MODULE - 4

Housing Programmes , Schemes

and Projects

B.ARCH SEMESTER-9 | SEPTEMBER 2024

OVERVIEW

● Nature and types of Housing Development Programmes in India- Initiatives

taken for Housing in Post independence era
● Housing Schemes & Programmes at National and State level-
IAY,IHSDP,RAY,PMAY
● Housing the poor-Incremental housing, Core housing,
● Site and services. Case study of a low income housing project

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 Housing Programmes in India
INTRODUCTION
After India gained freedom, the journey towards
affordable housing in India began. The country
had significant intrastate and interstate migration
from rural to urban areas for two decades in a row.

● The Government has launched a number of

initiatives to address the demand for housing and
other basic services, which has grown dramatically.
The Government has faced a variety of
opportunities and challenges over the years.
● Over time, the role of Government changed from
being an enabler to that of a facilitator, having faith
in the aspirations of beneficiaries.

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 Evolution Housing Policies and
Programmes in India
INTRODUCTION
The Government of India has made consistent efforts in
the form of monetary allocations, housing programs and
policies to answer the housing question in the country.
The housing policies and programs have responded to
the bigger macro-economic agendas of the Government
and aligned with the international policy paradigms
of respective eras.

A number of housing programs have been implemented

in India since independence, while on the one hand
some have been targeted towards pre-decided
sections of the society, others have tried to focus on
developing a self-conducive affordable housing
ecosystem in the country which enabled the citizens to
build or acquire their own dwelling units. 4
 EVOLUTION HOUSING POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES IN INDIA
India's housing policies have evolved over time, with a number of key
milestones including:

POLICY DESCRIPTION

1947–1965 Housing was considered a welfare good.

1950s–1960s Housing boards were established in various states to administer the Central Housing Fund and construction of
public housing.

1952 The Subsidized Housing Scheme for Industrial Workers and Economically Weaker Sections was launched, with
the central government providing a subsidy to state governments.

1985-1992 Shelter as a Basic Human Need

1998 The National Housing & Habitat Policy was announced, which included the repeal of the Urban Land Ceiling
Act, and the permitting of foreign direct investment in the housing and real estate sector.

2005- 2015 Promoting Affordable Housing in India 5

Housing as a Welfare Good (1947- 1965)

BACKGROUND

● It was recognised that due to World War-II just ending and industrial revolution around
the world, the housing problem was acute in most of the industrial regions of the world.
● There was an increased recognition between relations of housing, health and
well-being of the people.In India, there was a steady growth of urban population since
1921.
● The main reason identified behind the growth of urban population was the growth of
heavy industries and building of war production plants in urban areas of the country.
● Further, since the partition of the country there was a very high influx of refugees who
tried to settle in the urban areas.
● The supply of housing on the other hand did not keep pace with the increasing
demand.
● It was observed that rents had been generally high, but during and after the second world
war, landlords began to realise rents at much higher rates, sometimes wholly out of
proportion to the capital outlay. Various State Governments attempted to control rents
and avoid eviction of tenants by means of special legislations. 6
Housing as a Welfare Good (1947- 1965)

INITIATIVES:

The First Five-Year identified that owing to industrialisation and creation of new urban
centres, there is a large scale migration from rural to urban areas in search of better quality
of life and employment. This migration has led to the growth of “substandard houses and
slums containing insanitary mud-huts of flimsy construction poorly ventilated, over congested
and often lacking in essential amenities such as water and light”.

● The First Five Year Plan dedicated 33% of its total expenditure to housing
● The policy-makers and planners identified the housing needs of the most vulnerable
sections of the society and created targeted housing policies for industrial workers,
dock workers, plantation workers, lower income groups by provisioning direct subsidy to
the identified groups.
● To provide housing for migrant population from Pakistan, “Model towns” were
established and in cities of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh.

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Housing as a Welfare Good (1947- 1965)

INITIATIVES:

● Further, for enhancing the rental

housing supply in the new urban
centres, Rent Control Act, 1961 was
rolled out.
● The 1950s and 1960s emerged as a
major period of institutional
development across the country
housing boards were established in
various States.
● Town Planning organisation (TPO)
was formed in 1962 emphasis was
placed on the preparation of master
plans and regional plans for different
categories of urban areas.
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Institutional Development in Housing (1965- 1985)

BACKGROUND

The Third Five Year Plan recognised that the growth of population in urban areas,
required at least three general considerations in relation to which the direction of
housing programmes should be developed in the subsequent five year plans.

