Measuring hazard-free improved shelter across the regions of India

Global climate change poses an increasingly dire threat to habitats, livelihoods, and communities worldwide. This cross-sectional study has tried to examine the state of improved shelter facilities in India, utilizing the comprehensive methodology outlined by UN-Habitat and NFHS-5 data. The findings of our research alarm that 39.3% of India's population lacks access to improved shelter. Moreover, a significant disparity in the availability of improved shelter facilities is observed across various states in India. In regions prone to hazards such as floods and earthquakes, there is a considerable lag in terms of improved shelter provisions. On the other hand, non-hazardous areas demonstrate relatively higher rates of access to improved shelter. Our study reveals a marked distinction between improved shelter and hazard-free improved shelter estimates. In India, only 40.6% of the population can be considered safe from the perils of floods, landslides, and earthquakes. However, the situation is considerably worse in rural areas, where both improved shelter and hazard-free improved shelter are scarce. This highlights the urgent need to adopt hazard-free improved shelter as a more refined metric for housing, as it can prove instrumental in guiding effective planning and policymaking initiatives. To ensure a risk-free living environment for future generations, it is imperative to undertake micro-level vulnerability mapping and conduct comprehensive risk assessments for various hazards. Furthermore, the government must take proactive measures to promote resilient housing infrastructure as a crucial component of sustainable development.