Understanding Urban Housing Challenges in India

Swastik Harish serves as a leading researcher and practitioner in urban development at the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS), specializing in housing for the urban poor, heritage planning, data visualization, and urban infrastructure provision. His groundbreaking work on rental housing has significantly influenced national policy, earning recognition in the 2015 draft National Urban Rental Housing Policy by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. His expertise spans both research and practical policy implementation, having played a crucial role in supporting the Government of Karnataka's affordable housing and slum development policies. As an educator in the Urban Practitioners Programme (UPP), he teaches across multiple sectors including housing, slum development, urban infrastructure, heritage planning, and data visualization. His research has been published in prestigious journals including Economic and Political Weekly, The Administrator, and the India International Centre journal. His contributions to understanding rental housing solutions for urban poor have made him a respected voice in urban policy circles, bridging the gap between academic research and practical policy implementation

GAUTAM BHAN, Senior Lead — Academics and Research PhD, University of California, Berkeley; MA, University of Chicago; BA, Amherst College, Massachusetts Part of the School of Human Development at IIHS, Gautam teaches.