Housing poverty in urban India

Abstract

In this paper an attempt has been made to understand the nature, extent and causes of housing poverty in India. Housing stock, new household formation, homelessness, type of structure, number of rooms and households, slums and squatter settlements, housing investment, housing affordability, ownership occupancy, water connection and toilets have been taken as indicators of housing poverty. The paper is based on secondary sources. It concludes that mainly critically poor, low income groups and low middle income groups are suffering from housing poverty. The main causes of housing poverty is existing socio-economic and political systems and unrealistic and insensitive attitude of ruling elite towards the growing needs of poor in growing cities. There is lack of political will rather than the resources. The need of hour is strong political will for comprehensive understanding of phenomenon and enhancement of human capabilities with public action and democratic government support.