Human settlements in backward regions: Need for a responsive housing market for India
- Urban India
- 39(2), Jul-Dec, 2020: p. 116-131
The housing market assumes paramount significance in achieving orderly human settlements in the regional context of any country. A responsive and well organised housing market promotes qualitative as well as affordable housing stock keeping the housing needy in view. It mainly consists of three sub-markets which play critical roles in the supply of factors of production or inputs like serviced land, financial services and construction labourers to promoters, builders and housing consumers. Despite these pivotal roles, India has never attempted to develop full-fledged housing market to promote housing development in backward regions. The present housing market has by and large limited its functional operations to urban areas, leaving behind a huge needy population uncovered. This development gap has not only marred the form of orderly human settlements for many decades but has kept housing poverty alive. However, recent public policy attempts have given a few favourable indications that would ensure supply of essential housing inputs in these regions. Village Panchayats (VPs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) have been mandated to promote need-based housing markets in their respective regions. Also, roles of the other governments at national and sub-national levels have been clearly defined, keeping the poor and vulnerable communities’ housing needs in mind. This paper highlights the missing development discourse in India’s housing history and offers a few policy implications to strengthen the functional effectiveness of the housing market in backward regions. - Reproduced
Regional development, Housing market, Government policy, Housing infrastructures, Market, Inefficiency