Minimum Standards for Rural Housing

It has been stated earlier that the specifications for rural housing should be commensurate with the investment the rural people could afford. An attempt has been made by NBO to suggest minimum standards for the lowest-income families, both in urban and rural areas, in keeping with their economic capabilities, social needs and level of technological development. 

Housing in the rural areas is not a problem of shelter alone. It has to be viewed in the perspective of a variety of basic needs, both physical and social, of the people to whom shelter is to be provided. The four main areas in which the work of laying down progressive standards are as under : 

1. Dwellings :  governing land use aspects such as residential density and requirement of open spaces; built-up space needs; structural and constructional requirements etc. 
2. Essential services :  includes potable water supply, sanitary latrine, drainage etc. 
3. Community Facilities : such as educational buildings, health buildings, community spaces etc. 
4. Public Utilities :  providing for transport and communication facilities, power supply, disposal of wastes etc. 

Standards for Rural Housing 

Simple guidelines for rural areas recommended by the National Buildings Organisation (NB 0) are as under : 

(A) Density 

The density should not exceed 150 houses per hectare (24 houses per acre). 

(B) Area of Plots 

The minimum plot area proposed for the landless labourers is 6.1 m x 13.71 m (20' x 45'). This will allow an open space of 2.44 m (8') in the front and 5.83 m 17.38') at the back. At at future date, if the house is to be extended by one more room, a part of the rear open space can be utilised for this purpose. 

(C) Coverage 

Not more than 50 percent of the plot area. 

(D) Set-back 

A front set-back of 2.44 m (87, with a set-back of 2.3 m (7.5')  on at least one side. to give a 4.5 m (15') open space between two houses. 

(E)  Roads 

4.5 to 6.1 m wide roads and 7.6 m to 12.2 m wide main village road. Service and back lanes should be avoided. 

(F)  Open Spaces 

1.21 hectares of open space for a village with 200 houses; the space should be increased suitably depending upon the size of the village. 

(G) Essential Services 

For ensuring a good quality of life, minimum standards conforming to local conditions should be stipulated as under : 

1. Water Supply : A covered masonry well, fulfilling sanitation requirements may be provided to serve a cluster of 2040 houses, 
2. Sanitary Latrines : Built-in latrines in individual houses need to be provided with own sanitary method of disposal of excreta adopted to prevent environmental pollution. The latrine may be of the dug-well type with water-seal. Bore-hole type latrines are not recommended, because of their short life, and 
3. Drainage : Surface drainage in villages should be provided and kept in running condition, through proper maintenance for disposal of rain water and waste water emerging from kitchens, bath rooms, etc. 

(H) Community Facilities 

In addition to the construction of houses and provision of essential services, it should be ensured that adequate community facilities are provided to serve a cluster of nearby villages, as under : 

1. Educational Buildings :  Generally, a rural school in India is intended to cater to a population of 200 houses and is located at a distance of not more 2 km from nearby villages, 
2. Health Buildings :  Primary health centres in India shall cater to a population of 50,000, and one sub-centre for every 5000 population is to be located within a 10 km distance. District rural hospitals of 30 beds are to be provided by upgrading one in every 4 primary health centres with specialised services in surgery, medicine, ophthalmology, gynecology and anesthesia, and 
3. Community Space :  Community buildings may be grouped on one side of the open space so that the space would have a multipurpose use. Undue economy while providing community spaces will be counter productive. 

(I) Public Utilities 

Transport and communication, power supply and disposal of wastes are the utilities, which will fulfill the social requirements of rural communities. These 

utilities shall serve the following purposes : 

1. Transport and Communication :  All weather roads and transport vehicles are essential for fast moving goods and passenger traffic, as also radio, television and telephones, 
2. Power Supply : Street lights and at least one electronic bulb to every house in the rural areas have been provided in some of the states, and 
3. Disposal  of Wastes :  The provision of sanitary latrines and disposal of excreta should be given priority. Besides this, sanitary method of disposal of animal waste and garbage should be given due attention. Compost pits, rock-pits and bio-gas plants should be built in large numbers. Smokeless Chullahs must to be provided in every house. 

The building bye-laws should regulate these developments with the fullest participation and cooperation of the local people for whom these are intended. These minimum standards should in the beginning be considered as targets to be achieved for the betterment of the rural community. Proper guidance and technical advice to the people and the community should be provided on the basis of surveys and studies of the given local situation.