Although communities living in India’s informal settlements are resourceful and rich in culture, their lives are blighted by unsafe and undignified housing.
In Ahmednagar, the NGO Community Design Agency (CDA) has been working with residents of the Sanjaynagar Informal Settlement to build an alternative way of life.
In partnership with families, the Ahilyanagar Municipal Corporation, the government’s Housing For All programme (PMAY), Curry Stone Foundation, and local NGOs, CDA has co-designed a truly collaborative project – aspirational, climate-resilient and spacious homes, bringing tangible and far-reaching benefits for residents.
Residents were involved at every stage—from imagining their future homes to shaping financial and management systems. For the 33 families now living in the first completed building, life has changed for the better.
The in-situ redevelopment ensured they were able keep vital connections to their community, livelihoods, land, and culture. The improved housing conditions have enhanced safety, wellbeing and social status, opening new opportunities for education and employment.
The resource-efficient design reduced the development’s carbon footprint while enhancing residents’ wellbeing in comfortable homes. These are 6°C cooler than outdoor temperature.
Government funding and philanthropy complement small resident contributions, which are secured through non-banking low-interest loans.
The pilot provides an alternative redevelopment model that is scalable, low-carbon and a community led blueprint for inclusive housing across India. It now has plans to compete a total of 10 buildings in Sanjaynagar and to share the successful model with other city governments in India.
