The World Population Day is observed on July 11 to raise awareness on global population issues. The date of observance was inspired by that of Five Billion Day when the world’s population reached five billion on July 11, 1987. The day is celebrated since 1989, the year of its announcement.
The current world population is 7.5 billion as of July 2017. The population explosion is one of the major global concerns and this issue of uncontrolled population growth is giving birth to other major problems. By the year 2025, the world population will increase by at least 50 per cent and these people will need housing and other infrastructural facilities to work and live.
Housing is a fundamental human need and the relationship between population and housing is two-sided. Population change leads to a changing demand for housing. Population growth, particularly a growth in the number of households, leads to a growth in housing demand. With rapid urbanisation, large-scale migration is taking place from rural to urban areas in search of livelihood opportunities, adding to the internal population growth of the cities. Unfortunately, one-fifth of the world's population lives in slums. In the absence of inclusive urban planning, this creates shortage of housing, water, sanitation, health, education, social security and livelihood.
The annual percentage of population growth in India was 1.21 per cent in 2011. Thirty-one per cent of India’s population (377 million people) lives in urban areas while 69 per cent (833 million) is rural. The national urban housing shortage in 2012 was 18.78 million houses; 96 per cent was for economically weaker sections (EWS) and low-income groups (lIG). This is projected to increase to 34 million units by 2022.
As per the 2011 Census, Odisha, with 41 million people, is the eleventh-most populous Indian State. Over the last decade, Odisha has witnessed a growth rate of 14.1per cent population rise while the urban population increased at a rate of 27.2 per cent. There are shortages of 4,10,000 dwelling units for EWS/lIG housing in Odisha. Besides, lack of affordable housing leads to slums in many parts of the State.
The land everywhere is under pressure due to the population growth and economic development.
In 2007, a housing shortfall of about 1, 50,000 units were estimated in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack region alone by their respective development plans. A recent State wide estimate by the Technical Group on Urban Housing Shortage (2012-17) states that there is a shortfall of about 4, 10,000 housing units in Odisha. It is further estimated that approximately 3,60,000 affordable dwelling units would have to be added in the Bhubaneswar - Cuttack region, exclusively, to accommodate the growth during the next ten years in these areas.
Most of the upcoming developments in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack region are HIG housing with some MIG housing. The developments within the proximity of the core cities have not shown any progress towards creation of housing stock for low-income groups. In Odisha percentage of slum population is 23.1. In Bhubaneswar over 30 per cent population live in slums. Increase in land value, cost of construction and lack of affordability for the people are the major reasons for the shortage of housing in Bhubaneswar.
In the last four years, several cases of violations of housing and land rights have been reported across the country. Despite the existence of a rural housing scheme operational since 1985, the national rural housing shortage was 40 million households; 90 per cent for ‘below poverty line’ households. Over 13 per cent (23.7 million) of rural households live in one room with kutcha (mud/temporary) walls and roof. In 2014, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) highlighted irregularities in IAY, including: ineligible persons receiving benefits; failure to allot units in women’s names; delay in completion of houses; poor quality of construction; and, diversion and misappropriation of funds.
The Government of Odisha has taken up “Housing for All” as a top priority mission at the State level. The Government has envisaged establishment of a Mission and earmarking of adequate financial, technical and managerial resources to this effort. Towards creating a comprehensive, holistic policy framework to address all aspects of housing for the urban poor including slum rehabilitation and redevelopment as well as new housing and rental housing, the State Government has introduced the "Policy on Housing for All in Urban Areas, Odisha, 2015" on August 14, 2015. The policy is drafted in lieu of the Central Government scheme of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).
Besides, the Housing for All schemes would ensure every urban poor to own a house.
Odisha has been included in the Housing-for-All scheme under the PMAY. Odisha’s 42cities have been included in the list of over 305 cities and towns across nine States for implementing the scheme.
A basic need in cities is shelter. The first step in creating sustainable urban settlements is to recognize that poor people have a right to live in proper shelters. Therefore, urban human settlements require a more inclusive approach to planning and land management to sustain all the people who live in the settlement. The Indian Government has started recognizing informal settlements, regularizing unauthorized constructions and changing planning standards to meet the needs of the poor better. However, the slum problems cannot be solved by focusing on the cities alone.
A comprehensive solution is necessary for development of rural areas with improved infrastructures, education and employment opportunities.
Cities without slums should be the objective of all urban planning for social and economic development. There is a need to reserve lands in every urban development project. This would enable continuous supply of serviced land for EWS and lIG housing and solve the housing problems in Odisha.
(Dr Praharaj teaches at Department of Architecture, College of Engineering and Technology, Bhubaneswar)