National Urban Housing and Habitat Policy

The National Urban Housing and Habitat Policy (2007) seeks to promote various types of public private partnerships for realising the goal of “Affordable Housing For All” with special emphasis on the urban poor. The salient features of the policy are as follows:

1. Role of housing and provision of basic services to the urban poor has been integrated into the objectives of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
2. Special emphasis has been laid on Scheduled Castes/Tribes/Backward Classes/Minorities, Empowerment of Women within the ambit of the urban poor.
3. The policy focuses on a symbiotic development of rural and urban areas in line with the objectives of the 74th Constitution Amendment Act.
4. Emphasis has been laid on urban planning, increased supply of land, use of spatial incentives like additional Floor Area Ratio (FAR), Transferable Development Rights, etc., increased flow of funds, healthy environment, effective solid waste management and use of renewal sources of energy.
5. Encouraging Integrated townships and Special Economic Zones. 10-15% of land in every new public/private housing projects or 20-25% FAR whichever is greater to be reserved for EWS/LIG Housing through appropriate spatial incentives.
6. Private sector to be permitted land assembly within the purview of Master Plans. Action plans for urban slum dwellers and special package for cooperative housing, labour housing and employees housing is to be prepared.
7. Approach will be in situ slum rehabilitation. Relocation will be considered only in specific cases.
8. Micro finance institutions to be promoted at state level to expedite flow of finances to urban poor.
9. Model municipal laws to be prepared by the Central Government.
10. Development of mass rapid transit system at sub-regional level envisaged.
11. Green cover for cities to be encouraged for balanced ecological development.
12. All states to be encouraged to develop a “Habitat Infrastructure Action Plan” for all citieswith a population of over one lakh.