Book Description

This book titled “Housing for All: Design, Construction andManagement” by A.K. Jain is a comprehensive assessment of the housing situationin India which not only traces the path taken by (governments so far but alsooutlines a roadmap for the future. The book begins with an overview of thehousing scenario in India. It discusses various housing programmes and draws adistinction between affordable housing and adequate housing. The book alsodraws particular attention to housing issues of special groups such as theelderly, disabled, homeless, migrant and transit workers, students and singlewomen. There is also a discussion on the issue of social and physicalinfrastructure. The book notes that housing units alone do not constitutehousing but infrastructure plays a critical role in the occupancy of housing.The question of reducing the cost of housing has been vexatious for long. Jaindeals with this issue in detail and suggests various low-cost technologies andhouse building systems for making housing more affordable. Another issue isthat of rental housing. Jain suggests that giving a boost to rental housingthrough a slew of measures can go a long way in making housing more accessibleand bring vacant housing into the market.