Houseless Population and Deprivation in India

The present paper is an attempt to analyse spatial patterns of houseless population, variations in the level of socio-economic deprivation and relationship between houseless population (dependent variable) and selected variables of socio-economic deprivation (independent variables) among the twenty eight states and seven union territories (UTs) of India. The present study is based on secondary sources of data obtained from Census of India publications (2001), New Delhi. The boundary of state/union territory has been taken as the unit of study. The spatial patterns of houselessness is characterized by a steady decline from western and north-western parts towards the northern, southern, eastern and northeastern parts of the country. While, the level of socio-economic deprivation is high in the north-central states, and it is steadily decreases towards the north, south, east and north-eastern parts into the medium level of socioeconomic deprivation in India. The analysis of relationship between houseless population and other variables of socio-economic deprivation indicates that the rate of houselessness is accentuated by the prevalence of housing shortage, slum population and poverty rate, etc. in the country.