Since independence, we have lived through twelve five year plans. With an ever-increasing population that promises to surpass China’s in a matter of few years, it is now time that the government re-assesses its housing policy, starting right from the 1st and going right up to the 12th:
1st Five Year Plan
Housing, which was covered in Chapter 35 of the First Five Year Plan envisioned a national housing programme and included both subsidised industrial housing scheme as well as a housing scheme for low income groups, including plantation labourers as well as labourers working in coal and mica mines.
2nd Five Year Plan
Chapter 26 of the Second Five Year Plan dealt with Housing. It not only included schemes related to housing but had a considerably expanded scope that also introduced schemes related to slum clearance and slum improvement programmes, including land acquisition and development.
3rd Five Year Plan
Chapter 33 of the Third Five Year Plan spoke about housing vis-a-vis rural and urban planning. Thus, the plan laid greater emphasis on regional and urban development with most States introducing and implementing town planning legislations with varying degree of success. It also saw the setting up of the Central Housing Board.
4th Five Year Plan
Chapter 19 of the Fourth Five Year Plan stressed on the need for controlling congestion by controlling both population and the dispersal of population. The plan also spoke about community and local development, including rural water supply.
5th Five Year Plan
The Fifth Five Year Plan intensified the provision of research into low-cost housing, including the manufacture of low cost building material, which aimed at making housing cheaper and affordable for the masses (LIG Housing). In addition, provision was also made to make housing sites available to 4 million landless labourers and improving the conditions of slum-dwellers.
6th Five Year Plan
The Sixth Five Year Plan moved beyond just providing sites for landless labourers, by making housing extension services available to assist in proper planning and layout. The plan also promoted Self-Help Housing schemes and research in building technology.
7th Five Year Plan
The Seventh Five Year Plan was instrumental in setting up of the National Housing Bank, which was to regulate the entire housing finance sector in the country. In addition, stimulus and support was provided to Low-income Groups for meeting their housing needs.
8th Five Year Plan
In the Eight Five Year Plan, the government made provision for providing direct assistance to low-income groups and also eased up on legal constructions to promote rental housing.
9th Five Year Plan
The Ninth Five Year Plan reiterated the need to check growing population, which was the primary cause for housing shortage. It also laid emphasis on minimum housing requirement in terms of per capita living space.
10th Five Year Plan
The Tenth Five Year Plan provided for the structural strengthening of vulnerable houses for EWS (Economically Weaker Sections) and LIG (Low-income group) category. Furthermore, the NCMP (National Common Minimum Programme) suggested providing free housing to landless SC/ST families and switch to a credit-cum-subsidy scheme for other BPL families.
11th Five Year Plan
The Eleventh Five Year Plan, too stressed the need for improving housing facilities for people through urban renewal, in situ slum improvement in cities as well as providing for the establishment of new townships, with focus on ending shelterlessness for the poorest of the poor.
12th Five Year Plan
The Twelfth Five Year Plan increased the unit assistance for housing under Indira Awaas Yojana for both plain and hilly/difficult areas, with an increase each year to absorb the rising cost of material and labour and to provide for the development of good quality housing.
A brief look at the twelve five year plans and the fact that every single plan focuses on housing is enough to suggest that housing-for-all still remains an elusive dream. With growing population and urban migration, housing is a concern that we all need to think about really carefully.
While the government’s effort is commendable, especially the Housing For All by 2022 scheme; it is nevertheless important to assert that the government must take a more proactive step towards arresting uncontrolled population growth. After all, while housing construction only manages an arithmetic progression but with human beings growing in geometric progression, housing shortage is here to stay!
