1 CHAPTER 1 DESIGN OF THE STUDY 1.1 Introduction Since time immemorial, India has been, still continues to be, and will remain in the foreseeable future, a land of village communities. As a matter of fact, the village was the basic unit of development as far back as the Vedic age. Any strategy of socio-economic development in India that neglects rural people and rural areas cannot be successful. Hence after independence especially after planning, efforts have been undertaken to reform the rural condition. The focus of Indian planning has been the improvement of conditions in rural areas and thereby brings about a change in the quality of life of its people. Towards this end, considerable amount of resources has been spent on creating infrastructure and employment opportunities for the unemployed. But the people in rural areas continue to suffer from lack of basic needs and purchasing power. The government in its efforts, has always played the role of provider, people remained just the receiver of the dole given by the government from time to time. But development cannot be achieved without the involvement of people. The problem, especially housing problem, is to be tackled by the people themselves. The role should be changed from that of a passive receiver of benefit to that of stakeholder in the development
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CHAPTER 1 DESIGN OF THE STUDY 1.1 Introductionshodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/19610/8/08_chapter1.pdf · Projects (CHP). CHP like Indira Awas Yojana, EMS Housing Project
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CHAPTER 1
DESIGN OF THE STUDY
1.1 Introduction
Since time immemorial, India has been, still continues to be,
and will remain in the foreseeable future, a land of village
communities. As a matter of fact, the village was the basic unit of
development as far back as the Vedic age. Any strategy of
socio-economic development in India that neglects rural people and
rural areas cannot be successful. Hence after independence
especially after planning, efforts have been undertaken to reform the
rural condition.
The focus of Indian planning has been the improvement of
conditions in rural areas and thereby brings about a change in the
quality of life of its people. Towards this end, considerable amount
of resources has been spent on creating infrastructure and
employment opportunities for the unemployed. But the people in
rural areas continue to suffer from lack of basic needs and
purchasing power. The government in its efforts, has always played
the role of provider, people remained just the receiver of the dole
given by the government from time to time. But development cannot
be achieved without the involvement of people.
The problem, especially housing problem, is to be tackled by
the people themselves. The role should be changed from that of a
passive receiver of benefit to that of stakeholder in the development
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process. They should have a say in the formulation and
implementation of the different projects, which reflect their needs
and aspirations. This can be done through the empowerment of the
people, generally, and particularly, rural people.
The 73rd Constitutional Amendment which became effective
from April 1993 has provided governance to be carried out by the
direct and active participation of the people and also provided local
level planning. The Gram Sabah, the base of three tiers Panchayat
Raj Institution, can be the best to create a mass base for local level
planning.
Kerala Panchayat Raj Act has evolved the Gram sabhas with
substantial powers and functions. As far as planning for rural areas
are concerned, Kerala has initiated People’s planning process. This
planning process starts at the grass roots with the maximum
involvement of masses. Mass participation is not limited to elected
representatives or voluntary agencies, but includes ordinary people
assembling in Gram Sabhas with non-official experts and volunteers
participating in preparing reports, formulating projects and drafting
plans.
People’s Plan has an important role in solving the housing
problem in India. Housing is not merely an amenity, but an essential
necessity for the healthy life of its community. In Kerala, based on
census figures, out of 18 lakh demand for houses, 25 percent
(4.5lakh) are required in urban areas and the remaining 75 percent
(13.5lakh) in rural areas (Poulose, 1986). This problem is more
serious since nearly 60 percent of the households in the state come
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under the category of economically weaker sections, who cannot
normally afford to make this capital expenditure.
The dimension and problems of housing need to be viewed in
the overall environment of human settlements. Housing has been
primarily a self help activity. The housing policies and programmes,
while accepting that housing is essentially a private activity, has to
recognize that the state intervention is necessary to meet the housing
requirements of the vulnerable section and to create an enabling
environment in accomplishing the goals of ‘shelter for all ‘in a self
sustainable basis (Eleventh plan document,2007). Public housing
thrust is directed towards social housing to reach out housing
solution to priority groups. An equally important activity is to
provide a policy frame work and a legislative, fiscal and financial
system that would put into effect the enabling role of government in
stimulating, supporting and promoting other actors to play direct
roles in the housing delivery system.
One important solution to housing problem is the effective
implementation of Community Housing projects. The Community
House is the mortar that holds together the bricks of the community
–the only organization in the area that reaches out to the full
spectrum of people (Affordable Housing, 2009). Community house
is a nonprofit organization that delivers both quality recreation
programs and affordable social services that are deeply rooted in the
community. It makes a difference in the lives of thousands of
families and individuals that need local opportunities for athletics,
arts and culture, counseling, learning, building friendships and
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community connection. Community House is a place where the
community can gather together and each person can find ways to
grow.
