Questions/Answers

The state of Gujarat, India is one of the most urbanized and at the forefront of economic development in India. Favored business environment and favorable economic factors has triggered growth in urbanization in the state. As per the latest Census of India, urbanization in India is currently at 31.16% while Gujarat has an urban population of 42.58%. While the growth in urbanization in Gujarat has been robust, nearly 700,000 families reside in slums in urban areas of state of Gujarat. Majority of these slum dwellers depend on the city for their livelihood. The State Government has adopted a vision of making cities slum-free, while also ensuring that the slum dwellers have access to livelihoods at an affordable cost. In order to address this challenge effectively, Government of Gujarat launched an ambitious scheme for Affordable Housing and slum redevelopment to achieve the vision of housing for all. A scheme called ‘Chief Minister’s Housing Scheme (Mukhya Mantri Gruh Yojana) has been launched in year 2013 with an objective to make cities slum free and provide houses to slum dwellers at an affordable price. This scheme provides in-situ rehabilitation of slums situated on public lands in urban areas of Gujarat by public private partnership (PPP). The primary objective of this scheme is to accord priority to redevelop and rehabilitate slum dweller families in -situ. Eligible slum dweller families are provided houses up to 30 sq.mt carpet area with basic civic amenities free of cost. The Government of Gujarat contributes Rs. 0.4 million per dwelling unit to develop such housing schemes aimed at slum locations.Private developers are provided higher FSI, transferrable development rights in lieu of the cost of contribution. Apart from provision of Physical infrastructure like underground drainage, water supply, internal roads, Social infrastructure like Schools, Health Centres are also provided.

The core objective of this initiative to provide livable surroundings and hence improve the living standard of the poor by provision of basic amenities at affordable cost. Other key objectives of this scheme are: 1. Rehabilitation of the slums situated on at risk areas to a safer and naturally sound land pocket 2. Provide structurally safe houses against the natural disasters with universal access to basic amenities having two rooms, kitchen, bath room for slum dwellers families. 3. To facilitate in-situ slum redevelopment through public-private partnership with key principle of minimum displacement and maximum in-situ rehabilitation 4. Encourage private sector participation in developing housing for Economic Weaker Sections (EWS), Lower Income Group and Medium Income Group 5. Provision of legal housing with universal access to basic service package to slum dwellers 6. Optimum utilization of urban land resources 7. Legal (Ownership) rights of the house to the beneficiaries 8. Provision of hygienic and healthy life style for urban poor. 9. Qualitative improvement in socio-economic and environmental conditions of slums and its inhabitants owing to a monumental change in the lifestyle and everyday interaction of positive surrounding.

The central pillar of this initiative is to ensure inclusive and sustainable development, and to reach out to the most poor and vulnerable sections of the society. The beneficiaries are given better living standard through access to basic civic facilities of drinking water, sewerage line & electricity connection for each household. The intention of State Government is sustainable quotient. Of the total cost of building such a household, the beneficiary has to pay only USD 1540 as a cost of procurement, all other costs are borne by State and Central Government. Designs are developed as such to include social amenities such as integrated pre-primary education, primary health center, shopping center, open play areas and green spaces to motivate dwellers and instill a sense of ownership. The beneficiaries are provided basic civic facilities of drinking water, sewerage line, and electricity connections at household level. The beneficiaries will be responsible for payment of operational and maintenance cost, property tax and any other tax levied by urban local Self-government bodies. Moreover, this scheme also empowers women by offering 100% relaxation in stamp duty if the ownership of the allotted household is registered in woman’s name.

