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Gram Vikas in Orissa helps villagers build their own disaster-proof houses and village infrastructure. Theirs is a unique and very successful model of disaster preparedness and management
The Orissa supercyclone of 1999 claimed 10,000 lives. Jagatsinghpur was one of the worst-hit districts. But there was a marked difference in the impact of the cyclone on two adjoining villages in this district, Tamana and Balliaput. Tamana reported no loss of life and assets, and not a single house collapsed. Balliaput, on the other hand, saw substantial losses. The number of workdays lost in Tamana was estimated to be seven, whereas in Balliaput it was 30. It has taken the people of Balliaput much longer to work towards a semblance of normalcy. They spent a great deal of time rebuilding their houses.
There was no doubt that Tamana was better-equipped to deal with the disaster. This is a village in which Gram Vikas, a rural development organisation based in Mohuda, Ganjam district, Orissa, has been working. Thanks to their intervention, the people were used to making their own decisions and initiating work. The village committee was strong and aided in accessing relief funds and organising rehabilitation processes. But most important was the fact that Gram Vikas had helped the villagers build pucca, disaster-proof houses and an enabling infrastructure.
The poor are usually denied housing loans by financial institutions because they doubt their pay-back capacity. The scepticism of financial institutions has been proved unwarranted by the Gram Vikas experience.
The Total Habitat programme of Gram Vikas is introduced only in villages where all the families agree to participate. Each family must raise an initial deposit of Rs 3,000-5,000 as an expression of its intent to build a house.
Gram Vikas helps build houses which are at least 440 sq ft, with the basic design of two rooms, kitchen, toilet and bathing room, and verandah. The cost of such a house is about Rs 45,000. Up to Rs 30,000 is extended as a loan. This has been made possible by a credit line from KfW (Germany) through the Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC). Gram Vikas underwrites the loans, bearing the entire risk and responsibility of proper disbursal and recovery. The entire loan is repayable over 15 years. Gram Vikas provides engineering and technical support to the villagers.
Along with the houses, Gram Vikas helps the villagers construct water supply and sanitation facilities, community assets like community halls, grain-banks, schools, roads, appropriate energy sources etc. The goal is to build a self-sufficient village.
Simultaneous with the creation of an enabling infrastructure, Gram Vikas facilitates a process of empowerment through educational initiatives, micro-enterprises, micro-finance and women\\\'s development. This twin strategy of community-driven management of local infrastructure and social empowerment forms the core of Gram Vikas\\\' development strategy. As a result, communities respond to a disaster with effectiveness, efficiency and complete participation.
Gram Vikas began its work in Orissa in 1971. At present it is spread over 12 districts in Orissa, directly reaching out to over 20,000 families. Eighty per cent of these communities are adivasis (tribals).
Contact: Gram Vikas,
Mohuda village,
Berhampur 760 002, Ganjam,
Orissa, India.
Tel: 91-680-209755-63
Email:
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Website: www.gramvikas.org
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