Affordable Habitat Project

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The Affordable Habitats project was initiated in 2011 in partnership with ACC ltd. Initial efforts were directed towards understanding housing scenarios in India. Subsequently, we have been trying to formulate an approach focusing on the role of design and technology. This presentation shares some of our ideas and is meant to serve as an invitation to collaborate with us to further this initiative.

ICoRD'13 presentation

Conflicts in the idea of 'assisted self-help' in housing for the Indian rural poor'. The paper reports some of the findings of the research work done by us as a part of the Affordable Habitat project, presented at ICoRD'13, IIT Madras in January 2013.

Foundations 14: January 2013

The latest issue of "Foundations" magazine featuring the activities of the Holcim Foundation over the past year. The issue also includes a short preview of the 4th Holcim Forum to be held in April 2013 at IIT Bombay.

Project Showcase

Rajiv Awas Yojana to get a Facelift

Indian states are expressing reluctance to comply with the mandatory provisions for availing central funds under the scheme. This is due to the scheme mandatory provisions such as according property rights to slum dwellers and earmarking 25% of the municipal budget for spending in colonies and slums where the urban poor live. This reluctance has now forced the Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation ministry, which is implementing RAY, to reconsider the policy provisions so as to make it more acceptable to the states.

Mumbai Rag Pickers - Warriors for Creating a Sustainable Environment

Mumbai's rag pickers are the cities warriors who are striving hard to create a sustainable environment. These women under the aegis of Parisar Bhagini Vikas Sangh are helping to train rag pickers in the city on waste segregation, recycling, environment friendly disposal and making money through selling dry waste.This has reduced the load on the municipality and the landfills of Mumbai.

Rural areas of India have left behind the urban areas in demand for solar power

Solar electricity generating system - the new addition to the dowry list of rural regions of Bihar and eastern UP - is putting such high demand to the emerging market that manufacturers are finding it very difficult to match it. This is a recent phenomenon, around two years old.

Other remote areas like the Sundarbans in West Bengal are looking towards solar too as reaching grid electricity to these areas is economically infeasible.