Rural Housing: Institutional Mechanism for Technology Transfer: a Study of Select Villages of Bihar State in India

This study analyses the problems of rural housing in India. It reveals actual impediments in implementation of government initiatives and the deficiencies there in such as absence of suitable linkages with R&D institutions; lack of competent professionals; lack of technical infrastructure; and extension mechanism. Consequently, there is least percolation of technology at the user end. Further, through an Interpretive Structural Model, the study identifies creation of nodal institutions at the state level to enable acquisition of technology, building of support system and mechanism for extension network; and formulation of a workable action plan for rural housing. In the absence of an effective institutional mechanism no comprehensive Rural Housing and Habitat Policy can be operationalised and technical intervention alone cannot serve the purpose of reducing drudgery and increasing efficiency, productivity, quality and sustainability in the rural housing sector. This volume, thus, acquires importance among professionals and policy makers in India and other developing countries.