Innovative techniques for low-cost rural housing

The need for integrated development of rural areas including the necessary infra­structure, such as roads, water supply, electricity, primary education, health, etc. in addition to the provision of house sites was emphasised by the conference of State Ministers of Housing and Urban Development of their meeting held at Madras. The housing problems needs serious considerations. The housing situation in rural areas is still more grave because of neglection of rural housing over a period of years. Surveys made by the United Nations and the specialized agencies to acertain prev­ailing housing conditions in the world show with minor exceptions that they are so unsatisfactory that extraordinary steps must be taken within reasonable time in order to master the situation. It has been estimated that the present shortage of housing in the country is 34.7 million. At the present rate in increase in population of the country as well as the present rate of construc­tion of housing shortage will swell to 50 million dwellings by the year 2000. The yearly production of dwellings is presently estimated at 8 million. It would be possible technically to control the situation if, during the present decade, the production could be increased to an average of 12 million dwellings per year and thereafter for each decade be further accelerated so that between 1990 and 2000 the production will be about 25 million dwellings. This gigantic problem posses a serious challenge to planners and construction engineers to reduce construction costs and to use the limited resources in the most economical way. In this paper authors have made an attempt to discuss the factors influencing building cost and to put forward some appropriate techniques for reducing building cost for low cost rural housing so as to meet the evergrowing demand.