Page 48 - SHELTER

POLICY REVIEW

A COMMENTARY ON THE AFFORDABLE RENTAL

HOUSING COMPLEXES UNDER PMAY(U)

MS. PRAKRITI MEHTA The COVID 19 pandemic has integral part of the future urban city
brought to light the plight of the
design process.
urban poor and the migrants in the
city. Amongst other initiatives, the INTRODUCTION
Ministry of Housing and Urban India’s urban population would

The Affordable Rental Affairs launched the Affordable rise to 39% by 2036 from 31%
Housing Complexes Rental Housing Complexes in 2011, according to the final
(ARHC) scheme apart (ARHC) under the Pradhan Mantri report of the Technical Group
from impacting the urban Awas Yojna- Urban (PMAY – constituted by the National
poor in a positive manner U) in July 2020. It is an attempt Commission on Population
hosts a few opportunities at creating vibrant, sustainable (NCP) under the Ministry of
and advantages to and inclusive affordable rental Health and Family Welfare on
the government and housing avenues for urban poor population projections between
private developers. As or migrants by ‘aggregation of 2011 and 2036 in July 2020.The
all stakeholders are their demand at a given site’. The reason for the sharp rise is an
incentivised under the paper critically analyses the rental increase in migration from rural
scheme, the urban areas housing scenarios in India and to urban areas.
and the country is likely highlights the importance of the Figure 1 Aspirations of Migrants (Source:
to thrive. shift from owned house to rental Author)
housing schemes. The Affordable
Rental Housing Complexes
(ARHC) under PMAY (U) can
be seen as an opportunity with a
positive impact on the urban poor
or migrants in terms of a dignified
living closer to their workplace. At a
larger scale, the ARHC reduces the
burden on the city infrastructure,
provides business opportunities to
Keywords: Rental Housing, Urban the private developers and triggers The domestic help, carpenter,
Development, Migrant, City
a multiplier effect on the economy. painter, cobbler, gardener,
Ms. Prakriti Mehta (prakritimehta@ This paper also identifies the potter, construction labour,
gmail.com) is Assistant Professor, potential issues related to conflicts security guard, factory workers
SVKM’s NMIMS Balwant Sheth School between parties involved, land use etc. are all on whom the city is
of Architecture, Mumbai; and Urban
Designer, M/s. Design Action Group, compatibility with the master plan, dependent for running a daily
New Delhi. and recommends for it to be an life (figure-1). They make the city

46 HUDCO-HSMI Publication