● First, it recognised that housing policies need to be set in the larger context of
economic development and industrialisation. It called for a cohesive decision
between the location & dispersal of industries and the housing problem.
● Secondly, the plan called for a coordinated effort between all the agencies
concerned, whether public, cooperative or private.
● Thirdly, the entire programme of housing construction was to be so oriented that
it serves specially the requirements of the low income groups within the
community.

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Institutional Development in Housing (1965- 1985)

INITIATIVES:

● By 1968, almost all the States has introduced Town Planning Legislations with varying
scopes. Provision was made in the States sector for urban development, housing and
metropolitian schemes.
● To supplement these resources a provision of Rs. 10 crore was made in the Fourth Five
Year Plan for establishment of a Housing and Urban Development Corporation
(HUDCO).
● The programmes initiated in this era called for greater public participation with an
understanding of poverty alleviation as a part of shelter programmes.
● The fifth Plan viewed slum-upgrading as the solution to housing problems and thus
in-situ slum upgradation assumed the central stage.
● The Sixth Five Year Plan saw reduction in the provision of direct subsidies for urban
housing. It recommended provision of subsidies in the form of infrastructural and
sanitation facilities which were aimed at improving the environment for people.

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Shelter as a Basic Human Need (1985-1992)

BACKGROUND
The housing shortage at the beginning of the Seventh Five Year Plan (1985-90) was placed at
24.7million dwelling units, out of which 5 million units were short in the urban areas of the country.

● It was estimated that there would be an additional requirement of 3.8 million dwelling units due to
the natural increase in the population.
● It was therefore envisaged that during the Seventh Five Year plan period, the focus of housing
policies would be on the provision of finance for house construction on a large scale,
development of suitable land sites in urban areas, provision of house sites in rural areas,
developing and applying low-cost technology in house construction and policies relating to rent
control.

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Shelter as a Basic Human Need (1985-1992)

INITIATIVES:

● The Seventh Plan established that the Government has to play an active role through
developing the necessary delivery system in the form of housing finance market and
taking steps to make developed land available at right places and at reasonable prices.
● This era saw emphasis in need to invest in small and medium town through Integrated
Development of Small and Medium Towns (IDSMT), making a point that
decentralisation of urban growth was necessary.
● There was a growing concern over the need of devolution of funds and power to the
ULB's for the revitalisation of civic bodies and to increase community-centric
participation.It was during this period that ULB's received a constitutional status by 74th
Amendment Act,1992.
● Within the backdrop of the Seventh Plan, the National Housing Policy 1988 was
launched. The preamble of the policy recognised shelter as a basic human need.
● The field of housing finance started further maturing in this era with the establishment of
National Housing Bank (NHB), as a subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of India in 1988.
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Liberalisation of Housing Policies (1992-2005)

BACKGROUND
There was a growing recognition of the role and importance of the urban centres for the growth of
national economy. Housing deficit was identified to be a byproduct of exponentially increasing land
and construction costs and deteriorating quality of life in urban pockets .

● Within these contexts, the Eighth plan envisaged “Shelter for all” on a self-sustaining basis and
recognised the need of direct state intervention for the provision of housing to the vulnerable
sections of the population.
● The Eighth Plan estimated that during the period of the Seventh Plan, 7.14 lakh EWS and 1.67
lakh LIG dwelling units were constructed, 2.3 lakh dwelling units were constructed under
cooperative housing schemes and subsidy and loan was provided for the construction of 5.73
lakh dwelling units. Further, the Night Shelter Scheme benefitted around 26,000 pavement
dwellers.

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Liberalisation of Housing Policies (1992-2005)

INITIATIVES:
● Following the Global Housing Strategy, the National Housing Policy 1994 was adopted in India
with the main objective being “to assist all people and in particular the houseless, the
inadequately housed and the vulnerable sections, to secure themselves affordable shelter through
access to developed land, building materials, finance and technology”.

● The Eighth Plan also laid substantial emphasis on saving construction cost through promotion
of low cost and innovative building materials and technology as building materials account for a
major part of the total cost of construction. This led to the establishment of Building Materials
and Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC) in the year 1990.

