Housing shortfall for EWS, LIG segments at 95%: CSE Analysis

There is a shortfall of at least 18.6 million dwelling units in urban areas and 95% of this is in economically weaker section (EWS) and low income groups (LIG) segments, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said. 

The CSE analysis said out of 14.4 lakh dwelling units planned under the JNNURM scheme, only 8.31 lakh have been completed, although current policies on housing for the poor are focused on numbers and "ignore" the quality aspect.

Read more from our special coverage on "HOUSING"

• Govt nod for building of 80,000 houses for poor in 7 states
• NCR to take 4.3 years, while MMR to take 3.5 years to clear unsold homes

According to CSE, India is not providing enough affordable, good quality housing for the poor. The maximum housing deficit is in the lowest economic strata. The analysis shows that the current policies on housing for the poor are focused on numbers and are completely ignoring quality.

"However, even numbers are not being delivered, leading to a massive shortfall in housing for the urban masses, especially the urban poor. If not crafted well and implemented properly, the policies may not deliver on the intended objectives," CSE said.

The issues were discussed at a workshop -- 'Building Sense: Towards Climate-Responsive Affordable Housing' -- organised by CSE today.

Referring to estimates of the Ministry of Housing and Poverty Alleviation (MoHPA), CSE said there is a shortfall of at least 18.6 million dwelling units in the country.

"An astounding 95% of this shortfall is in the economically weaker section (EWS) and low income groups (LIG). While the shortfall in the middle income and higher income group is only 4.38%, for the EWS it is 56 per cent and in LIG 39.4%. Unofficial estimate of the overall housing shortfall is put at 40 millions," it said.

It said Lutyens' Delhi has lowest density among administrative areas in the world and forces middle class and poor to live at the periphery.

"Analysis shows that Lutyens' Delhi is 3% of Delhi's land area and houses one per cent of its population. But all slums in Delhi also constitute 3% of Delhi's area but house 30% of Delhi's population.

"It is ironical that the parking demand for the existing cars in Delhi uses up as much as 10% of Delhi's geographical area - much more than the land that the poor occupy," it said.

CSE recommended leveraging the emerging policies to address the challenges in the sector, building community initiatives to shape homes and neighbourhoods and integrating needs of all income classes in urban planning.