A.K. Jain, as Commissioner (Planning) Delhi Development Authority worked on the Master Plan for Delhi-2021, National Urban Housing and Habital Policy, National Urban Transport Policy and various urban projects. He was a member of the Committee Constituted by the Ministry of Urban Development, GOI to review the statute of the Delhi Development Authority vis-a-vis the changing urban scenario and new policy initiatives. As a member of editorial Board of International Journal of Environmental Studies (UK) and is author of several books on urban development and management. He is visiting faculty at Delhi School of Planning and Architecture and other Institutes. He was awarded 2nd Urban Professional Award 2014 at World Urban Forum in Medellin, Colombia in recognition of being an exemplary city changer. Union Minister for Urban Development hourured him with IBC Lifetime Achievement Award (2016).
<p>This book titled “Housing for All: Design, Construction and Management” by A.K. Jain is a comprehensive assessment of the housing situation in India which not only traces the path taken by (governments so far but also outlines a roadmap for the future. The book begins with an overview of the housing scenario in India. It discusses various housing programmes and draws a distinction between affordable housing and adequate housing. The book also draws particular attention to housing issues of special groups such as the elderly, disabled, homeless, migrant and transit workers, students and single women. There is also a discussion on the issue of social and physical infrastructure. The book notes that housing units alone do not constitute housing but infrastructure plays a critical role in the occupancy of housing. The question of reducing the cost of housing has been vexatious for long. Jain deals with this issue in detail and suggests various low-cost technologies and house building systems for making housing more affordable. Another issue is that of rental housing. Jain suggests that giving a boost to rental housing through a slew of measures can go a long way in making housing more accessible and bring vacant housing into the market.<br></p>
