More than two-fifths of the households (46 per cent) in India do not own land and only three per cent of the household own non-cultivable land, according to the latest report Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI).
The study published last week said that the mean size of cultivable land holding is 2.8 acre and non-cultivable land is 2.0 acres. Further, the LASI said that about 93 per cent of households in Puducherry do not own any land.
Stating that housing is a major issue in urban India, the study showed that people spend over a quarter of their income on rent. It said that 95 per cent of rural households own their homes and only 77 per cent in urban areas have their own houses. In rural areas, the LASI pointed out that 47 per cent built their homes, 42 percent inherited/received it from family and five per cent purchased homes. It also said that five percent of households got house from central and state governments. More people purchased homes in urban regions (24 per cent) than in rural regions ((five per cent).
LOANS
About 32 per cent of the households in the country have taken loans. In rural areas, people mainly took loans for purchase of agricultural assets, construction/improvement of home. Apart from this, people took loans for marriage expenses and health care expenses. This was the same with people in urban areas.
CONSUMER DURABLES
Mobile phones were the most prevalent consumer durable in Indian households. Eighty seven percent of households have a mobile phone. Half of the households (52 per cent) have a motorised vehicle (a two-wheeler or car) and only seven per cent have a car.
HEALTH INSURANCE
Twenty six per cent of the family is covered by health insurance. Slightly more than a Fifth of households (21 per cent) have availed Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) and allied schemes.