Community home is defined as a home provided by a local
authority for children who cannot remain with parents or relatives,
or be placed with foster parents (Community home –The free
dictionary).The project to deliver such houses is referred as
Community Housing Project. The aim of the project is to acquire
good quality housing in the private rented sector for people with low
support needs. Built on the principle of simplicity, community,
respect, empowerment and sustainability, the goal of the project is to
create an authentic community that offers a continuum of support for
the vulnerable people in our neighborhood. Fundamental to this
project is a vision of community life in which people share physical
space, material resources and life experiences together (Salsbury
Community Society).
In the Indian context, Community Housing Project is a
project or a scheme for ensuring affordable housing and shelter
services to all groups especially to the economically weaker sections
of the society and the marginalized. Affordable housing is the new
mantra of the Indian Government.
President Prathiba Patil mentioned it in her speech on Bharat
Nirman, a project that plans to double the construction of low-cost
houses to12million units (India Knowledge 2009). The Centre for
Good Governance (2003) evaluated the housing programmes of
Andhra Pradesh and revealed that the state of Andhra Pradesh is a
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pioneer in India in implementing innovative housing programme for
the poor on a large scale. Though the Andhra Pradesh State Housing
Corporation Limited (APSHCL) was established in 1979 to
formulate, promote and execute housing schemes for the weaker
sections, the corporation has constructed about 3.62 million houses
by 31-03-2000, out of which 2.4 million are in rural areas. It ranked
first in the country in the implementation of housing for the poor in
rural areas from the year 1991-92 onwards. Households with an
annual income of Rs 13,000 or less are eligible for houses under
various schemes from 1996-97. 50percent of the houses are
earmarked for SC and ST, 33percent for backward castes, 7 percent
for minorities and the remaining 10 percent for the Economically
Weaker Sections. The funding of the housing programme includes
subsidy from the Government and loan from the financial institutions,
for the repayment of which the Government stands guarantee
irrespective of the ultimate recovery from beneficiaries. Loans are
mobilized from HUDCO, Life Insurance Corporation, General
Insurance Corporation and Commercial banks.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Compared to the rest of the country, housing situation in
Kerala is better in quantitative and qualitative terms. But the housing
problem of very poor households remains unsolved. The demand for
Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and Low Income Groups
(LIG) housings is proportionately much greater than that of Middle
Income Group (MIG) and High Income Group. The housing demand
of the EWS and LIG can be met through Community Housing
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Projects (CHP). CHP like Indira Awas Yojana, EMS Housing Project
and M.N Laksham Veedu Punarnirmana ( MNLP) scheme are being
implemented in Thrissur District with the objective of enabling the
houseless Below Poverty Line (BPL) families to construct a new
house or reconstruct the dilapidated houses. Whether these projects
are really helping the marginalized sections of the community and
their efficacy have to be researched thoroughly. The present study is
an attempt towards this end.
1.3 Significance of the Study
Housing has been considered as a basic need of all human
beings. The necessity for shelter is a basic instinct of man, apart
from food and clothing. Going home after a hard day’s work is the
greatest pleasure of life. This is the place where you can put your
feet up or let your hair down, a space which is your own.
Housing has been universally recognized as a fundamental
human right of all persons. The global strategy for shelter for the
year 2000 (GSS 2000) adopted by the United Nations in November
1988 calls upon member countries to take suitable steps to ensure
better shelter for all, by the turn of the century as the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on
Economic, social and Cultural Rights recognizes the right to shelter
as a fundamental right of man (Misra and Rao 2000) India is a
signatory to these documents. Article II of the covenant
acknowledges “the right of every one to an adequate standard of
living for himself and his family including adequate food, clothing
and shelter’’. The Indian constitution has created a socialistic
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republic and in several places repeats the right to social justice
including the right to life in its widest amplitude and the right to an
adequate means to livelihood plus opportunities and facilities for
children to develop in a healthy manner and in conditions of
freedom and dignity and interdiction of moral and material
abandonment. The foremost human right is indubitably the right to
life itself (Art.3).The Universal Declaration of Rights further
recognizes the dignity and worth of personhood. (Art.23). The right
to a reasonable standard of living includes ‘food, clothing, housing
and medical care’ (Art.25).
Housing has got immense social importance. The transformation
of the tradition–ridden, illiterate, conservative society in to a modern
scientific one is possible only by providing housing. A house is not
only a shelter to live in; it is much more than that. It is one of the
basic human entitlements which connect its occupant with the
society. The social quality of life is reflected to a large extent to the
state of its housing. House is essential for the healthy life of the
community. Housing conditions have direct impact not only on
social status but also on health conditions and values of the
population concerned.
Poor housing conditions are often connected with poor
sanitation, lack of facilities, which expose the inhabitants to several
health hazards, crimes and personal difficulties like unhappiness,
despair, misery, frustration and anger. According to Satyanarayanan
(1987), housing an element of material culture, is one such device to
overcome threats against physical elements or security to lives and
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serves as an important purpose by making the provision of shelter. It
provides a place for the operation of many human activities
irrespective of place and time. It helps people to interact within the
family and also with the outside world.
