Page 51 - Shelter - April 2023

POLICY REVIEW

HOUSING AND SKILLING – THE

INTERSECTION OF INNOVATIVE HOUSING

POLICY

ARUN BHANDARI This paper discusses the Rapid urbanization has led
interrelationship between to a significant increase in
affordable housing and social the demand for affordable
development programmes. The housing, particularly in
focus of the paper is on skill developing countries. The
development, especially in the urban population is expected
context of the Govt of India to double by 2050 and the
“Skill development plays programmes such as the National majority of this growth will
a crucial role in promoting Urban Livelihood mission, and occur in cities in developing
affordable housing and the National Skill Development countries. However, the
reducing poverty. Skill Mission. supply of affordable housing
development programs INTRODUCTION: has not kept pace with the
provide individuals with Affordable housing is a growing demand, leading
to huge housing deficit.
the necessary skills to secure fundamental aspect of In addition to the housing
jobs and earn higher incomes, sustainable development, deficit, the quality of
which in turn can help and it plays a significant housing for urban poor is
them access better housing role in addressing poverty, often inadequate, with poor
options. According to a study reducing inequality, jobs ventilation, lighting, and
by the International Labour and income, and promoting sanitation facilities. This leads
Organization (ILO), skills social inclusion. According to to a host of health problems,
development can increase the United Nations Human such as respiratory diseases,
the earnings of low-skilled Settlements Programme diarrhoea, and malaria.
workers by 25-50 percent.” (UN-Habitat), affordable According to a Report by the
housing refers to housing World Health Organization
that is adequate in terms of (WHO), approximately 3.8
size, location, affordability, million people die each year
Key words: Affordable Housing, and access to basic services, from indoor air pollution, with
PMAY, NULM, Skill Development, such as water, sanitation, the majority of these deaths
NSDM and energy. The UN-Habitat occurring in developing
estimates that approximately
Mr. Arun Bhandari (info@ countries.
ecubesolution.in) is an urban 1.2 billion people worldwide
professional working as an independent lack access to adequate To address the affordable
housing and sustainability consultant housing, and this number is housing deficit and improve
for UNDP India and other development expected to grow with rapid the quality of housing for
institutions. urbanization. urban poor, governments

April, 2023, Volume 24. No.1 - SHELTER 49