Page 29 - SHELTER

THEME PAPER

COVID 19: NEED FOR INCLUSIVE AND

HEALTHY HOUSING

MR. A.K. JAIN Covid-19 pandemic has caused massive India has resulted in loss of 200
disruption to the economy and the
million jobs of daily wagers.
livelihoods. This has underlined the There has been severe shortage
need for healthy and inclusive housing of public transport, shelter, food
which serves the poor, migrants and for the migrant labour, who
other vulnerable sections of the society. walked and cycled hundreds of
The idea of healthy It should also facilitate work from home. kilometers.
and inclusive housing The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana seeks According to 2011 census, 2613
seeks to address the to build 11.2 million housing units and cities have 13.9 million slum
to make the cities slum free by 15th
twin issues of Covid-19 August 2022. So far, the construction households with a population
pandemic and inclusive of about 10 million dwelling units has of 65.4 million. There are 487
housing for the poor been sanctioned, which makes it as one million workers in India of
migrants and other of the largest housing programmes ever which around 30% are migrants.
vulnerable sections undertaken. In view of Covid 19 and to A large proportion of these are
of the society. It is cater to the needs of migrant labour, the poor, destitute, and homeless.
closely linked with Mission has recently incorporated the They not necessarily need a
the emerging trend of schemes of rental, inclusive and healthy permanent home nor may afford
work from home and housing. it, but rental accommodation
creation of jobs and INTRODUCTION can meet their immediate needs.
An Expert Group set up by the
micro-businesses, health Ministry of Urban Affairs and
facilities, and optimising Covid-19 pandemic has caused Employment estimated that
the use of land. massive disruption to the about 33.2 million houses are
economy and the livelihoods. It
has affected mostly those who susceptible to earthquakes,
work in the informal sector, such floods and heavy rains. As per
as domestic servants, labour, National Sample Survey Office
vendors, construction workers (NSSO) 76th round (2018) 80%
and others living in crowded, rural houses and 62% urban
cramped and congested slums. houses in India have one room
Most of them live in slums or less. 75% of rural households
Key Words: Healthy Housing, which lack space, sun, air, clean and 40% of urban households
Inclusive, Urban Land, Sustainable water and sanitation. The Covid do not have access to tap
Construction pandemic has exposed them to water, 45% of rural and 9% of
the health, hygiene and survival urban households are without
Mr. A.K. Jain (ak.jain6@gmail.com) vulnerabilities. It is estimated washrooms/latrines. This means
is Ex-Commissioner(Planning), Delhi that norms of social distancing,
Development Authority, Delhi. that the Covid 19 pandemic in 27 27

October 2020 Volume 21 No. 2-SHELTER 27