NITI Aayog today released a report on the Site Adjacent Factory Employee (S.A.F.E.) Accommodation—Worker Housing for Manufacturing Growth in New Delhi. The report explores the crucial role of secure, affordable, flexible, and efficient accommodations for industrial workers in boosting India’s manufacturing sector. It identifies key challenges, offers actionable solutions, and highlights the pivotal interventions required to scale up such housing facilities across the country.

In the Union Budget 2024-25, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman emphasised the importance of rental housing with dormitory-style accommodations for industrial workers. This initiative, to be executed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model with Viability Gap Funding (VGF) support and commitments from anchor industries, underscores the government’s commitment to addressing a critical component of India’s manufacturing ecosystem.

The report specifically examines the need for proper housing options for workers living near industrial sites, often facing challenges due to proximity to factories.