● Apart from the construction of new dwelling units, the Ninth Plan also highlighted the agenda of
upgradation and renewal of old and dilapidated housing stock which form a major part of the
old city cores in Indian cities. It was recognised that steps in this direction are crucial to improve
overall health Liberalisation of Housing Policies (1992-2005) and sustainability of the urban
environment.
● The new programmes like VAMBAY was introduced which were closer to the perception of need
of the urban poor. 14
Promoting Affordable Housing in India (2005-2015)

BACKGROUND
The number of urban agglomerations in India had increased from 2768 in 1991 to 5161 in 2001.The
time was seen apt for India to launch its National Urbanisation Policy which focused on large-scale
urban infrastructure, laid base for Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
The primary objective of the urbanisation policy was to achieve sustainable development by reducing
spatial disparities.

● The era began with a recognition that progress in affordable housing has been hampered by the
unavailability of suitable land for in-situ slum rehabilitation.The eleventh and twelfth Plans
suggested multiple ways in which the availability of land can be enhanced and the use of land
can be optimised to maximum, e.g. by increasing the FSI and ground coverage.

● The government launched Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY), a flagship programme for in-situ slum
rehabilitation centred around community participation and beneficiary involvement.

● JNNURM constituted of two housing missions, namely, BSUP (Basic Services for Urban Poor)
concentrating on larger cities and IHSDP (Integrated Housing and Slum Development
Programme) for small and medium towns. 15
Promoting Affordable Housing in India (2005-2015)

INITIATIVES:
Government of India launched the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U) on 25 June 2015 to
provide all-weather pucca houses to all eligible families with all basic civic amenities in the urban areas
of the country to fulfil vision the vision of Hon'ble Prime Minister of 'Housing for All'.

● PMAY-U is one of the largest housing programs in the world. It is highly relevant and aligned with
national development priorities and global goals for providing 'Housing for All'.

● The Mission comprehensively addresses the commitment in achieving the Sustainable

Development Goals: goal 1 of no poverty, goal 5 of gender equality, goal 6 of clean water and
sanitation, goal 11 of sustainable cities and communities, and goal 13 of climate action.

● More than 10 million houses have been grounded for construction of which, more than 6 million
houses have been completed and delivered to the beneficiaries. The Mission promotes
empowerment of women through giving the ownership of house in the name of female head of
household.
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 Nature and Types of
Housing Development
Programs

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 1. GOVERNMENT-LED INITIATIVES: Most housing programs
are driven by the central and state governments, aiming to
address the housing shortage and improve living conditions.

Nature of 2. TARGETED BENEFICIARIES: Many programs focus on

economically weaker sections (EWS), low-income groups

Housing (LIG), and middle-income groups (MIG) to promote inclusive

development.

Development 3. PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS (PPP): Recent initiatives

often involve collaborations between the government and

Programs private developers to leverage resources and expertise.

4. URBAN AND RURAL FOCUS: Programs cater to both urban

slums and rural housing needs, acknowledging diverse
challenges across regions.
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 1. Slum Redevelopment Programs:
● Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY): Launched in 2009 to provide
housing for all in urban areas, focusing on slum dwellers
and promoting inclusive cities.
● Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA): Aimed at providing
Types of housing to slum residents in metropolitan areas by
redeveloping slums.

Housing 2. Rural Housing Schemes:

Development ● Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Gramin (PMAY-G):

Launched in 2016, it aims to provide affordable housing

Programs to the rural poor with a focus on enhancing the quality of

life.
● Indira Awas Yojana (IAY): Prior to PMAY-G, this
scheme targeted rural housing, providing financial
assistance for house construction.

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 3. Urban Housing Schemes:
● Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Urban (PMAY-U): Aimed at
ensuring "Housing for All" by 2022, it provides subsidies for
home loans and promotes affordable housing projects.
● Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission
Types of (JNNURM): Launched in 2005 to promote integrated
development of urban infrastructure and housing.

Housing 4. Interest Subsidy Schemes:

Development ● Various schemes that provide interest subsidies on home

loans to encourage home ownership among the economically

Programs weaker sections.

5. Self-Construction and Enhancement Programs:

● Initiatives supporting self-help groups and cooperatives to
construct and enhance housing facilities, promoting
community involvement. 20
 Housing Schemes &
Programmes at National and
State level

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IAY Indira Awas Yojana
1985 - 2015

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Indira Awas Yojana

Introduction
Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY), a flagship scheme of the Ministry of Rural Development
has since inception been providing assistance to BPL families who are either
houseless or having inadequate housing facilities for constructing a safe and durable
shelter. This effort has been part of a larger strategy of the Ministry’s poverty
eradication effort, supporting the development of an environmentally sound habitat
with adequate provisions for incremental expansion and improvement.

