
Housing in India

- Population in India is approximately 10 to 1 compared to the population of the
United States.
- The average temperature is 90 degrees with high humidity and a monsoon season
lasting from June through the end of September.
- The high humidity contributes to excessive mold growth therefore it is more
practical not to paint walls nor cover floors with carpeting, therefore typical furniture
in a home are pillows and throw-rugs.
- Relationships and intellectual conversation are more important to the Indian
population than personal beauty of the home.
- A walled barrier of some type surrounds many homes in the urban centers.
- In rural areas residents all live in villages so that they can rely on each
others help.
- Religious beliefs play a major role in the design of the home. For example cows
share the living quarters, and a religious shrine may be the only decoration or focal
point in the home.

Running water and indoor plumbing are not the norm. Most cooking and clean-up takes place
outside on a cement slab or on hard clean swept dirt/dung. Village wells and the need for
water purity are becoming more of the local practice.
- India has been de-forested. Fire is still the most common source of heat for food
preparation. Dung is the most common fuel source.
- Lack of sound construction practices, inadequate building budgets, poor quality of
materials, theft, mold, humidity, lack of sanitation all play a part in the production of
building that cannot stand the test of time.
- Natural materials such as mud, thatch and cow dung are materials readily available
and used for most rural home construction.

Bathing is part of all Indians daily routine. The usual system used is a bucket of
warm water with a small pitcher. If facilities are inside than a place is available for
this bathing, if not community wells are used (especially for the males) or the water is
transported to the home by large ceramic pots.
- No formal garbage system but rag pickers are part of every day life and pick up and
sell plastic, paper, wire etc.
- Many beds are made of woven fiber and families sleep outside when weather permits.


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Last modified: February 22, 2000