This project has influenced ability of urban local bodies to negotiate with different acts and coordinate with them. It has also institutionalized the partnerships and modalities for bringing about transparency and accountability for slum dwellers in the programme. This programme has proved to be an opportunity for settlements on Government lands which will be an advantage as it will be profiting by cashing on the extra available floor space index. Urban local bodies along with the NGOs identify the key recommendation to ensure a smoother transformation during implementation which were considered by the Government when it framed the policy for slum rehabilitation All buildings are constructed keeping in view the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) 2007 climate zone classification as well as sun path analysis, so as to minimize effects of inter-seasonal temperature variation in the buildings constructed. In addition above all, the components of green building are also being practiced, such as_ • Rain water harvesting- by the way of underground recharge • Solar PV system for common electricity need such as lifts, water pumps etc • Use of AAC (autoclaved aerated blocks) for masonry works of the walls.

a. State has initiated the scheme of In-situ slum redevelopment in public-private partnership mode, where higher FSI, transferable development rights are to be given to private developers in lieu of the cost of contribution. Apart from provision of Physical infrastructure like underground drainage, water supply, internal roads, social infrastructure like schools, open spaces, health center are also provided. b. Assistance up to Rs 0.55 million is provided per house for Untenable Slum. c. Slum redevelopment under PPP has also received encouraging response from slum dwellers and developers. So far, more than 40,000 dwelling units have been sanctioned in Gujarat, and are at various stages of implementation through out the state.

The intention of this scheme is to provide safe, reliable, affordable and sustainable household to the poorest and vulnerable sections of the society. In the state of Gujarat, there are about 700,000 slum families. The intention of this scheme is to provide in-situ slum rehabilitation to all of these families. So far, under the existing scheme of State Government, around 2780 dwelling units have been constructed and implemented in 3 different cities of Gujarat i.e. Ahmedabad, Rajkot and Surat.

Slum dwellers in almost any city of India or Gujarat earns livelihood from the adjoining areas (through activities such as contracted labour, daily wage worker, domestic help, etc). The idea of displacing them from one location to another was not feasible, owing to perceptions of loss of livelihood. Hence, the Urban Local Bodies, local NGOs and private developers joined hands to provide in-situ slum rehabilitation. The State Government emphasized and focused on improving overall quality of life of vulnerable sections of the society by providing subsidies. PPP mode of development ensured that the private developer would also get benefit of transferable development rights and FSI advantages. Moreover, this initiative empowered women and promoted gender equality by offering relaxation in payment of stamp duty fees in case of women ownership of the dwelling unit. In addition to the above, each in-situ slum redevelopment project is equipped with rain water harvesting- by the way of underground recharge, Solar PV system for common electricity need such as lifts, water pumps and Use of AAC (autoclaved aerated blocks) for masonry works of the walls, a practice that has not been implemented in full scale in even commercial or regular residential buildings across Indian cities.

Different scenarios were created using incremental measures for optimizing thermal performance of each dwelling unit, in order to reduce electricity consumption (usage of air conditioners). In the first case, application of casement windows instead of sliding windows was done. This improved ventilation significantly, bringing down the temperature by 2 degree Celsius. As a result the number of hours in a year below 30°C also increases by 1000-1400 hours. Similarly, in the second case, the first case was augmented with external movable shading. This led to a further reduction of approximately 3 degree Celsius. This time the annual comfortable hours increased by 950-1900 hours. Case three completely discarded the usage of fully glazed windows and rather proposed a window with partial use of glass.

The process was initiated by conducting a socio economic survey of the existing at risk slums in the city: in principle 5500 slum dwellers were enlisted in the socio economic survey, complete with total station maps and final plot area delineated, following which ULBs started the design and developmental process to instill a positive outlook into the beneficiaries mindsets about the aspects of living in a well built dwelling. Once preliminary process and paperwork was concluded; a validation of the socio economic survey was undertaken by the ULBs and the design and planning was initiated with the help of concerned authorities for which the ULBS identified a land pocket suiting the needs of the beneficiaries and the planning that need be. With the necessary statutory approvals of the land validated, an expert panel consisting of aforementioned experts started the initiative to provide most advantageous plan of action and design ideology for the beneficiaries. Following this, Detailed Project Report outlining the specifics of the design along with economical contribution strategy and planning was put into motion at Government of Gujarat. The plan and design was cemented whilst keeping all the efficiency proposals and the project was put into groundwork motion.

