The Availability of Shelter and Housing Conditions in Delhi

Abstract

Shelter is one of the basic human necessities of life. After independence, India faced severe housing shortage due to mass migration of people across the border. Many took refuge in major urban places like Delhi. The growth and rapid expansion of the city resulted in unplanned and congested construction of houses. More recently constant migration of rural population to cities in search of jobs is causing unbearable strain on urban housing and basic services. There is a severe housing shortage in the urban areas with demand supply gap increasing every day. The National Building Organization (NBO) had estimated the 1991 urban housing shortage at 8.23 million, and had expected the absolute shortage to decline progressively to 7.57 million in 1997 and 6.64 million in 2001. The problem not only lies in housing shortage but also in supplying adequate housing facilities. Since everyone cannot purchase houses nor can they afford high rent, people are forced to live in unfit living conditions, which often create squatters and slums. As the government struggles to manage the city immigration and population growth, Delhi suffers from severe housing problems. However, the distribution of housing facilities varies over the city with better living conditions among the economically better districts, while the older settlement suffers from congestion and limitations in accessibility.