A Geospatial Analysis of Temporary Housing Inequality among Socially Marginalized and Privileged Groups in India

Abstract

AbstractA major obstruction of Indian society to establish equality, balanced growth and development is regional and social group‐wise inequality in availing even basic human needs as well as housing conditions. The present study focuses on mapping the nationwide spatial disparity in the distribution and inequality of temporary housing among socially marginalized and privileged groups, along with three administrative hierarchies: National–State–District. Varieties of measures (Lorenz curve, Gini coefficient, correlation, and quadrant analysis) have been employed for this study. The results indicate inequality in the spatial distribution of serviceable and non‐serviceable temporary housing in India, along with a geospatial disparity in the ownership of temporary housing among different social groups. A number of districts in Orissa, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu Kashmir, and Tamil Nadu have shown a higher proportion of temporary housing along with more ownership among socially marginalized groups. Besides this, districts from Bihar, Orissa, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Tripura have higher proportion of non‐serviceable temporary housing than the national average, along with more ownership among marginalized groups. The categorization of the states and districts based on social group‐wise inequality in the ownership and the concentration of temporary housing is significant for improving of the policies and initiatives taken by the Government to arrange safe, affordable, adequate, and sustainable housing for all.