NATIONAL CO-OPERATIVE HOUSING FEDERATION OF INDIA (NCHF)

NCHF is the National Housing Federation of India, established in 1969 based on the recommendation of the Working Group on Housing Co-operatives constituted by the Government of India.

The basic thrust of its formation was to have an organization at the national level, which would assume the responsibility of promoting and uniformly developing housing co-operatives in the country by providing guidance, advice, and accelerating the activities of the state-level apex housing federations. NCHF has promoted apex housing federations in the states, and all the state-level federations are members of NCHF.

NCHF has taken several measures for the development of housing co-operatives in the country. It extends academic support and other necessary help to its member federations for improving their financial, organizational, and technical base. It also assists housing co-operatives in legal, financial, organizational, and professional matters. In addition, it undertakes research studies, publishes various aspects of housing, and engages in general insurance business for housing co-operatives.

OBJECTIVES OF NCHF

• To provide common forums for dealing with technical, financial, and other practical problems relating to housing co-operatives and to devise ways and means for solving them.
• To propagate and popularize the co-operative housing movement on sound co-operative principles and promote such ideas through publications, periodicals, bulletins, and journals, and exchange statistics and information relating to co-operative housing.
• To raise funds by borrowing or otherwise.
• To grant loans or advances to members.
• To procure, manufacture, stock, and supply building materials to its members.
• To co-ordinate and guide the working of housing co-operatives in respect of planning and construction of housing and provide expert advice for the purpose.
• To promote apex housing federations in states where such organizations do not exist.

SERVICES

• Assisting apex housing federations in raising resources from LIC and other funding agencies.
• Guiding state governments in the matter of setting up apex housing federations.
• Providing a common forum to member federations to examine the problems of housing co-operatives.
• Conducting research studies on various issues of housing co-operatives.
• Providing guidance to apex and primary societies on technical and legal matters.
• Assisting housing co-operatives with general insurance.
• Assisting co-operative training colleges in organizing courses/programs on housing co-operatives.

ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE FEDERATION

• NCHF has set up a Technical Service Organization to provide technical guidance and services.
• Organized various seminars and conferences.
• Obtained the agency of United India Insurance Company for undertaking general insurance.
• Coordinated with various urban and rural development agencies, Planning Commission, GIC, LIC, and other research institutions.
• Conducted various research studies on the problems of member federations and societies.
• Published various matters relating to rural housing through the NCHF Bulletin.