PM assesses preparations of 'Housing For All' project

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called for a holistic approach towards meeting the target of "Housing for All", a priority project of his government.

Chairing a meeting to assess the work done so far in rural and urban areas, Modi stressed on the need for official agencies to adopt a flexible approach, taking into account local conditions such as building material, habits and lifestyles.

"A tribal may prefer a house made from traditional local materials rather than bricks and mortar, and therefore should be facilitated accordingly," the prime minister said.

The meeting was attended by Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu, Rural Development Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh and senior officers from the ministries of HUPA (housing and urban poverty alleviation) and rural development, NITI Aayog and the PMO.

Modi was quoted as saying in a statement that in rural areas, the goal should be achieved "village-by-village", so that the progress was tangible and can be monitored effectively.

"All common facilities and required connectivity should also be conceived and delivered along with housing - so that we move towards the concept of 'samasya-mukt gram' (problem-free village)," Modi said.

For urban areas, Modi suggested that urban solid waste can be used to make bricks, which would be useful as building material.

He said all newly-constructed houses should take into account the required norms in disaster-prone areas.