Integrating capability, implementation and public value: a conceptual framework from beneficiaries’ perspectives on a sub-national housing scheme in India

Purpose This study aims to examine institutional-socio-economic factors affecting the implementation of a sub-national housing scheme in India based on beneficiaries’ perspectives and provides policy recommendations for sustainable housing policies. Based on the observations during field investigation, this study proposes a conceptual framework highlighting the importance of policy interventions in enhancing individuals’ capabilities for public value creation. Design/methodology/approach This study performs thematic analysis of a sub-national housing scheme’s beneficiaries’ perspectives, narrations and experiences collected through field investigation consisting of focus group discussions and personal interviews. Findings This study identifies institutional governance, frontline administrative support, asset ownership, access to basic infrastructure, reduced living costs, perceived environmental comfort and social inclusion as key institutional-socio-economic enablers. The authors also find that infrastructure deficit, financing gaps and indebtedness, incomplete construction, financial exclusion and exploitation, livelihood insecurity, locational disadvantages and inferior construction quality as significant barriers for effective implementation of sub-national housing scheme in India. Based on the findings, the authors propose a conceptual framework by integrating policy implementation, capability approach to human development and public value theories to explain how policy interventions enhance or restrain beneficiaries’ capabilities in public value creation. Practical implications This study offers policy recommendations for sustainable housing models in line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, balancing socio-economic, environmental and governance factors. Originality/value This study makes a noteworthy contribution to the field of public housing policy by proposing multi-level Micro-Meso-Macro Framework. Such a framework is based on an evidence-based investigation of institutional-socio-economic factors influencing outcomes of public housing scheme. It further offers empirically grounded policy recommendations for socio-economic-environmental sustainability.