New Delhi: Stating that the country would
face shortages of 28 million affordable houses by 2010, Rajya
Sabha MP NK Singh today said that India needs a constitutional
amendment to make the right to shelter a fundamental right.
Right to shelter should be embedded in a separate
legislation as the problem is complex in view of the fact that
housing is essentially a state subject, Singh said at the
India Economic Summit here.
"The country should look for constitutional amendment for
right to shelter as the scale of the problem is very large and
is going to intensify.
"We have a shortage of 24 million affordable houses which
will touch 28 million mark by 2010," he said addressing a
session on "The Affordable Housing Imperative."
"Unless and until constitutional amendment is made you
cannot force states to do it," he said adding, affordable low
cost housing is part of this government’s inclusive growth
programme.
Meanwhile, terming initiatives like Jawaharlal Nehru
Urban Renewable Mission insufficient, SAIL chairman Sushil
Kumar Roongta said the government should increase tax on
vacant land as it is being used largely for speculative
purposes and should ensure its availability to the poor.
He also said that the industry should come out with
cost-effective products for affordable housing.
Bureau Report
First Published: Wednesday, November 11, 2009, 00:43