National Building Organisation

Introduction to the Organisation:

The National Buildings Organisation was established by the Government of India in 1954 as an attached office under the control of the then Ministry of Urban Development for technology transfer and experimentation and dissemination of housing statistics. The Government examined the need for restructuring the organisation in the context of the long term policy of technology transfer within the framework of National Housing Policy and the increased need of the information system for Housing Policy. It was observed that the functions of NBO in the technology side were required to be transferred to a more flexible and autonomous institution, while NBO’s socio-economic and statistical functions needed to be emphasised and expanded.

        In view of above and having regard to the  requirements under National Housing Policy to strengthen the management information system and various other socio-economic and statistical functions connected with housing and building activities,  the National Buildings Organisation was restructured with effect from 25th August, 1992.  The major functions of the restructured NBO are as follows:-

  1. Study and survey of socio-economic aspects of housing, collection, collation, co-ordination, analysis and dissemination of building and housing statistics.
  2. Organisation and setting up of a Management Information System to monitor implementation of National Housing Policy.
  3. Organisation and co-ordination of activities relating to housing census and sample surveys on housing condition.
  4. Maintaining linkages with Central, State local agencies, financial institutions and all statistical agencies in order to collate, store, retrieve and disseminate information on shelter indicators and housing schemes on a continuous basis and to network with UN and other international agencies on exchange of information relating to shelter.
  5. Statistical and socio-economic functions connected with housing and urban development and proper upkeep of data through computerised data bank, etc.

NBO is the only organisation in the Government of India which is responsible for developing an authentic and reliable database on housing and building statistics.  The statistics collected and disseminated by NBO is not only used in policy formulation but is also used by various research organisations in the field of housing. The information disseminated by NBO is also used and taken by international agencies as the authentic official statistics.

        NBO being the nodal agency in respect of housing statistics at the central level not only coordinates with state governments but also guides the State Government authorities in collection of housing statistics through its training programmes.

NBO has the following Administrative set up:

1.    Shri M.N. Mathur,

                Economic Adviser,

                Ministry of Urban Employment and Poverty Alleviation,

                201, G-Wing, Nirman Bhavan, New Delhi-110011

                Tel.No.  23794432

                Email :   mnmathur@nb.nic.in

 
2.    Shri Shyam Kapoor,

    Director, NBO,

    Ministry of Urban Employment & Poverty Alleviation,

    Room No.333,Nirman Bhavan, New Delhi.

              Tel. No.23018392

 

The Officers are assisted by 2 Deputy Directors, 7 Research Officers, 11 Senior Investigators and other supporting administrative staff as per the sanctioned strength of NBO.

 

Brief write up on major activities of the Organisation:

        NBO is primarily engaged in collection, collation, analysis and dissemination of housing and construction statistics with a view to have an effective country-wide system for this purpose.    In addition, the Organisation coordinates activities relating to the information emanating from various sources, namely, the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India, National Sample Survey Organisation and other concerned organisations.

        NBO collects data on housing statistics under the ‘Three Tier Scheme’.  This was initially introduced in the year 1963 as a centrally sponsored scheme envisaging 50:50 matching contribution between respective States and the Government of India.  It was, however, transferred to the State Governments in 1967.  Under the ‘Three Tier Scheme’, NBO collects the following information:

    1. Current housing and construction activity in the urban areas including both public and private sectors.
    2. Prices of building materials and wages of building labour.

        The scheme envisages direct flow of data to NBO from the central construction agencies, namely, CPWD, MES, P&T, Central Public Undertakings as well as States and Union Territories in the country.  Under the scheme the State PWD is responsible for collection and consolidation of statistics relating to building construction activity undertaken by the Government Departments and State public undertakings.  Various construction divisions/circles of PWD supply the data to the State Directorate of Economics & Statistics for onward transmission.  These data are collected and forwarded in the prescribed proformae for each building construction project costing Rs. 50,000/- or more. New constructions as well as additions to the existing buildings are also covered.  The LSGD of the State is entrusted with the collection of statistics in cities/towns with a population of 10,000 or more. The data, thus, obtained by Municipalities/Corporations are sent to the State Directorate of Economics & Statistics by LSGD. Proformae have been prescribed by NBO for this purpose.  The returns in respect of public and private sector data are required to be furnished to NBO, annually.

