The State Of Housing In India

An introductory seminar on the The State of Housing in India was held with an intent to create a collective dialogue regarding the proposed exhibition on the same subject, and to facilitate a conversation within the community of professionals and citizens at large. The seminar attempted to look at housing and its relationship with urbanisation, and by extension, its relationship to livelihood and amenities, which are otherwise unfortunately overlooked.

India is undergoing a dramatic urban transformation. “Urban India will be like a giant slum by 2030. It took nearly 40 years for India’s urban population to rise by 230 million, but it will take only half the time to add the next 250 million.” (Sankhe, Vittal & Mohan, April 2010) In 2011, based on the census surveys, 30% of India’s population resided in urban areas and this is expected to rise to 40% by 2030. This process of urbanisation is accelerating because of many factors such as migration from rural areas for better economic opportunities and quality of life, escaping caste and other social discriminations, displacement due to natural disasters and developmental projects and so forth. Today, there is an urban housing shortage of approximately 20 million units, out of which 57% were for the economically weaker sections and 40% for the low-income groups – more broadly. (Ministry of Urban Development, 2013) In spite of this looming crisis, there is a lack of a national discussion on housing within the context of an unprecedented level of urbanisation that the country is facing today, and will, in the near future. Housing is intrinsically linked to urbanisation as it comprises the largest component of any urban form. This questions the role of architects/planners today in shaping the housing landscape for a more sustainable and inclusive urban development in India going forward.

In this context, ‘The State of Housing in India’ exhibition is proposed to be held in 2018, and in preparation towards this exhibition, various conferences and lectures have been planned. The proceedings of the inaugural seminar, held between 3-4 February 2017, have been compiled together in a booklet, the extracts from which are published below.