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THEME PAPER
success of the programme can, at best, avail grants from for public housing or site
was attributed to substantial government programmes and service schemes for the
resources invested by the or small loans from other economically weaker section
municipality; terms of sources. The contention is population or reserved for
lending favourable to the poor that unless there are measures the already existing squatter
(short term, demand based to change the regulatory settlements. All slums eligible
loans); large demand for framework, poor people will for tenure regularization
low cost financing; technical not be able to graduate from and rehabilitation were
assistance through a network the grey housing market. classified as R-EWS (Nagpur
of professionals managed by Improvement Trust, 1987).
the municipality, whose costs Attempts in this direction Such initiatives have been
were included in the loans; are being made in different strengthened in Maharashtra
and the role of the coalition countries and cities, which urban areas by the Unified
of housing NGOs in putting provide a basis for learning Development Control and
housing improvements for and wider replication and Promotion Regulations for
low-income households on regulatory reform. For Maharashtra State - 2020, in
the agenda of the municipal example, ‘The City Statute’ which regulations specific
government and nurturing of Brazil has a provision to the nature of existing
the program through its for demarcating areas as settlements apply in “Slum
initial growth phase (Ortiz Special Social Interest Zones Improvement Zone”.
and Zarate, 2006). (ZIES) in Brazilian cities. Reservations for small
Declaration of an area as ZEIS dwelling units/ plots have
Reforming the regulatory regularizes areas where the been classified as “Inclusive
framework process of occupation has Housing” in the Development
occurred regardless of urban
Examples world-wide show planning norms and allows Control Rules (Government
that institutional finance for the development of urban of Maharashtra, 2020).
incremental housing is more regulations keeping in view Enabling access to land
effective when accompanied the existing development, and enhancing land tenure
by measures that ensure such as narrow streets and
minimum norms of health small plots. ZEIS is also used security
and safety, while at the same for vacant land earmarked BLC has made significant
time keeping costs low. The for social housing, where it progress because public
requirement of a sanctioned has proved to be an effective institutions have found it
building plan from local instrument for making land easier to deal with households
government as a condition for available for the poor in with access to land for
loan sanction is expected to advantageous locations and providing housing assistance
ensure structural soundness developing it with appropriate (Kundu and Kumar, 2020). A
and legality. However, most affordable standards (Cities point of concern is that the
settlements of the poor, Alliance. 2010). BLC component requires the
including regularized slums, possession of tenured land
unauthorized colonies and The Development Plan for as a pre-requisite to availing
relocation areas do not Nagpur (1986-2011) included funding assistance, this in
conform with development a specific zone, ‘R-EWS Zone’ effect excludes the poorest
control regulations, making for the Economically Weaker in towns and cities as they
it impossible for building Section population. The area seldom have access to tenured
plans to be sanctioned. They in this zone was proposed land (Mitra, 2021). On the
22 HUDCO-HSMI Publication