Yes

This initiative was first initiated in the city of Ahmedabad. Subsequently, it has been replicated in two more cities, i.e. Rajkot and Surat of Gujarat state, and plans of replicating in several other cities of Gujarat is also on the anvil. Gujarat has been the first state in India to complete in-situ slum rehabilitation projects. Many Urban local bodies from across India have utilized Gujarat's scheme as a case study to implement similar schemes in other states of India.

The beneficiaries are being provided with Ground + 7 apartments with a carpet area of 30 sq.m for each unit. It is a two room kitchen housing unit, complete with bath and water closets. Owing to the rehabilitation of the slum through relocation, the livelihoods of the residents will be considerably evolved and will be protected. The women of the families will be able to enhance their living conditions through positive outcome of their daily routines. Moreover, as the documentation of the new living condition has the name of the female of the family in its charter, the women will be empowered and will cultivate a sense of pride and honor. Owing to the green initiatives implemented by ULBs, the expenses pertaining to urban living will be sustainable due to economic spending strategy leading to a better lifestyle and proper all round growth for the next generation. It will bring a welcome social transformation in their lives. Improved schooling & enhanced employment opportunities, as a consequence to the establishment of schools, the children will get access to quality education. The employable age groups now are being perceived to belong to decent socio-economic background, which will lead to higher income generating opportunities; Increasing the transparency and accountability of the family to the social strata. ULBs in Gujarat are at the forefront of implementing the untenable slum relocation model in Gujarat. It has influenced the corporation's ability to negotiate with different acts and coordinate with them. It has also institutionalized the partnerships and modalities for bringing about transparency and accountability for slum dwellers in the programme.

The initiative for energy efficient dwelling units for thermally comfortable living has not significant electro mechanical parts or machineries which require routine operation and mentainanace cost. Rather the initiatives are very simple and can be part and parcel of the daily routine of the users. Hence the can be considered as sustainable.

Yes

Yes, the initiative been formally evaluated by Design Charette of Swiss Development Corporation & Bureau of Energy Efficiency (GOI) under BEEP (Building Energy Efficiency Programme). The housing committee constituted at ULB level is responsible for notifying the slum areas, evaluating the proposals and assigning the fair value to the value of the plots under consideration. It also coordinated with all other concerned departments at ULBs and the State Government. The Housing Department at ULBs work out the modalities of the implementation of the program, on ground after detailed deliberations and developmental strategy with the counsel of Affordable Housing Mission, Urban Development Authority along with specialist fundamental design outputs from Design Charette of Swiss Development Corporation & Bureau of Energy Efficiency (GOI) under BEEP (Building Energy Efficiency Programme).

a. Universal access to water and sanitation facilities to all at doorstep level in the proposed slum redevelopment location, which help to achieve the advocated integrated initiatives. b. Social security: Allotment of housing on joint ownership of woman – these would help in achieving the indicator of gender equality and empower all women and girls as per advocated initiatives.

a. Affordability analysis for slum dwellers b. Feasibility of this scheme to be implemented under PPP mode - revenue sharing between Government and private developer c. Economic and social impact analysis d. Energy saving analysis

The housing committee constituted at ULB level is responsible for notifying the slum areas, evaluating the proposals and assigning the fair value to the value of the plots under consideration. It also coordinated with all other concerned departments at ULB level and the State Government. The Housing Department at ULBs out the modalities of the implementation of the program. This department plays a critical role in procuring all the requisite approvals and permits from all obligatory authorities.

Majority of the slum dwellers were reluctant towards the rehabilitation to another location. Many of them also practiced illegal hooch business and resisted strongly to shift to step- up housing. ULBs in Gujarat devised the strategy and made tremendous efforts to convince the dwellers of the positive benefits of the rehabilitation programme and location. This stage observed yet another impediment for the project and that was the lack of identity & resident proofs of the owners. Hence, ULBs took a pragmatic approach to accept any proof of residence & inclusion of the name in the survey list. Owing to supportive and positive approach to their issues, ULBS across the state are successful in motivating the dwellers to overcome their fears and facilitate a change in their ideology. In addition to this, the dwellings will be energy efficient, thermally comfortable and at the same time are affordable, sustainable and economical to maintain.