Housing for All: Govt ready to work with all stakeholders

The Union government is working towards ‘Housing for All by 2022’. Towards this initiative, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (HUPA) is working on a range of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to various stakeholders. Secretary for HUPA, Anita Agnihotri, discussed with E Jayashree Kurup, Head – Content & Research, Magicbricks, the challenges and the plan to work with the states in solving the housing shortage.

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What are the categories of housing where government’s intervention is required?

The Technical Group constituted by the Ministry has estimated the urban housing shortage at 18.78 million as of 2012, of which more than 96 per cent pertains to the EWS/LIG segments.  Hence, the interventions of the government need to focus on these segments, in particular. The Government of India is working in order to address needs of ‘Housing for All’ through a range of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to the individuals and private developers.  We need to work with the states on the proposed reforms and incentives.

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How will the affordable housing initiative actually take off? Are there timelines and how does the government coordinate with the states to fulfil the Delhi Declaration?

Our ministry is working on a concept for ‘Housing for All by 2022’ as a mandate. Immediately after the formation of the new government, a consultation with all the stakeholders from the industry associations and housing industry was held. It was followed by a National Conclave of State Ministers and Workshop of Secretaries held on July 2-3, 2014.

We are going to have in-depth consultations with other stakeholders, including the state governments, banks and housing finance companies, where the National Housing Bank and HUDCO will be a part of our planning and programme implementation.  Our minister has written a letter to all the state chief ministers and has forwarded them the ‘National Declaration’ adopted on July 3, 2014. We are in constant touch with the state governments over the same.

How can the private sector function as a partner in this task?

The resources of the Government of India coupled with states, parastatals like Housing Boards and Development Authorities and ULB shares will not be sufficient to meet the mammoth funding requirements to address housing and allied infrastructure requirements.

For an effective solution, collaboration of the government with all stakeholders including the private sector, civil society as well as banking and financial institutions will be essential.

The private sector has a major role to play in this endeavour. However, the private sector as of now is not addressing the needs of the EWS/LIG segments and the supply side crunch continues. The private sector must look at the provision of affordable housing as a business opportunity with plausibly low margins but high volumes.

We have been meeting the representatives of the industry associations, such as CREDAI, NAREDCO, ASSOCHAM, CII, FICCI and the like. One of their key demands have been according ‘infrastructure status’ to the affordable housing sector, so that they can avail certain tax benefits under section 80IA of the Income Tax Act.

Are land records and data a problem? How far has the computerisation of land records worked?

The issue is of direct concern to the state governments as land and colonisation are state subjects.  A reform under the JnNURM (Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Reforms Mission) for introduction of computerised process of registration of land and property was undertaken.

The success of implementation has been mixed.  As a nodal ministry for planning and implementation of the programme ‘Housing for All’, this is not an immediate issue for us but digitisation of land records is very critical for urban planning and promotion of affordable housing.

Source:http://content.magicbricks.com/industry-news/housing-for-all-govt-ready-to-work-with-all-stakeholders/74917.html