Urbanization, Land, and Housing in India: Options Amid the State and the Market Failures

Housing or shelter security is the key to rapid as well as inclusive urbanization, which different countries have addressed in their own way in the course of modern history. India too has, after a hiatus of half a century, introduced public housing programme for the first time in 2006, which has seen many modifications. This chapter attempts to answer the questions as to why the state and market has failed to meet the housing needs of the urban poor, and thus how do the urban poor access housing/shelter and what explains different levels of housing achievements by different states in India? The chapter draws on available secondary data to answer these questions and suggests what needs to be done going forward.