The construction cost in India is increasing at around 50 per cent over the average inflation levels. It have registered increase of up to 15 per cent every year, primarily due to cost of basic building materials such as steel, cement, bricks, timber and other inputs as well as cost of labour. As a result, the cost of construction using conventional building materials and construction is becoming beyond the affordable limits particularly for low-income groups of population as well as a large cross section of the middle -income groups. Therefore, there is a need to adopt cost-effective construction methods either by up-gradation of traditional technologies using local resources or applying modern construction materials and techniques with efficient inputs leading to economic solutions. This has become the most relevant aspect in the context of the large volume of housing to be constructed in both rural and urban areas and the consideration of limitations in the availability of resources such as building materials and finance. This paper makes an overview of the housing status in India and adoption of appropriate and cost effective technologies in the country.

The housing is one of the prime necessities of human life, next only to food and clothing. The provision of suitable and adequate shelter to live under is of vital importance to one’s life. There is acute shortage of housing in India and this problem is aggravating as time is passing due to rapid growth in population. National housing scenario reflects estimated shortage of 24.7 million houses for 67.4 million households at the end of tenth five year plan (31st March, 2007). Out of the total shortage estimated 99% pertains to economically weaker sections (EWS) & lower income grade (LIG) sectors. However, during eleventh five year plan (1st April 2007 to 31st March 2012) total housing requirement will be to the tune of 26.53 million units for 75.01 million households. Non-affordability of housing by economically weaker sections of society and low income families in urban areas is directly linked with the magnitude of urban poverty. Poverty in India has declined from 320.3 million in 1993-94 to 301.7 million in 2004-05.