2. FIRST GLANCE

2.1 INTRODUCTION

Low-income households in developing countries, such as India, face a crucial issue of inadequate affordable housing in urban areas. In Surat and Ahmedabad, urbanization has increased rapidly, giving rise to informal settlements and slums that are frequently characterized by substandard living conditions and health hazards. The difficulties that the EWS population has in finding suitable housing are complicated and multifaceted.

For the EWS population, the issue of insufficient housing has far-reaching effects. Poor living conditions can contribute to a variety of health issues, such as infectious and respiratory ailments. Waterborne infections can also result from inadequate sanitation infrastructure, endangering the health of the entire community. Furthermore, a lack of affordable housing options may lead to overpopulation, which raises further health and safety issues.

Furthermore, the EWS population may have serious social and economic consequences from a lack of access to safe and cheap housing. Because people may need to move frequently, housing instability might result in job loss. Because the EWS population may experience stigma and prejudice as a result of their living conditions, inadequate housing can also result in social exclusion.

2.1.1 Informal Settlements: Retaining Values for Sustainable Urban Development

Global report on human settlements 2003 is mainly concerned with the shelter conditions of the majority of the urban poor. How the poor struggle to survive within the urban areas, mainly through the informal shelters and informal income strategies. Why do we need to retain the values from the past? How one can do that without making a replica and by understanding the logic behind those kinds of settlements. Is it necessary to actually provide a formal mass-housing? If yes, then how and what are the parameters that could be retained from their informal settlements?

2.1.2 Incremental Housing for Affordable and Inclusive SRA Housing Projects

To address this housing problem, the study intends to investigate the potential of incremental housing that acts as a catalyst to provide low-income households with affordable, low-risk, and low investment housing options. The SRA (Slum Rehabilitation Authority) housing project, a government initiative aimed at rehabilitating slum inhabitants and offering them better homes, will be the subject of the study, which will then focus on the inclusion of an incremental approach in SRA housing. The study will also look at how the incremental approach can be included into formal SRA housing projects to make them more efficient and cost-effective. The project will examine the possible advantages of formal SRA housing through the lens of incrementality, including increased community involvement, lower building costs, upward mobility, and the capacity to adjust to evolving housing requirements over time.

2.2.1 DRP AIM

The research paper aims to study the parameters of formal SRA (slum redevelopment authority) housing and informal settlements, and compare the two, with a focus on understanding the challenges and issues in formal SRA housing from an incremental perspective.

2.2.2 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

• What are the challenges faced by the people of EWS housing associated with the live-work?

• Why is there a need for SRA housing and what are the challenges faced by the residents of the SRA housing in the current state?

• Why should an incremental housing approach be adopted?

• What are the forces guiding the adoption of an incremental approach in SRA housing?

• What is the scope of providing incrementality in the SRA housing?

• What are the benefits and drawbacks of incremental approach in SRA housing?

2.2.3 The Document:

• gives brief introduction to the topic of formal and informal settlements

• introduces various general Issues and challenges faced by EWS with different case studies

• introduces SRA initiative and their cases in Surat

• reviews the situation on site and presents with an observation and conclusion of each study according to the author's perspective ; conclusive inferences

• highlights the misconceptions of incrementality

• introduces the concept of incremental and its implications

• focuses on the benefits of incrementality

• concludes the paper with some comparative analysis, notes and expresses future works

2.3 OBJECTIVES

The core objective of the research is to identify the nature and complexities of informal housing through a combination of literature review/interviews; analyze and compare the parameters of formal Slum Redevelopment Authority (SRA) housing and informal settlements. The aforementioned can be achieved by the following:

• Reflecting on the insights of the two housing types, formal SRA and informal.

• To examine the existing policies, programs, and actions designed to offer affordable housing to the Economically Weaker Section (EWS)

(i) through the lens of live-work

(ii) to determine how well they are working to tackle the shortage of housing.

• Understanding the notion of incrementality in the context of EWS housing and its significance in addressing the housing scarcity for the economically poorer segments of the population.

• To recognize the guiding forces that promote or prevent the progress of incremental housing approach for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and to comprehend the diverse interferences encountered by the parties involved in the EWS housing development process through Global and local case studies.

• Understanding the progressive nature of EWS housing under the umbrella of affordable housing.

3. METHODOLOGY AND ANALYSIS

3.1 DETAILED METHODOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK OF ANALYSIS

HOUSING FOR REHABILITATED

EWS (Economically Weaker Sections)

Informal Settlements

Mithi khadi

Maan Darwaja

Nehrunagar

Present Scenario (Informal Settlements)

Case Study

Surat

Formal Settlements

SRA (Slum Redevelopment Authority)

Bhestan

Kosad

Tenament Type - C

Inferring Essential Paremeters

Case Study

Global Local

Comparative Analysis (Conclusive Inferences)

Introduction to Incrementality

Urge and Benefits

Scope of Incrementality in SRA

Findings and Inferences

Ahmedabad Sola

Vasna

Present Scenario (SRA)

Issues

3.2 DATA COLLECTION DESCRIPTION METHOD

• Data Sources: Primary data sources will include on-site observations, interviews with stakeholders involved in the housing projects (e.g., residents, architects, NGOs), and documentation of the housing process. Secondary data sources may include project reports, academic literature, and policy documents.

• Data Collection Techniques: On-site observations will be conducted to understand the physical layout, spatial organization, and infrastructure of the incremental housing projects. Semi-structured interviews will be conducted with residents, architects, and other relevant stakeholders to gather their perspectives on the design, implementation process, and socio-economic impact.

• Sampling Strategy: Purposive sampling will be employed to select case studies that represent different regions, socio-economic contexts, and successful implementation of incremental housing. Key stakeholders and residents from each case study will be selected for interviews based on their involvement and experiences with the housing projects of SRA formal housing.

• Data Management: Collected data will be organized using a systematic approach, including transcription and coding of interview data, categorization of observations, and documentation of relevant project materials. Data management software may be utilized for efficient organization and analysis.

• Ethical Considerations: Ethical considerations will be addressed by obtaining informed consent from participants before conducting interviews. Anonymity and confidentiality of participants will be ensured, and their identities will be protected in any publications or reports.

• Data Validation and Reliability: Triangulation of data sources, such as comparing observations with interview responses or cross-referencing with project documentation, will be used to ensure data validity. Inter-rater reliability may be established through the involvement of multiple researchers in the data analysis process.