Policy was set up specially to take care of
giving out affordable housing. In the year 2007 it announced that its main
motto is to promote private-public partnerships in order to realize the
emphasis of 'Affordable Housing for All'. This policy acts as an action plan set
up by the Central Government. It motivates the state governments to also
start such policies in their respective states. This policy keeps in mind the
changing socio-economic conditions of the society. The states who have
already adopted this policy are required to submit a 15-20 year plan of the
city's development. Its main aim is to provide adequate land, shelter and other
facilities to all the people of a community.
The housing sector in India is already facing challenges of providing affordable
shelter to all its citizens. It is estimated that the housing shortage in urban
areas is at about 24.7 million units. This figure was measure 10th Five Year
Plan.
The Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission also focuses on the provision of
affordable housing and other basic necessities for a section of the society. This
policy also focuses on the empowerment of women apart from focusing on the
other sections like single mother, disabled, the elderly, seniors and other people
belonging to low income families.
Housing for Low Income Families
Owning a house has always been a problem for the lower income families.
This is because of the ever escalating prices of flats or apartments which does
not fit in the pockets of low income group people. This in turn causes building
up of slums for their dwelling in the form of affordable housing.
The government has announced a plan to ensure that India is made a slum
free country by the year 2020 by providing affordable housing for low income
families. This would be made possible by imposing a cess of 0.5% on all
central taxes. It would in turn act like a shelter fund for its slum free
approach. This plan is specially made for the slum dwellors in India and is
undertaken by the government of India and various other NGOs.
After the constant efforts carried out by the central as well as the state
government it is assumed that there is a shortage of about 25 million houses
which in turns affects around 67 million households. Most of the people fall in
to the low income group. In West Bengal, a number of joint sector firms are
formed who provide low budget housing for the lower income group people.
One such initiative carried out by the government is the Indira Was Yojna
(IAY) which has a target of 2.40 lakh houses to be built. This Yojna will also
make sure that it gives equal proper rights to the slum dwellers.
Affordable Housing Plans
Affordable housing plans are basically planned out meticulously in order to
provide low cost housing to all those who are thinking of buying a house of
their own. The recent economic crisis has been one of the biggest reasons
deterring prospective buyers from buying a house..
Unitech does not want to focus only on the elite class but also wants to spread
its reach amongst the middle level income groups as well. India's population is
filled with the middle level income groups than the elite classes. Therefore,
after targeting the middle level income group people it will not only be the
leader in the housing segment but will be quite successful in providing low
budget houses.
Such affordable housing plans and schemes will surely bring about an aura of
change in the housing sector. Such programs are dedicated to all those who
only dream of owning a house. But with the start of low budget houses and
low cost flats or apartments many of them will be able to turn their dream in
to reality.
Affordable Housing Policy
Home is where the heart is and owning a house is a basic human right. It is
not only a luxury but also a necessity. Affordable housing policy has
recognized the need of owning a house and thus has formulated this policy.
According to this policy, all the builders should cater to all the needs of a
community. A variety of affordable housing policies make considerate planning
on the housing sector..
Affordable homes or affordable housing is set to encompass the low budget
houses by providing flats and apartments at a low cost. The builder should
also keep in mind that though flat is being made available at a comparitive
lesser price, it should not lack in quality. Other facilities like parking, parks for
children, gardens for old age people etc should also be tried and included in
the budget, though it is not mandatory.
Land cost must be comparitively low for the builder to start construction
immediately. This policy also focuses on the areas, where the flats are getting
constructed. Thus, it acts as an advisor to the builders and helps them in
giving an insight in to the minds of the customers which in return increases
sales.
Affordable Housing Program
The state government along with the central government are putting in
constant efforts to give out affordable housing with the help of their Affordable
Housing Program. The objective of this program is to provide affordable
housing to all those people who belong to the middle income group category.
Some of the projects undertaken by the government are HUDA, MHADA, DDA,
GDA and so on.
HUDA: Haryana Urban Development Authority is a program which is designed
specifically to promote the building up of low cost houses and affordable
homes. The HUDA authorities require around 10 acres of land in the high
potential zone and around 5 acres of land in the low or medium potential
zone. Flats in these places would be available from as low as Rs 15 lakhs thus
fitting in to the budget of low cost house buyers.
MHADA: Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority was established
in 1977 and it aims in solving all the problems related to the housing sector. The
flats available in Mumbai would be little bit expensive as compared to other
places of Maharashtra like Nashik, Aurangabad, Nagpur and so on. MHADA Ever
since its establishment MHADA has been engaged in providing low cost housing
and affordable homes to its customers.
DDA: Delhi Development Authority is a Delhi government initiative in providing
low budget flats or apartments that suits the income of different income group
people. Its flats are named HIG, MIG and LIG flats depending on the income
group you belong to.
