The experts sought government intervention to help develop the micro-financing sector and make land available to private developers.

“Potential buyers of low-income housing are largely from the unorganised sector; many cannot produce the documents required for a housing loan. Low-income housing thus remains an aspiration and cannot be translated into demand,” said Nachiket Shelgikar, Director, Micro Housing Finance Corporation.

Speaking at a session titled “Affordable housing in India: Building a new paradigm,” at the IHC Summit bing held at the India Habitat Centre, Nehal Shah, managing director of Foliage Developers and among the few builders who have ventured into low-income housing in Ahmedabad, said a huge market exists for such houses.

“The government can help us to acquire land at affordable rates,” said Shah.

Srinath S, managing director, Sorenson Housing Opportunity Fund, suggested the government could classify such housing under infrastructure development.