Elements of national housing policy

The policy of govt and public sector institutions is to support and develop housing programmes on the basis of availability of resources and on their perception of housing demand and affordability rather than on the basis of the requirements and affordability of prospective beneficiaries.

The National Housing policy of the government of India has highly laid emphasis on the need for public sector agencies to increasingly play the role of a facilitator of the housing process and create the enabling environment in which the requisite inputs would flow into the housing sector more easily than in the past.

1. ELEMENTS OF NATIONAL HOUSING POLICY PRESENTED BY, BIJJAL SAWANTH V PUNEETH K A KVN VIRINCHI

2. EVOLUTION OF NATIONAL HOUSING AND HABITAT POLICY OVERVIEW: The policy of govt and public sector institutions is to support and develop housing programmes on the basis of availability of resources and on their perception of housing demand and affordability rather than on the basis of the requirements and affordability of prospective beneficiaries. The National Housing policy of the government of India has highly laid emphasis on the need for public sector agencies to increasingly play the role of a facilitator of the housing process and create the enabling environment in which the requisite inputs would flow into the housing sector more easily than in the past.

3. The pressure of urban population and lack of housing and basic services were very much evident in the early 1950s. In a country with a vast population, the problem of providing shelter to all has been an issue of great concern to the civil society and the Government. Concrete governmental initiatives began in the early 1950s as a part of the First Five Year Plan (1951-56) with a focus on institution-building and housing for weaker sections of society. During the early years of housing development in India, initiatives were taken mostly by the Government. During the Seventh Plan (1985-90) GOI made a marked departure from the focus given to the government-led housing development, stressing on the need to place major responsibility of housing construction to the private sector. A three-fold role was assigned to the public sector, namely, mobilisation for resources for housing, provision for subsidised housing for the poor and acquisition and development of land.

4. The long term goal of the NHP- 1988: To eradicate homelessness, Improve the housing conditions of the inadequately housed Provide a minimum level of basic services and amenities to all. The role of Government was conceived As a provider for the poorest and vulnerable sections As a facilitator for other income groups and private sector by the removal of constraints and the increased supply of land and services.

5. SALIENT FEATURES OF THE NHHP-2007

6. Focus of the Policy is on affordable urban housing with special emphasis on the urban poor. Role of Housing and provision of basic services to the urban poor integrated into the objectives of the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). States advised to develop 10 years perspective plan for housing of EWS/LIG. Approach to be in-situ slum rehabilitation. Relocation will be considered only in specific cases. Within the overarching goal of "Affordable Housing for All," emphasis is laid on urban planning, increase supply of land, use of spatial incentives like additional  Floor Area Ratio (FAR), Transferable Development Rights, etc., increased flow of funds, healthy environment,  effective solid waste management and use of renewal sources of energy. Encouraging Integrated townships and Special Economic Zones. 10-15% of land in every new public/private housing projects or  20-25% FAR whichever is greater to be reserved for EWS/LIG Housing through appropriate spatial incentives. Private Sector to be permitted land assembly within the purview of Master Plans.  Action Plans for urban slum dwellers and special package for cooperative housing,  labour  housing and employees housing is to be prepared.

7. Elements of National Housing Policy : Housing norms Rural Housing Slums & squatter settlements and Housing for Urban Poor Supply and management of land Infrastructure Conservation of Housing Stock and Rental housing Housing finance Building material and technology Special programmes for disadvantaged groups Role of Government, private sector and the community Fiscal policy Legal and regulatory framework Human resource development Action Plan

8. ROLE OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

9. CREATE A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT: Act as a facilitator and enabler with actionable steps taken by the State Governments, Urban Local Bodies, Parastatal agencies, Private-cooperative sector and Non Government Organizations Promote regional development in the country by Decentralizing functions related to the development of the Housing sector and promoting a ecologically sound environment Promote action plans related to creation of adequate infrastructure facilities related to water, drainage, sanitation, sewerage, power supply and transport connectivity. INTRODUCE MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM: Develop a nationwide management information system related to housing and allied activities to ensure well informed decision making. PROMOTE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT: Promote research and development in alternate building materials and technology as well as energy conservation practices in the housing sector. Take appropriate steps for standardization and quality marking of building materials.

10. F ORM LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK: Promote systematic planning at city, metropolitan area, district and regional level. Encourage adoption of critical urban reforms relating to municipal laws, building bye-laws, simplification of legal and procedural frameworks, property title verification systems and allied areas. D EVISE HOUSING FINANCE: Devising macro-economic policies to enable accelerated resources to housing and infrastructure development Develop suitable fiscal concessions to promote housing and infrastructure especially for the EWS and LIG groups. Encourage FDI in urban housing and infrastructure sectors. Develop convergence between urban sector initiatives and financial sector reforms. SUPPLY AND MANAGEMENT OF LAND: Develop a national land policy for optimal utilization of available resources including enhanced supply of serviced land for sustainable development.