        NBO also collects data on the prices of building materials and wages of building labour from almost all the State capitals and several other important cities in the country under the Three Tier Scheme.  In this regard, prices of all important building materials such as bricks, sand, steel, stone, asbestos, cement sheets, paints and varnishes, sanitary- ware etc. are covered.  With regard to wages of building labour information is collected in respect of wages of masons, carpenters and unskilled workers. Proformae have been prescribed for this purpose.  These returns are required to be furnished quarterly by the field units of the PWD/DES/BDOs.

        The information collected under the Three Tier Scheme is regularly compiled and published by NBO.  NBO is also involved in releasing various publications, based on the data collected from various sources such as Registrar General of India, National Sample Survey Organisation, Central Statistical Organisation, Reserve Bank of India, Housing and Urban Development Corporation, National Housing Bank, Town & Country Planning Organisation, Central Public Health Engineering & Environment Organisation, State Governments, National Cooperative Housing Federation etc.

            NBO also collects data on Building Cost Index. These data are collected from selected centres, which are mostly the District headquarters in the States and UT’s. These data relate to the Low Income Group Houses constructed by either the State Housing Board or the concerned Development Authorities. The State Governments have been recently advised to shift the base year from 1980-81 to 1993-94 for the calculation of Building Cost Index. The methodology to change the base year has also been provided to them.

          Apart from the data collected through the Three Tier Scheme, NBO also collects data on building permits and completion certificates issued during a year in respect of towns with a population of one lakh or more.

        NBO also conducts studies and surveys on socio-economic aspects of housing.  Two sample surveys, namely (i) Evaluation of Employment Generation in Urban Slums of Delhi and (ii) Evaluation of Housing and Socio-Economic Conditions of the Urban Poor in the Slums of Delhi were undertaken by NBO during 1998.

        National Buildings Organisation also conducts training courses for the personnel engaged in the collection of housing and building statistics in different States in consultation with the State bureaus of the respective State Governments.  This is intended to streamline and strengthen the system of collection of housing and building statistics at micro level.

           The primary activity of the NBO is to collect, collate and disseminate  statistical data in the form of published reports on the subjects like Housing Condition, Urban Infrastructure, Slums, Prices of Building Materials and Wage Rates, Housing in Public and Private Sector, Industrial Housing, Social Housing and Housing Finance Institution.   NBO is also working as coordinating/data disseminating agency for UN and other international organisations.  

        The annual activities of NBO are included in the Annual Report of the Ministry of Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation.

 

Publications:
  1. Hand Book of Housing Statistics 2003.
  2. Metropolitan Housing Statistics-2002.
  3. Housing and Building Activity in Public Sector, 1992-93.
  4. Housing and Building Activity in Private Sector – State Profile( in respect of 6 States).
  5. Building Material Prices and Wages of labour, 1997.
  6. Housing Finance Institutions Directory, 1996.
  7. Prominent Facts on Housing, 1997.
  8. Housing Statistics – An Overview, 1999.
  9. Compendium on Social Housing Schemes during 8th Five Year Plan, and
  10. Other ocassional reports on surveys conducted on socio-economic aspects of housing from time to time.

The following publications are under preparation:

  (i) Building Material Prices and Wages of Labour, 1998.
  (ii) Building Material Prices and Wages of Labour, 1999.
  (iii) Housing Finance Institutions Directory.

A request for publications can be placed with the Director NBO, G-Wing, Nirman Bhavan, New Delhi -110011.