Danchi (団地) is a housing system (public-housing complexes) implemented in Post-World War II Japan by government authorities. It is basically a cluster of multi-unit apartment complex with cheaper rent. The Danchi could be a good model for Nepal to meet its growing housing demand due to the influx of people migrating from rural to urban and sub-urban areas. In my personal experience, limited availability of land and current pattern of population growth in Kathmandu is similar to the cities of the Post-War Japan (needs further research for validation). Therefore, Kathmandu could be an excellent candidate for this type of housing system to offset the sky rocketing housing demand. Further more, it could also help emerge a new Nepalese society with a sense of responsibility towards neighborhood. This topic deserves serious research and study by governmental and non-governmental organizations of Nepal, and we also need to work in cooperation with Japanese counterparts.
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| Photo: Danchi Housing (http://www.flickr.com) |
