Kutcha House - Construction, Purpose and Significance!

What is a kutcha house you ask; well, these are temporary houses that can be found built all across the country. The materials used to build kutcha houses are easily found in the forest and other natural surroundings in the area where they are constructed. These houses are considered need-based houses and then they can be built into more permanent structures. The materials used for kutcha houses are natural, and thus are not able to prevent the infiltration of the environment, but they serve the purpose of sheltering those who live within them. 

To understand the kutcha house meaning, you need to know that any house, where the walls are made up of bamboo, mud, grass, reed, stones, thatch, straw, leaves and unburnt bricks, is known as a kutcha (kulcha) house. These are not permanent structures like flats or buildings. Kutcha houses are usually seen in rural areas or in cities where workers choose to make make-shift homes. 

Investment in a pucca house is expensive, which is why the poor opt for temporary structures. About the Kutcha house, these form an ideal abode for many families, and under the UN guidelines, they are considered as a shelter.

Why We Need Shelter?

• To protect ourselves from harsh weather conditions
• To protect ourselves from wild animals
• To keep ourselves safe, secure and comfortable

The house type depends upon the climate and weather of the area. Houses are built with readily available materials in the area. 

Common Materials Utilised in Kutcha Houses

Some of the common materials that are used in Kutcha houses are primarily derived from nature. As sourced from nature, they are not only cheap (completely free in many cases), but are also extremely eco-friendly – meaning cool summers, and warm winters. That said, they are not durable, given that is made up of raw materials such as bamboo, reeds, thatches, stones, grass, unburnt bricks, mud etc.  

Kutcha Houses: Advantages and Disadvantages

Some of the Advantages/ Benefits of a Kutcha House are:

• They are cost-effective given they are made up of materials easily found in nature. Compared to pucca houses, they do not need expensive concrete, bricks, metals etc.
• They provide great insulation meaning cool summers and warm winters
• They are eco-friendly and biodegradable, which means they do not cause pollution due to the use of artificial items

Some of the Disadvantages of Kutcha Houses are:

• While they are cost-effective to build, kutcha house designs are unstable as they are not made up of durable materials. This means the cost of repairing a kutcha house will be higher than pucca houses.
• Kutcha houses are biodegradable meaning they will be more prone to wear and tear, requiring frequent repairs.

How to Distinguish a Kutcha House?

Kutcha houses are mostly found in remote areas and villages and are built with readily available material like wood, stones, clay, mud, leaves, thatch or crop residue. Kutcha house materials are generally nature-based; thus, these houses are not durable and are thus called kutcha houses.

Kutcha Houses in India as Per Census 2011

The highest percentage of ‘good’ houses in 2011, according to that year’s census, was in Goa (76%) and the least number of these houses was in Odisha (29.5%). However, at 5.4% which was the national average, dilapidated houses also featured in the Census 2011. West Bengal had the highest number of dilapidated houses in 2011 and Goa, the least with only 1.5%. Census 2011 also featured permanent, semi-permanent and temporary houses. Of these, the last two categories together made up 48% of the houses.

However, there was a wide difference between rural and urban areas, in housing stock in 2011. The difference was as much as 33% in permanent houses, 20% in semi-permanent houses, 13% in temporary houses and 7.8% in serviceable and 5.2% in non-serviceable temporary houses.

Types of Kutcha Houses

Depending upon the material used, kutcha houses may look different from each other. However, they constitute a semi-permanent or temporary accommodation, running the risk of destruction owing to floods, cyclones, earthquakes and other natural disasters and security threats due to crime.

The following are some of the most prominent and well-known kutcha house examples that can be found across the country and the world at large – depending on the types of rooms to have in a house:

Caravans: In ancient times some people used to carry their goods on bullock carts and camels. They used to move from one place to another in groups, in search of markets for their goods. Such people were known as nomads. Their moving houses were called caravans – a great example of kutcha houses on the move. Nowadays, a caravan refers to a special vehicle that has all the facilities of a house.  

Igloo: These houses are also known as snow houses or snow huts. Igloos are found in Greenland and the Arctic region of Canada. People who live in Igloos are called Eskimos. Igloos are made of snow and ice blocks. Though they are made of ice they are warm inside.

Houseboats: In India, houseboats are found in Dal Lake in Kashmir and Kerala. Such boats have all the facilities of a house.

Stilt houses: They are also known as pile dwellings or palafitte. These houses are built on piles of soil or water. These houses can be found in flood-prone areas.

Amenities in Kutcha Houses

Those living in kutcha houses often struggle for basic amenities, such as access to clean water, 24/7 electricity, bath/toilet facility at home or even LPG/PNG in the kitchen.

Difference Between Kutcha and Pucca House

Kutcha house	Pucca house
Made of easily available raw materials, like mud, straw, stones or wood.	Built with iron, bricks, cement, steel, etc., to form a concrete structure.
Owned by the economically/financially handicapped sections.	Owners are above the poverty line.
An unstable structure often runs the risk of being damaged by natural disasters or criminal actions.	Stable and concrete buildings cannot be broken into easily.
Often built as makeshift accommodations.	Permanent accommodations counted as an investment.
Owners have very basic amenities	Owners/residents enjoy amenities as per their income standard.
Room demarcations may or may not be present.	Rooms are demarcated and there are dedicated bedrooms, hallways, living rooms, kitchens and baths, in such units.

Pucca houses are strong houses. They are made up of wood, bricks, cement, iron rods and steel. Flats and bungalows are pucca houses. Such houses are called permanent houses. Kutcha houses are made up of wood, mud, straw and dry leaves. Caravan, tents and houseboats are examples of kutcha (temporary) houses. Differences between kutcha and pucca houses. 

The houses which are made up of mud, grass, straw etc are called kutcha houses. A kind of house, where the walls are made up of bamboo, mud, grass, reed, stones, thatch, straw, leaves and unburnt bricks, are known as kutcha (kuccha) houses. These are not permanent structures like flats or buildings.

As we all know the three basic needs of any person are Roti, Kappada and Makan. So be it wherever you would like to live, you must find yourself a home. You can then make this home of yours, the palace of your dreams. So, now, if you are planning to get your very own place anywhere, worry not, NoBroker shall have you covered. You can find homes on rent for any budget and SAVE on brokerage. Click the link below and start your search. You can even drop us a comment with your requirement and we will assist you. 

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