NextBillion.net - Development Through Enterprise - Reflections on "India's Rural Poor- Why Housing Isn't Enough to Create Sustainable Communities" - Comments

Poverty trap and inadequate shelter

Garrett Connelly — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 20:27:53 -0500

This is a very good article about a subject which more people should be focused on. I recognize it is unpopular to point out actual reasons for economic disfunction but unless we all start talking plain talk our specie faces an uncertain future. History is written by militarily victorious cultures while the future is made by quiet people attempting to raise healthy families. Many millions of nonviolent people have been displaced by an economic structure attempting to grow to infinity, faster and faster forever, on our beautiful but finite planet. Many of those trapped in poverty did not realize the way to riches was to externalize costs and avoid responsibility for cleaning up the pollution left in the wake of a mad conquest for resources. It will be very difficult for cultures intent on dominion to help those so confused by such an idea that they find it abhorrent and fall into poverty. Although education is an important first step out of poverty, especially for women, those who plunder and pollute the planet for profit may have attended top universities but they are not educated. Cordially, Garrett Connelly

Reflections on "India's Rural Poor- Why Housing Isn't Enough to Create Sustainable Communities"

Abigail Keene-Babcock — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 15:16:37 -0500

Knowledge @ Wharton published an article on the living conditions of India’s rural poor, and on the shortcomings of central and state-funded government housing programs. The author, Abraham George, maintains that the primary reason for failure is an exclusive focus on providing low-cost shelter, without consideration for interrelated factors that determine actual effectiveness.

However, it’s also important to realize that even a strategy that convinces government to build more “complete” housing may also fail. Ownership and active involvement in the building of a new community are some of the strongest mechanisms that exist to ensure the highest positive impact on quality of life.

More consideration should be given to sparking and supporting locally-based, private initiatives that work with market forces and are directed for and by the poor.

To read the full blog, click "read more."