Shelter is not just a basic human need but is also the right of every human being. In a state like Maharashtra, not everyone can afford this need and exercise this right. On one end is the growing urbanization and rise of luxurious and semi-luxurious living, and on the other end is the increasing stretch of temporary housing arrangements like shacks. Of the many functions, one function of the state government is to provide housing for those who need it but cannot afford it. The Government of Maharashtra made one such attempt at providing housing through the Maharashtra State Housing Policy.

The first ever draft of Maharashtra State Housing Policy was published in November 2006. Through the policy, the government focussed on issues like providing affordable housing for the Economically Weaker Sections, Low Income Group (LIG); and Middle Income Group (MIG). It wanted to extend its role to being Facilitator and Enabler, rather than just being the Provider.

According to the 2006 press release, the Housing Policy...

"... set an ambitious objective of moving from an acute shortage of accommodation towards a surplus situation. It accepted that this will be possible only if competition is allowed and encouraged. At the same time, concerns of the citizens were to be the cornerstone of the entire policy."

The framework of the policy was open to suggestions from the public- plentiful suggestions from various organizations and individuals were received. The process of policy making was subjected to various discussions, workshops, and studies. Finally, the following objectives were decided upon:

- To facilitate shelters for the poorest of the poor on ownership or rental basis, affordable housing in rural and urban areas for LIG, EWS

- To promote sustainable development of urban and rural centres

- To promote employment opportunities

- To focus on slum redevelopment and rehabilitation strategy

- To deregulate housing sector and encourage competition and public-private partnerships in financing, construction, and maintenance of houses

- To promote rental housing through amendments in the Rent Control Act

- To facilitate redevelopment of inner-city areas and dilapidated buildings

- To encourage technology innovation

One key understanding that helped frame the policy was that housing was more than just construction of bricks and mortar- it includes supporting infrastructure, access to transport and employment opportunities. True to this understanding, the government included policies such as Rent Control Act, Goathan Extension, Indira Awas Yojana, Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Niwara Yojana etc. in the framework.

However, the policy received many delays, the first of which was the delay in its finalization. The chief minister of the time, Vilasrao Deshmukh, defended the delay by saying that it was necessary to address the concerns of representatives of the various cities which would be impacted by the policy.

One cannot give a definite answer as to how successful the 2007 policy was. What is clear, however, is that many of the proposed objectives were also mentioned in the 2016 policy framework. This is a signal that not just the process of finalization, but the process of implementation of the policy was also delayed.

One of the most important aspects of housing- the rental housing scheme- was first introduced in 2009 (as part of the 2007 policy). The government looked forward to the participation of private sector developers in reducing the slum clusters. However, due to some changes in norms and sanctions, the implementation was halted. The scheme was reintroduced in 2013 as 'affordable housing scheme'. Under this modified scheme, houses would be allotted by state agencies to low-income households. The state agencies responsible for the implementation of this scheme were SRA, MMRDA, and MHADA.

However, the government still failed to get the expected results. Yet again, the policy was reintroduced with Maharashtra State Housing Policy of 2016. Learning from the past failures, the government attached liberal norms with the policy this time. According to the 2016 policy, a developer was eligible for an FSI of three for the redevelopment of a plot up to 2000 sq mt in Greater Mumbai. He could also buy an additional FSI of one by paying a premium and sharing the housing stock with MHADA.

The aim of the policy, as stated by the government, was to build 1.1 million houses in MMR and around 800,000 across the rest of Maharashtra by 2022.

The 2016 policy, which is presently being implemented across the state, stands distinguished from the 2007 policy in the sense that the government reserved an interventionist role for itself. While in the earlier policy, the government relied heavily on the private sector, here, the government would be an interventionist as well as a facilitator. It would introduce supply periodically.

Some additional proposed plans make the policy seem less far-fetched and more achievable. For instance, the government appealed for land pooling, including the land owned by government agencies like MHADA, MMR, and City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO). This pooled land is being used to build houses for EWS, LIG and MIG groups.

Other government policies (central and state) of around the same time, make the implementation of this housing policy more plausible. Parallel implementation of PMAY may actually be a catalyst for the implementation of the state's affordable housing scheme. Moreover, the introduction of RERA and its strict implementation is a sincere step in the right direction. Not only has RERA made the government a facilitator, but also an effective interventionist who can ensure timely delivery of the promised houses to all sections of the society.