11. ROLE OF THE STATE GOVERNMENTS

12. C REATE A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT : Prepare a State urban housing and habitat policy (SUHHP) Act as a facilitator and enabler in collaboration with Urban Local Bodies, Parastatal agencies, Private-cooperative sector and Non Government Organizations with regard to integrated slum development projects Ensure suitable flow of financial resources to potential EWS/LIG beneficiaries. PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS : Promote well designed Public-Private Partnerships for undertaking housing and infrastructure projects. Promote in-situ slum upgradation with partnership between the Central Government, State Government, Urban Local Bodies, Banks/MFIs and potential beneficiaries. S KILL UPGRADATION : Facilitate training and skill upgradation of construction workers. MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM : Develop appropriate Management Information System for different level of Governance. RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT (R&D): Promote R&D activities in the field of building materials and Technologies and promote their use in housing and infrastructure projects.

13. OPTIMUM UTILIZATION OF LAND: Promote optimal utilization of land by innovative special incentives like relaxation of FAR for ensuring that 20-25% of the FAR are reserved for EWS/LIG units or issuance of Transferable Development Rights for clearance of transport corridors and availability of FAR in outer zones. Consider for upward review the presently authorized Floor Area Ratio (FAR) in line with international practice of making more efficient use of scarce urban land through construction of high rise buildings in consonance with densities specified in statutory Master Plans. INTEGRATED TOWNSHIPS, URBAN EXTENSIONS & SEZS: Develop Greenfield towns & integrated urban housing extensions of existing towns with complementary infrastructure or Special Economic Zones (SEZs)with both FDI and national investments in housing and infrastructure. Ensure that such fully integrated housing projects are well connected by MRTS corridors.

14. Objectives of the National Housing policy: The basic objectives of the housing policy are: To assist all people, and in particular the houseless, the inadequately housed and the vulnerable sections and to secure for themselves affordable shelter through access to developed land, building materials, finance and technology. To expand the provision of infrastructure facilities in rural and urban areas in order to improve the environment of human settlements, increase the access of poorer households to basic services, and to increase the supply of developed land for housing; To undertake, within the overall context of policies for poverty alleviation and employment, steps for improving the housing situation of the poorest sections and vulnerable groups by direct initiative and financial support of the State. To help mobilize the resources and facilitate the expansion of investment in housing. To promote a more equal distribution o f land and houses in urban and rural housing.

15. ROLE OF ULB’S DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES AND HOUSING BOARDS

16. ROLE OF ULBs ULBs should help to carry out survey of house needy families as per time bound Programme Amenities like electricity, roads, water, drainage, sewerage, etc., should net be made available to unauthorized slum dwellers. And encroachers. GPS monitoring should be done to check unauthorized encroachments URBAN PLANNING Ensure that Development Plans/Master Plans as well as Zonal Plans and Local Area Plans are made and updated regularly so that adequate provisions made for the homeless as well as slum dwellers. Prepare Master Plan and Metropolitan Plans in consonance with the concerned District Plan and the State Regional Plan. Identify city specific housing shortages and prepare city level Urban Housing& Habitat Action Plans for time bound implementation. Wherever necessary and feasible, ULBs as well as other parastatal would provide viability gap funding especially for EWS/LIG housing and supporting infrastructure so as to ensure better affordability by the poor and financial viability of slum

17. Special Programme for Disadvantaged Sections Devise innovative housing programmes for meeting the housing shortage with special focus on vulnerable groups. Environment and Ecology Devising adequate safeguards for promoting a healthy environment with special emphasis on ‘green lungs’ of the city in terms of parks, botanical gardens and social forestry as well as green belts around cities/towns. Security & Safety Ensure Safety & Security in residential and institutional areas which may include construction of boundary walls around housing colonies as well as installation of security stems. T HE NUHHP-2007 RECOMMENDS SPECIAL AREAS OF ACTION WITH RESPECT TO Land Finance Legal and Regulatory Reforms Technology support and its transfer Infrastructure Sustainability Concerns Employment issues relating to the Housing Sector Slum improvement and upgradation

18. Conclusion: The policy seeks to achieve the above objectives using a variety of strategies. Making available developed land at reasonable rates for housing, providing security of tenure to households both in rural and urban areas and developing a viable and accessible institutional system for the provision of housing finance are some of these strategies. The policy laid special emphasis on rural housing and recognised the complexities and intricacies of the situation. Accordingly, the policy put forth the following as the action plans. (1) Provision of house sites to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, freed bonded labourers and landless labour, including artisans (2) Provision of financial assistance for house construction to them on suitable loan-cum-subsidy bases. References: Government of India (1988), National Housing Policy, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, New Delhi Government of India, First Five Year Plan (1951-56). Planning commission. New Delhi, p.596