Access to property rights and empowerment of urban poor women in Lucknow

Land tenure and property rights are essential for people living in informal settlements and public housing in contemporary urban areas. These parameters influence their decisions related to the right to sell, mortgage, develop and sublet. Another critical dimension directly linked to them is women's access and the right to ownership of land and property. Women face such discrimination that compromises their practical and strategic gender needs. This study was conducted to address the consequences for urban poor women living in public housing in Lucknow. The research observes how property rights affect women’s gender needs. A total of 120 questionnaire surveys were taken up in the four housing schemes to estimate the right to ownership of property and control over it. This study indicates significant improvement in women’s gender needs when women’s property rights are recognized in housing programs. The findings could assist future shelter programs and argue the need for considering urban poor women’s access to land and property rights in planning and policy making.