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 Indira Awas Yojana
● Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) is the biggest and most comprehensive rural housing programme
ever taken up in the country.
● It was in June, 1985 that Indira Awaas Yojana was launched as a subscheme of Rural Landless
Employment Guarantee Programme (RLEGP) by earmarking a part of the fund for construction
of houses for SCs/STs and freed bonded labourers.
● When Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY) was launched in April, 1985, 6% of the funds was allocated
for housing for the SCs/STs and freed bonded labourers.
● In 1993-94, the coverage was extended to Non-SC/ST families by increasing the earmarked fund
for housing under JRY to 10% and allowing the use of the additional 4% for this category of
beneficiaries.
● Indira Awaas Yojana was made an independent scheme with effect from 1st January, 1996.
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 Indira Awas Yojana
Objective
The objective of IAY is primarily to provide grant for construction of houses to members of
Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes, freed bonded labourers and also to non-SC/ST rural
poor below the poverty line.

Target groups ● Scheduled ● Next-of-kin of defense

Castes/Scheduled Tribes personnel and
● Freed bonded laborers paramilitary forces
● Minority groups ● Ex-servicemen
● Non-SC/ST households ● Retired members of
● Widows paramilitary forces 25
Indira Awas Yojana
Components of the Type design
scheme The layout, size and type design of IAY houses
should depend on the local conditions.
1. Assistance for construction of Hence, no type design should be prescribed for IAY
a new house house except that the plinth area of the houses
should be around 20 sq. mts.
2. Upgradation of kutcha or The houses should be designed in accordance with
dilapidated houses the desire of the beneficiaries keeping in view the
climatic conditions and the need to provide proper
3. Provision of house sites space, kitchen, ventilation, sanitary facilities,
smokeless chullah , etc. and the community
perceptions, preferences and cultural attitude.
26
Indira Awas Yojana

Funding pattern
1. The cost of the scheme except the component for provision of house sites would be shared
between Government of India and State Governments in the ratio 75:25.
2. In the case of North Eastern States the ratio is 90:10.
3. The cost of providing house sites would be shared 50:50 between Government of India and
State Governments.
4. Government of India would provide the full cost in respect of Union Territories (UTs).

27
Indira Awas Yojana
Agency for implementation
● At the district level the implementation should be entrusted to Zilla Parishad or its
equivalent in States where there are no Zilla Parishads.
● At the local level, the Village Panchayat, or its equivalent where the State has no Village
Panchayats, would implement the programme.
● If Village Panchayats are too small to implement the scheme, the State may entrust the task
to the Panchayat at the intermediate level. In such cases, Village Panchayats should be
given clear roles in selection of habitats and beneficiaries and in supervision and monitoring.
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RAY Rajiv Awas Yojana

29
Rajiv Awas Yojana

Introduction

A vision, a ray of light to see India as a “Slum-free India”, a project under the Ministry of
Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (MoHUA) was launched.

In pursuance of this vision, this aspirational project was named Rajiv Awas Yojana or RAY,
focusing on slum dwellers and the urban poor, commonly known as Rajiv Housing Scheme. It
was launched in 2011 in two phases. The period from 2011- to 2013 was the preparatory stage.

After the approval of the Central Government, the implementation stage commenced, making
India a slum-free country by 2022.
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Rajiv Awas Yojana

Objectives
1. Improving and provisioning of housing, basic civic infrastructure and social amenities in
intervened slums.
2. Enabling reforms to address some of the causes leading to creation of slums. Facilitating a
supportive environment for expanding institutional credit linkages for the urban poor.
3. Institutionalizing mechanisms for prevention of slums including creation of affordable housing
stock.
4. Strengthening institutional and human resource capacities at the Municipal, City and State
levels through comprehensive capacity building and strengthening of resource networks.
5. Empowering community by ensuring their participation at every stage of decision making
31
through strengthening and nurturing Slum Dwellers’ Association/Federations.
 Rajiv Awas Yojana

Eligibility and benefits

RAY is applicable to all cities and urban agglomerations, with priority given to areas with large slum
populations, religious/cultural heritage sites, and districts with high scheduled caste, scheduled
tribe, and minority populations . Beneficiaries can avail of interest subsidies on housing loans, with
upper limits ranging from ₹4 lakhs to ₹5 lakhs per dwelling unit

