Urban Housing Affordability in Indian Context

Abstract

Abstract “Affordability” has been perceived to be the key problem in the housing sector, particularly for lower income groups. Defining affordable housing in India is a difficult task given that for every square kilometer of the country the dynamics of the market are different. Developing affordable housing in Indian cities faces significant challenges due to several economic, regulatory and urban issues. There are new forms of poverty in urban areas, where a TV set/Direct-to-Home Connection and mobile co-exist with malnutrition of children and chronic ill-health of women. These facts are to be articulated which the present policies and programmes are still unlikely to meet the needs of the urban poor in India. As “Housing for all” programme has been initiated under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) Implementation phase (2015–2022), this paper offers a critical review of affordable housing programme in the light of the learning’s from past attempts at providing housing to the poor, particularly the urban slum-dwelling population. In doing so, the paper examines the ideologies and percepts that have informed previous interventions for providing affordable housing and highlights how this has changed over a decade. This paper tries to understand about affordability and the components that constitute “Affordable housing.” The paper also tries to identify the partners best involved in its design and modes of delivery that work. The paper attempt to explore the factors might be addressed in conjunction with affordability to yield envisaged outcomes. The paper concludes with, what is the role that affordable housing plays in our increasingly market-driven economy today. Keywords: affordability, housing, lower income groups, urban