From the micro point of view, housing is important as it provides
significant economic security and status to its owners. To a
shelterless person, a house brings about a profound change in his
existence, endowing him with an identity and integrating him with
his immediate milieu. In India, both the centre and state
Governments recognize the provision of shelter to people as a
productive activity essential for human resource development.
The National Housing Policy declares the importance of the
provision of shelter in the following words:” It improves the quality
of life of the poor; creates conditions for the attainment of better
health, hygiene and education; stimulates economic activity;
tools like anova, percentage and photographs are also used to
evaluate the community housing projects.
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1.7 Limitations
The study suffered from some limitations, which narrowed
down the scope of a very detailed analysis on certain occasions.
• Since the study makes use of both primary and secondary
data, it poses a variety of data problems. Most of the
beneficiaries did not keep records regarding their physical and
financial contribution towards the construction of their houses.
Hence difficulty was experienced in getting required data for
analysis.
• Difficulty is also felt due to reporting errors
• IAY Scheme was initiated 16 years back but the other two
schemes (EMS and MNLP Scheme) under study were started
only in 2008. So there is some limitation with regard to period
wise comparison.
1.8 Scheme of the Study
The text of the thesis is discussed in nine chapters, which are
outlined as follows:
The thesis opens with an introduction in which the problem to
be investigated is briefly stated. It also covers significance,
relevance of study, objectives, limitations and scheme of the study.
Methodologies used for the study are also given in this chapter.
Review of literature of the studies is included in the second
chapter to identify the research gap.
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The third chapter discusses the housing problem in global ;
developed countries and developing countries especially in India.
The reasons for homelessness in European countries, in U.S.A, U.K
and India are enquired in to.
Chapter four gives a brief account of the housing problem in
Kerala and the housing schemes under the five year plans. It brings
out the outlay and expenditure on housing during the five year plans
in Kerala.
The nature of Community Housing Projects in Kerala under
People’s plan is presented in the chapter five. The meaning of
People’s plan, its features, stages and housing sector and the
people’s plan are studied elaborately. It also brings out the different
types of Community Housing Schemes in Kerala.
Chapter six presents the nature, type and extent of Community
Housing Schemes in Thrissur District. This attempt is based on the
data collected from the block Panchayats and Gram Panchayats of
selected areas.
The socio–economic background of the beneficiaries are
examined with the help of the anova method, standard deviation and
averages which is covered in the seventh chapter.
The third objective of the study is to examine the efficacy of
the Community Housing Scheme in the Thrissur District, which is
covered in the eighth chapter.
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The conclusions emerged from the study, findings and a few
suggestions are listed in the final chapter.
References
Centre for Good Governance (2003). Working paper 4 Housing for the Poor. http://www.cgg.gov.in. Community home- The free dictionary. http://www.the freedictionary.com/ community+. com/community+ home in Britain Divya H (2009)“Housing Finance Sector in India –Growth pattern, challenges and Future Strategies’’ CUSAT Eleventh Five Year Plan Document (2009)http://planning commission.nic.in/plans/plan rel/.. Encyclopaedia Britannica (1996) I.N.C.vol.11 Francis Cherunilam and Odeyar D.Heggade (1987) “Housing in India. Himalaya publishing House. Bombay Girish K.Misra and P.S.N Rao (2000) “ Housing Legislation in India –Policies and Performance” Kaniska Publishers . New Deli Hare Krishna (1999) “Rural Housing and Indira Awas Yojana” kurukshetra,Volume 47. pp30 India Knowldege (2009) Affordable Housing-An Idea Whose Time Has Come http://knowldge whartton.upenn-edu/india/ article Keerthi mallela (2009) The Housing Construction Sector in India- Growth, Development and Outlook. Voices.yahoo.com/the –housing-construction -sector-india-growthdevelopment 2591878. html Leiand S. Burns and Leo. Grebier (1977)The Housing of Nations-analysis and policy in a comparative Framework. Macmillian press.New Delhi Manoj P.K (2009). “Emerging Technologies and Financing Models for Affordable Housing in India”Directorate of public relations and publicators CUSAT.Cochin. Padmini E.V.K (1990) “ Housing problem-Various schemes of Kerala “Southern Economist, Vol 29,pp25.
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Salsbury Community Society. co.Here CommunityHousingProject. Overview www.salsburycommunity society.ca/cohere/community housing. Satyanarayanan C.P. (1987) Housing rural poor and their living conditions. Gian publishing House Delhi pp15 Sharma K.S (1996). “Housing for the masses”. yojana. vol.40 p.8. SME News (2012) Contribution of housing sector to G.D.P. news. india mart.com Thomas poulose K (1986) Housing in Kerala-problems and programmes. Data base of Kerala Economy pp 191