RAY covered over 2,500 cities and towns across India, benefiting millions of urban poor. Some
notable achievements include:

1. Housing Units: Over 1.2 million housing units were constructed or upgraded.
2. Slum Upgradation: Thousands of slums were upgraded with basic amenities.
3. Community Empowerment: Community organizations were formed, enabling active
participation.
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Rajiv Awas Yojana

Challenges and Limitations

Despite its successes, RAY faced challenges and limitations:

1. Funding Constraints: Insufficient funding hindered project implementation.

2. Land Availability: Limited land availability delayed project execution.

3. Bureaucratic Delays: Slow decision-making and implementation.

4. Lack of Community Participation: Inadequate community involvement in some areas.

33
PMA Pradhan Mantri Awas
Yojana
Y
34
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) is a credit-linked subsidy scheme by the

Government of India to facilitate access to affordable housing for the low and
moderate-income residents of the country. It envisaged a target of building 2 crore (20
million) affordable houses by 31 March 2022.

● It has two components: Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) (PMAY-U) for the
urban poor and Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (Gramin) (PMAY-G and also PMAY-R)
for the rural poor, the former administered by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
and the latter by Ministry of Rural Development.

● This scheme converges with other schemes to ensure that houses have a toilet,
Saubhagya Scheme for universal electricity connection, Ujjwala Yojana LPG
35
connection, access to drinking water and Jan Dhan banking facilities, etc.
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana

Objectives
The primary objectives of PMAY are:
1. To provide affordable housing to Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), Low-Income
Groups (LIG), and Middle-Income Groups (MIG).
2. To address housing shortages and slum redevelopment.
3. To promote sustainable and inclusive urban development.

36
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana

Key features
1. Credit-Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS): Interest subsidy up to 6.5% for EWS/LIG and
4% for MIG.
2. Subsidy: Central government contributes 1.5-2.5 lakh per beneficiary.
3. Beneficiary-Led Construction: Beneficiaries can construct their own houses.
4. In-Situ Slum Redevelopment: Slum redevelopment with community participation.
5. Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP): Public-Private Partnerships for affordable
housing.
37
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana

Progress and Impact

PMAY has:
As of 2023:
● Over 1.1 crore houses sanctioned.
1. Increased affordability.
● Over 50 lakh houses completed.
2. Improved living standards.
● Benefiting over 5 crore people.
3. Boosted economic growth.
4. Created jobs.

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HOUSING
THE POOR

39
SITE AND SERVICE
PROGRAM
HOUSING
THE POOR

40
SITE AND SERVICE PROGRAM

The Site and Service Program is an innovative housing

initiative designed to address the critical issue of inadequate
housing for low-income families. By providing access to
land and essential services, this program enables
communities to build their own homes incrementally,
fostering a sense of ownership and empowerment.

41
SITE AND SERVICE PROGRAM

Key Components

The key components of a housing

scheme are the plot of land,
infrastructure (like roads, water
supply, drainage, electricity or a
sanitary network), and the house
itself. Various inputs that go into
them include finance, building
materials/technology, and labour.

Source:https://www.gdrc.org/uem/squatters/s-and-s.html 42
SITE AND SERVICE PROGRAM

Key Components
● The sites-and-services approach advocated the role of government agencies only in the
preparation of land parcels or plots with certain basic infrastructure, which was to be sold or
leased to the intended beneficiaries.
● The next step of actual house building was left to the beneficiaries themselves to use their
own resources, such as informal finance or family labour and various other types of
community participation modes to build their house.
● The beneficiaries could also build the house at their own phase, depending on the
availability of financial and other resources. This adopted the basic principle of the
development of a squatter settlement but without the "squatting" aspect.
43
SITE AND SERVICE PROGRAM

TYPOLOGIES IN SITES-AND-SERVICES SCHEMES

● Depending on the investment made, resources available, the implementing agency or
degree of organization of the beneficiaries, sites-and-services schemes were activated in
a number of differing ways.
● This variation was a result of the attempt to strike a balance between minimum
"acceptable" housing conditions and affordability of the beneficiaries. While following the
basic rule of a plot of land (sites) and essential infrastructure (services), the degree of
participation and inputs of the implementing agency on one hand, and the beneficiaries
on the other, varied greatly.
● They ranged from an empty plot of land and some services (like water, electricity and
sanitation connections) to the provision of a "core" house (consisting of a toilet and
kitchen only) on the plot of land with attached services.
44
SITE AND SERVICE PROGRAM

TYPOLOGIES IN SITES-AND-SERVICES SCHEMES

● Utility wall: A "utility" wall is built on the plot which contains the connections for water,
drainage, sewerage and electricity. The beneficiaries had to build the house around this
wall, and utilize the connections from it. Some projects provided this utility wall in the
form of a sanitary core consisting of a bathroom/toilet, and/or a kitchen.

