Dwelling Size, Use of Building Materials, and House Types across the Select Clans among the Balmiki Caste in Rural Haryana

By : Neeraj Rani , K. V. Chamar

Page No: 165-181

Abstract
The present study analyzes the dwelling size, diverse use of building materials, and house types across the select clans among the Balmiki caste in rural Haryana. Initially, primary data were collected from 675 sample households selected by adopting a set sampling procedure from the district to the household level in 15 selected villages. The surveyed households have been represented by 27 clans among the Balmiki caste. After that, the selected clan-wise average size of dwelling rooms has been calculated. Further, storeys and various types of building materials used for walls, roofs, and floors have been calculated into percentages in proportion to the total sample households across the select clans. Based on the various building materials used for walls, roofs, and floors, 13 categories have been identified. Finally, types of houses have been classified into kutcha, mixed, and pucca houses of the Balmiki caste in the study area.

The study revealed that there is a significant variation in the average size of dwellings across the select clans. As far as the number of stories is concerned, more than four-fifths of dwellings are single-storey. Remarkably, burnt bricks have emerged as the predominant choice for wall construction, whereas roof materials show significant variation across the select clans. About one-third of house roofs have been made of stone/slate, followed by reinforced concrete. Cement is the most common floor material. Based on various categories of building materials, the kutcha houses have been found only in the Bighania, Pihwar, and Dhilod clans, indicating their association with lower-income groups. About two-fifths have been recorded as mixed types, and about 58 per cent have been found to
have pucca houses in the study area. Further, the highest proportion of mixed houses was found in the Bhumbhak clan. Similarly, pucca houses have been observed in the Bhatiya and Sarsar clans among the select clans with comparatively better socio-economic conditions and generally equipped with modern facilities.

Author:
Neeraj Rani, SRF, Research Scholar, Department of Geography, M.D. University, Rohtak, Haryana.
K.V. Chamar, Former Professor & Head, Department of Geography, M.D. University, Rohtak, Haryana.
 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/ATNAGI.2026.46.01.10