Towards Socio-Technical Facilitation of Rural Housing in Gujarat

People in Centre, along with Hunnarshala and BuildAur, collaborated with the Commissionerate of Rural Development, Government of Gujarat, on the socio-technical facilitation of IAY housing in Gujarat. Committed to enabling people’s access to ‘good’ housing, the team undertook detailed documentation to understand socio-cultural dimensions, needs and aspirations, and construction systems and practices. The study mapped various typologies and articulated the housing typology zonation of Gujarat, drawing on discussions with women, community leaders and artisans to understand the needs, preferences and choices essential for the state’s social housing programme. Through this consultative and participative process, People in Centre works with communities and the Government of Gujarat to enhance material and technology options for social housing. A Compendium of Design Options has been developed to enable rural poor households to undertake their own housing construction.