There has been a 28% increase in dilapidated housing from 10.3 million in 2001 to 13.2 million in 2011, according to Census 2011 data.

A house is classified dilapidated if wall materials are of grass, thatch, bamboo, plastic or polythene, according to a census classification.

Serviceable houses (made from metal, asbestos sheets, burnt bricks, stone or concrete ) are considered to be good while temporary, serviceable houses with wall materials of mud, unburnt bricks or wood are classified as livable.

In 2011, 41.5% were in livable condition while 53.1% were in good condition.

In 2001, 5.5% houses were dilapidated, 44.2% houses were in livable condition while 50.2% were in good condition, according to Census 2001 data.

Almost 82% dilapidated houses, according to Census 2011 data, are in rural areas with 10.9 million houses. The number of dilapidated houses has gone up from 8.4 million in 2001 to 10.9 million in 2011, an increase of 29%.

Urban areas have seen an increase of 20% in dilapidated houses over the same time period.

Condition Of Houses, 2001 & 2011

Source: Census 2011

(Salve is an analyst with IndiaSpend.)

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Prachi Salve

    Prachi has two masters degrees: In economics from Mumbai University and in development studies from the University of Sussex, UK. She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from St. Xaviers College, Mumbai. She has been a research assistant at the Institute of Development Studies (UK) and the Young Foundation (UK). She has also worked for Greenpeace India in the fundraising division.