A house for the average Indian is hard pursuit, says a government body. The national Real Estate Development Council (NREDC) under the housing and urban poverty alleviation ministry estimates a housing shortfall as high as 26.53 million during the current five-year plan term (2007-2012).

In a report, NREDC also stated that the lower income group is bearing and is likely to continue to bear the brunt of the shortage - in much higher degrees than the middle and high income groups.  

The study suggested affordable shelter and low-cost housing as measures to remedy the shortage. According to study, “Critical issues include redefining social/affordable housing, availability of land at the right place, right time and right cost, planning smart and compact cities for sustainable and integrated development.”

The study also says that big schemes to promote housing and shelters for low income groups remain grossly inadequate in most cities as the demand often exceeds supply by leaps in urban centres.

Homes for the low income groups (LIG) still remain a challenge that can be best remedied by subsidies for LIG/EWS (economically weak sections) housing projects, the report states.

The study also endorsed ownership rights for residents in all slums, shanties and informal housing to resettlement and low income housing schemes.

In its report, the NREDC also dwelled new options of compensating landowners by the way of transferable development right, partial stake in development project, higher floor area ratio or cash compensation.