A survey by Planning Commission has shown that 66 per cent of rural households construct homes using own resoruces, nine per cent use institutional finances and the rest depend on non-institutional sources such as family, friends and money lenders, he said.
He was speaking after inaugurating a national conference on rural housing and finance with the theme 'delivering housing and housing finance in rural areas', convened by the National Housing Bank (NHB).
"Rural India, home to more than 700 million people, is facing multiple development challenges, particicularly provision for habitat. Millions of people are still living without shelter, electricity and sanitation. Access to housing and housing finance continues to be difficult despite the growth", the Minister said.
There is a need to strengthen finanicial mediaries such as banks, cooperative sector, regional rural banks and also engage informal sector and local stakeholders effectiveily for delivering rural housing, Meena said.
The Minister said importance should not only be attached to housing finance, but also to appropriate technologies and building materials such as energy saving devices, eco-friendly technology and rain water harvesting that are indigenous and cost-effective.