11. Housing in Hyderabad: Perception of Inclusivity

Inclusivity—or being a part of the mainstream—as perceived by the residents has been viewed against the backdrop of income, occupation, education, religious group and community group.

People at the upper or lower levels of the income strata feel included in society, the middle class by implication seems left out. A study of the right to inheritance and ownership of land by women points to a general east–west divide in the city where the eastern part with traditional ethos is less accommodative of change on these counts This is not so with the western part of the city. Some residents laid emphasis on the material attainments of the locality for attaining a sense of inclusivity. In fact, the largest proportion of respondents interviewed said that drainage and water facilities in their localities need to be improved to make their life more liveable. Other facilities, like commercial, infrastructural, recreational, health and educational are also seen as vehicles of change leading to an inclusive city. Education as a means of change is not to be missed as people consider it as a major conduit for being included in the societal ambience. The need for education, including women’s education has been felt across a wide cross section of people, spanning all strata of society and all localities in the city. Emphasis has also been placed on mutual help, helping the poor, helping students, the needy and poor. The educated and especially those in the core of Hyderabad have felt the need for Governmental intervention in improving the lot of the people. Other factors cited to bring about inclusivity in society are human resource and character building, unity, broad mindedness, change in human values, politeness, equality, security, patriotism as a unifying factor, absence of caste and religious feelings, formation of good associations for societal benefit, social interaction, duty consciousness, lower prices of commodities, rooting out of corruption besides others. Lack of mixed localities in the city has also been found to be a reason for lack of inclusivity.