● Latrine: Due to its critical waste disposal problem, many project provide a basic latrine
(bathroom and/or toilet) in each plot.

● Roof frame/ shell house, core house: The roof is the costliest component of a house
and requires skilled labour to build. Therefore, some projects provide the roof structure
on posts, and the beneficiaries have to build the walls according to their requirements.
Conversely, a plinth is sometimes built by the implementing agency, which forms a base
over which the beneficiaries can build their house.
45
SITE AND SERVICE PROGRAM

SHORTCOMINGS OF THE SITES-AND SERVICES APPROACH

● Location: With high land costs in urban areas, most sites-and-services schemes are
location on the fringe where such costs are not very high. This however causes two
problems: one, the large distance between the site and existing delivery networks, off-site
and on-site provision of infrastructure is high and construction can be delayed. Two, the
extra distances that the beneficiaries have to travel (and the consequent extra costs) to the
employment centres would discourage many beneficiaries to take advantage of such
schemes.
● Bureaucratic Procedures: Selection procedures, designed to ascertain that applicants
meet eligibility criteria, tend to be cumbersome, time-consuming and full of bureaucratic
pitfalls, and provide opportunities for corruption. Besides, for many low-income families, the
eligibility criteria are impossible to meet due to informal sector jobs or low/irregular incomes.
46
SITE AND SERVICE PROGRAM

● Delay in provision of Services: Due to a lack of coordination between the various

implementation agencies and a "spread" of responsibility of providing the infrastructure and
services, there is considerable delay in the final provision the services, even after the land
has been allocated to the beneficiaries.

● Standards: High standards of construction and building quality is set by the implementing
agencies making such schemes unaffordable to the target beneficiaries. Some
sites-and-services schemes, for example, prohibit income generating activities on
residential plots, including rental of rooms: they, thereby, limit the opportunities of residents
to earn an (additional) income to pay for their plot and their house.

● Cost Recovery: Most sites-and-services schemes are plagued by poor cost recovery. One
reason is the high costs that beneficiaries have to bear shortly after moving into the
scheme.
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 CORE
HOUSING HOUSING
THE POOR

48
WHAT IS CORE HOUSING?

The core house is a type of house which is

meant to be a dwelling that can provide a
minimum liveale space and has the ability to be
extended subsequently in an incremental
manner according to the occupants need as
they are able.

The core house model was intended to fulfill

affordable housing needs in an organised and
practical way with simple technology which
could reasonably save expense. Its
implemented as a part of site and services
program . 49
CHARLES ABRAMS
● The first step was to acquire a
It is introduced into the underdeveloped piece of land, not necessarily
areas by United Nations Mission by legally.
Urban planner Charles Abrams (1964)
who was working as a consultant to the ● On this land a very simple
United Nations Housing. single room dwelling would be
erected using whatever
In his book ‘Man's struggle for Shelter material could be acquired.
in an Urbanising world’ Abram
describes how people living in the shanty ● As money becomes available,
towns of Latin America or Africa create the dwelling is expanded and
housing for themselves. upgraded.

50
51
PRINCIPLES

Abrams stated that core housing:

● Should be of a size to accommodate the typical family from the outset,

● should be designed to be extended by the household (with training available if requested)
or more likely by locally settled small contractors,
● should be owned by the resident household with loans being made available in
instalments to finance both the original core and the extensions,
● should be on a plot of sufficient size to accommodate expansion according to several
alternative plans, show houses being built to demonstrate the alternatives,
● should be constructed from materials that allow expansion and which could be supplied
through local material suppliers and producers who should also be assisted to develop in
the area,
● should be designed to be comfortable given local climatic conditions, and • must have
access to water and sanitation from the time of occupation
52
PRINCIPLES

Terms used to refer to various core house types

Starter house types according to NBRI

(source: NBRI, 1987)
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INCREMENTAL
HOUSING HOUSING
THE POOR

54
INCREMENTAL HOUSING
The incremental housing concept relates to a housing system that allows residents to
build their own homes in the future.

