Nandita Srinivas, architect and interior designer

EWS Housing warrants a more sensitive approach than the mindset with which it is being treated right now.

Three factors are significant here:

The most important  is the conscious effort from the government and design agencies to ensure a good quality construction. A societal awareness to prevent adulteration of construction with inferior building materials is the base factor for these EWS housing projects.

Being responsive to the living pattern and behaviour of this section of people should become the key issue of design of EWS housing.

Offering them spaces and structures that are alien to their lifestyle will only deter them from their houses.

Adaptive spaces that allow the inhabitants to evolve and mould the spaces of the housing to suit their needs allows for effective ownership while playing a vital role in reducing the cost too.

The other factor is adopting a cost effective method to the EWS housing than being low cost housing. Alternative materials that can bring down cost yet suit the architecture and lifestyle of these people should be seriously pursued.

Poor quality obsolete materials that initially bring down the cost but eventually bring down the building as well, need to be shelved.

With the boom in the building industry, newer materials and construction techniques are available at one's disposal and should be explored more.