Urbanization, Inequality in Housing, Living Environment Presents Health and Well-being Risks – Calls For Ensuring Quality in Social Housing Policy and Programs

Purpose: India’s 377 million urban population is expected to rise to 535 million (38%) by 2026 . India will add 404 million urban dwellers between 2014 and 2050 . With urban commercial growth, pursued under Government’s... [ view full abstract ]

Purpose: India’s 377 million urban population is expected to rise to 535 million (38%) by 2026 . India will add 404 million urban dwellers between 2014 and 2050 . With urban commercial growth, pursued under Government’s “smart-cities” mission, urban India’s social-equity progress will depend on progress of poor urban populations. This study highlights inequalities in housing conditions in urban India, and need for quality housing for the urban poor as a step towards inclusive urbanization.

Methods: National Family Health Survey-3 (2005-06) data was analyzed to assess housing situation of poorest urban quartile vis-à-vis richest urban quartile for India. Poorest quartile of urban population was categorized based on NFHS-3 wealth-index.

Findings: Comparing poorest quartile of urban India in 2005-06 with richest urban quartile, 18.3% had piped-water supply at home against 76.5% among richest quartile; 37% had sanitary toilet, compared to 95.8% among richest quartile. Lack of toilet, water causes women, girls to eat less, drink less water to minimize urge to address nature’s calls, and fetch water from distant locations. Among poorest quartile, 45.6% households had >5 persons/sleeping-room, against 7.8% among richest urban quartile; 32.5% households had separate cooking-space, against 96.7% among richest urban quartile. Tuberculosis prevalence among people living in houses with >5 persons/sleeping-room is twice as high as those living in houses with <4 persons/sleeping-room, and is 2.2 times higher among people without separate cooking-space as compared to those with separate coking-space. Chronic child (0-59 mths) under-nutrition (height for age <-2SD), is two times higher among households without separate cooking-space.

Conclusion: Urban vulnerable constitute the fastest growing segment of urban India. Housing, water/sanitation, need to reach all urban vulnerable to achieve equitable prosperity. Community engagement in planning and implementation of housing programs is crucial to address indignities faced by urban vulnerable.