● By incremental development, it means the step-by-step, resident-driven

improvements and transformations of houses and, by extension, that of
neighborhoods over an extended period, which is in accordance with their changing
economic and social situation.
● Incremental Housing concept follows the norm of creating a skeleton and providing
the most crucial rooms of the house like washroom, bedroom, kitchen. These rooms
are the major elements of any housing unit, the rest of the house is left to be
developed by the owner based on his/her economic or family needs. 55
INCREMENTAL HOUSING

56
INCREMENTAL HOUSING
KEY FEATURES OF INCREMENTAL HOUSING

1. Phased Development: Incremental housing allows residents to begin with simple, essential
structures, such as a one-room unit, and expand as needed. This phased approach not only
makes housing more affordable but also reduces the financial burden on families.
2. Flexibility and Customization: Homes designed with incremental housing in mind can
accommodate future modifications. This flexibility allows residents to tailor their living spaces to
meet their evolving needs and preferences, fostering a sense of personal investment in their
homes.
3. Community Participation: One of the defining characteristics of incremental housing is the
active involvement of residents in the planning and building processes. This participatory
approach ensures that developments reflect the desires and cultural contexts of the community,
strengthening social ties and fostering a sense of belonging.
4. Affordability: By allowing families to build their homes gradually, incremental housing lowers
the barriers to homeownership. Residents can manage their finances better, investing in their
homes when it is feasible, rather than being overwhelmed by a single large payment. 57
INCREMENTAL HOUSING

CASE EXAMPLES
TRANSFORMATION THROUGH
INCREMENTAL HOUSING

SOURCE: A STUDY OF INFORMAL INCREMENTALITY,

ITS IMPACTING FACTORS AND SUPPORTING SYSTEMS,
2011-13 I SPARC

58
INCREMENTAL HOUSING

TRANSFORMATION
THROUGH
INCREMENTAL
HOUSING

Case example -Goregaon

East
Santosh Nagar, H-Sector

SOURCE: A STUDY OF INFORMAL

INCREMENTALITY, ITS IMPACTING
FACTORS AND SUPPORTING SYSTEMS,
2011-13 I SPARC
59
INCREMENTAL HOUSING

60
INCREMENTAL HOUSING
ADVANTAGES OF INCREMENTAL HOUSING

The benefits of incremental housing extend beyond mere affordability. This model promotes
sustainability, community empowerment, and economic growth.

1. Sustainable Development: Incremental housing often utilizes locally sourced materials and
labor, reducing transportation costs and environmental impact. Moreover, by allowing homes
to develop organically, communities can maintain their unique identities and avoid the
homogenization often seen in large-scale developments.
2. Empowerment of Residents: Incremental housing places power in the hands of the
residents. As they actively participate in the construction and improvement of their homes,
they gain valuable skills, confidence, and agency. This empowerment can lead to greater
community cohesion and collective action on local issues.
3. Economic Resilience: As families invest in their homes incrementally, they contribute to the
local economy. This process generates jobs in construction and related industries, stimulates
local businesses, and fosters economic stability within the community.
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INCREMENTAL HOUSING
EXAMPLES

● Bangalore's Koramangala: This neighborhood

showcases incremental housing where families
started with modest structures and gradually
expanded them. Many homes here reflect a mix
of traditional and modern designs, with
extensions that accommodate changing family
needs.
● Mumbai’s Dharavi: One of Asia's largest slums,
Dharavi exemplifies incremental housing through
its dense, self-built homes. Residents have
continuously modified and expanded their spaces
to suit their growing families and businesses,
resulting in a vibrant, albeit informal, community.

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INCREMENTAL HOUSING
EXAMPLES

● Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati Riverfront:

The government initiated a program to
upgrade informal settlements along
the river. Residents are encouraged to
incrementally build their homes, with
access to basic services and
infrastructure, while preserving their
right to develop further.
● Navi Mumbai’s CIDCO Projects: The
City and Industrial Development
Corporation (CIDCO) has promoted
incremental housing by providing
basic plots with essential services,
enabling residents to construct their
63
homes at their own pace.
ASSIGNMENT

CASE STUDY OF LOW INCOME HOUSING PROJECT

IN INDIA (GROUP WORK) - Presentation

64