Four Walls and a Roof: Confronting Housing Failures in India
In the panel Four Walls and a Roof: Failures in Housing, experts Manikandan KP, Gautam Khot, Bijal Brahmbhatt, Deepak Visvanathan, and Anjali Mohan delve into India’s construction and housing crisis. They unpack how poor-quality, inefficient housing exacerbates climate vulnerability and inequality, especially for low-income communities. With buildings contributing 37% of global carbon emissions, the construction sector emerges as both a major culprit and a crucial opportunity for change.
Manikandan KP opens the dialogue by questioning sustainability as both a practice and a perception in the development sector. Gautam Khot explores inefficiencies in real estate processes and the innovation gap even among top developers. Bijal Brahmbhatt raises concerns about housing finance and the challenges in legal ownership, formality, and tenure. Deepak Visvanathan shares a compelling failure story centered on India’s sand crisis, emphasizing the need for regenerative construction and sustainable material alternatives. Finally, Anjali Mohan introduces the concept of “transformative repair” through the lens of kintsugi, highlighting the emotional and collaborative dimensions of rebuilding both structures and systems.
As the session progresses, speakers raise uncomfortable truths about aspirational housing, public sector inertia, unsustainable building practices, and the complex relationship between innovation, affordability, and equity. From the failures of PMAY to the mafia-ridden sand supply chains, the conversation doesn’t shy away from systemic cracks. What emerges is a call for long-term commitment, deeper collaboration, decentralised solutions, and a holistic, human-centered approach to building homes that are sustainable, scalable, and just.
