There was a shortage of around 24.71 million houses in the country, Government said “The total Housing shortage in the country is 24.71 million,” Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister Kumari Selja said here while replying to a query in Lok Sabha.
She added that the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) were short of 21.78 million houses followed by 2.89 million people of the lower income groups.
Replying to another query, Selja said a high-level task force has in its report mentioned that any delay in addressing the affordable housing problem would affect country’s economic growth and poverty removal plans.
“The task force has strongly recommended the need for ‘Affordable Housing’ and mentioned that delay in addressing the affordable housing problem would seriously affect India’s economic growth and poverty reduction strategies,” she said.
The task force on affordable housing was headed by HDFC Bank Chairman Deepak Parekh.
The Minister said that the task force has mentioned housing being central to economic growth with multiplier effects on employment and poverty alleviation.
Selja said that the task force has made several recommendations for improving the housing situation in the country.