GDA: Ghaziabad Development Authority is an initiative taken by the Ghaziabad
project plan to build affordable houses near to the capital. Flats are available
anywhere between 25 to 40 lakhs depending on the area in Ghaziabad and its
connectivity to Delhi.
Thus, such affordable housing programs are plans or projects that offer low
budget houses to those looking out for a lost cost flat or apartment.
Affordable Housing Scheme
The term affordable housing scheme means making available low budget
housing or low cost flats and apartments to the middle income group. A
number of schemes are developed to fit in the budget of the people who want
to own a house. It is a fact that property rates are on its rise and are
predicted to increase with the passing of each day. To own a house in places
like Mumbai, Delhi or Bangalore seems to be out of reach. But a number of
builders have now started working towards this problem faced by most of us.
The builders plan out a plant layout in the outskirts of the main city. No place
remains a barren land for life. As developers start there development, the
place becomes as busy as other streets in the city. Although, the occupants
may face initial problems like transport or availability of basic aminities; these
problems are short lived.
National Building Construction Corporation is the first initiative taken out by
the Government of India in order to provide affordable housing in India. Under
this scheme, there will be around 1300 houses in the first phase of NCR -
Nodia Ghaziabad and Gurgaon. This scheme also offers three to four bedroom
flats in the range of Rs 25 lakhs to Rs 40 lakhs. House specifications will not
be compromised and they will be take care of all the other benefits offered by
private builders. After establishing itself in the region of NCR, it will then be
spread to the rest of the country. The second phase of places include cities
like Kolkata, Cochin and Patna.
The entire process of acquiring a land, building up low cost houses and then
handing it over to the prospective customers will be transparent. There will
not be any hidden charges above the rates mentioned. The recent economic
crisis has hit almost all the sectors and one of the sector to get badly affected
is the real estate sector. But inspite of the economic melt-down, the NBCC
affordable housing scheme plans to extend a helping hand to its future
customers.
Rajiv Awas Yojana to aim at slum-free India
The Rajiv Awas Yojana, announced in the budget, aims at promoting a slum-free India in five
years and would focus on according property rights to slum dwellers, Union Minister for
Housing and Poverty Alleviation, Kumari Selja, said here today.
"The government has announced a new scheme Rajiv Awas Yojana for the slum dwellers
and the urban poor in an effort to promote a slum-free India in five years," Selja said in her
inaugural address at the Habitat Business Forum meet on urban challenges and solutions.
Twelve countries are taking part in the conclave which is co-sponsored by UN Habitat and
China Real Estate Chamber of Commerce.
The union minister said the scheme will focus on according property rights to slum dwellers
and the urban poor by the states and union territories.
"It would provide basic amenities such as water supply, sewerage, drainage, internal and
approach roads, street lighting and social infrastructure facilities in slums and low income
settlements adopting a 'whole city' approach," she said, adding, it would also provide
subsidized credit.
Describing urbanisation as "a great historical opportunity", Selja said the energy of urban
growth can be harnessed as a "positive force for human development to create sustainable,
equitable, and peaceful cities"
A new housing scheme, Rajiv Awas Yojana, was announced today promising to improve
their lives and aiming to make the country "slum free" in the next five years.
Announcing her ministry's 100-day plan, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister
Kumari Selja said: "Rajiv Awas Yojana on the lines of the Indira Awas Yojana is being
formulated to promote a slum free India in five years."
"The scheme will focus on according property rights to slumdwellers and the urban poor with
the help of the state government. The housing scheme will offer a ray of hope to
slumdwellers and other urban poor to access a decent and dignified living environment and
affordable home," Selja said.
"The legal framework will cover the provision of security of tenure to the urban poor and also
make land available for affordable housing," she said.
Selja said the ministry will explore partnerships between the urban poor, municipalities,
private developers and the state government to create affordable homes.
According to the Registrar General of India, there are about 81 million urban poor in India.
"The scheme will provide basic amenities such as water supply, sewerage, drainage,
internal and approach roads, street lighting and social infrastructure facilities in slums and
low income settlements," she said.
According to Selja, the ministry will support an Inclusive City Campaign involving all
stakeholders to alter the existing city planning model and prepare inclusive Master
Plans/City Development Plans that adequately address the concerns of the urban poor for
affordable housing.
The ministry is also planning to include cities with a population of 500,000 under the
Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) for creation of financially
sustainable inclusive cities.
A skill development programme for employment promotion for the urban poor is also on the
100-day agenda of the ministry.
"Focus will be on imparting quality training and skill certification through reputed institutions
or skills training providers so that the urban poor youth will be enabled to enhance their
income and improve their living conditions. At least 30 percent of the trainees shall be
women," Selja said.
The ministry is planning to impart training to 1000,000 youths over the next five years and
starting with 200,000 in 2009-10.(IANS)
