Housing and Improvement of Environment For Dwelling Units

Linked with the general problems of human settlements are the peculiar requirements of each individual country, may of each settlement. The U. N. "Habitat" conference and various Seminars including the International Seminar on Low Cost Housing held recently at Madras had brought the problems of housing and environment into sharp focus. For developing countries like India housing and environmental improvement can become the greatest challenge in the next few decades. West Bengal alone would require about 0.5 million units a year in accordance with the recommendation of U. N. for construction of at least 10 houses per thousand per annum in the next 20 years. In India physical shortage of housing units is estimated to be 4 millions. About 19 million units are far below standards of habitation.