India
Economic DevelopmentBuilding dignity through habitat development India
Building dignity through habitat development India
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Gram Vikas Head Office in Mohuda
Gram Vikas’ work is coordinated through its head office at Mohuda in Ganjam district, Orissa. The aesthetic design and cost effective construction makes for an appropriate setting for the organization.
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Garden using wastewater from bathing room
Wastewater from the bathing room is diverted to kitchen gardens where families grow fruits like banana and papaya and trees like drumstick. This adds to the nutrition of the families.
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Construction of toilets and bathing rooms
Local youth are trained in masonry, plumbing and other skills in the course of construction in the villages. This enables them to undertake periodic maintenance and repair within the village. they aer also able to find jobs outside and earn additional income from these skills.
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View of a village
Each house has its own toilet and bathing room with piped water supply throughout the year. There is a greater consciousness regarding cleanliness of the habitat after implementation of the program.
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Cost-effective and disaster-proof houses
Construction of cost-effective and disaster-proof houses has a direct effect on improving the lives of the rural poor. While their vulnerability in the time of disasters is reduced, the houses also create an environment where families aspire for better livelihoods and a better quality of life.
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Community water tank
Each village has an overhead water tank, to which water is pumped from a safe source and supplied through pipes to all families in the village. The storage capacity ensures that water is available all day, throughout the year. There is a direct impact on reduced drudgery of women, whose traditional role of fetching water for all household purposes is eliminated.
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Digging for the main pipeline
Water sourced from protected open wells, deep borewells or natural springs is lifted to the overhead water tank and supplied through pipes to all families. Villagers contribute labor and local materials for laying the pipeline.
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Community managed vertical shaft brick kiln
The vertical shaft brick kiln uses Chinese technology to produce environmentally efficient and cost-effective bricks. The technology is such that the kiln can be operated throughout the year, generating employment and income for the rural poor.
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Women attending a village meeting
As the program benefits women directly, they are encouraged to participate actively in making decisions. The involvement of women gradually increases as they develop confidence in participating at the community level. The roles and relations of men and women are slowly redefined and become more equitable over a period of time.
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Women masons with cycles
Breaking traditional barriers, women have been trained in masonry, traditionally considered ‘a man’s job’. The trained women bought bicycles in order to make their commute to work easier.
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