Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Khamir - Craft Resource Centre
With the vision of revitalizing the numerous and incomparable craft sectors in the District of Kutch, such as pottery and block printing, a resource and facilitation centre was set up for bringing together NGOs, local traditional artisans and foreign designers with different artistical backgrounds. In order to combine traditional methods with modern knowledge and with the main objective to learn from one another, Khamir-Craft Resource Centre emerged, a joint initiative of Kutch Nav Nirman Abhiyan, NFD (Nehru Foundation for Development) and CII (Confederation of Indian Industries). The centre arranges education, training, demonstration and interpretation facilities not only in the craft field, but also concerning environment and heritage conservation of Kutch. It forges creative partnership within the artisan community as well as with the external world. Besides the inspiring collaboration between the various artisans, Khamir, while renewing the different craft sectors, also addresses the numerous inherent technical, design, production and socio-economical issues. Under the guidance of the centre the artisans shall develop a strong market and business orientation to ensure their vital income.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Disaster Response in Nagapattinam
When in December 2004 a tsunami hit the shores of south India and Indonesia, the coalition of the organizations, which worked together against the ramifications of the earthquake in Gujarat 2001, applied their combined strength in various spheres of facilitation. The team helped to set up an information desk, while initiating an interface dialogue with the State in order to ensure the transfer of experiences and knowledge. Because of the association of several NGOs, like the Coordination ans Resource Centre (NCRC), the local South Indian Federation of Fishermen Societies (SIFFS), SNEHA and the different rehabilitation activities, which were planned and implemented collectively, also in this case of disaster response the cooperation was productive.
In the course of their previous success, members of organizations like Hunnarshala were also invited by the Urban Poor Consortium (UPC), a network of NGOs located in Jakarta, to visit Aceh, Indonesia, where the tsunami caused incredible damages. Besides the opportunity to share the experience on disaster rehabilitation with the local NGOs and the Government, the collaborating organizations from Kutch could also assist in following areas of intervention for promoting owner driven approach:
1. Organizational planning for rehabilitation
2. Semi-permanent and permanent shelter planning and capacity building
3. Coastal and urban planning
4. Livelihood rehabilitation planning
In the course of their previous success, members of organizations like Hunnarshala were also invited by the Urban Poor Consortium (UPC), a network of NGOs located in Jakarta, to visit Aceh, Indonesia, where the tsunami caused incredible damages. Besides the opportunity to share the experience on disaster rehabilitation with the local NGOs and the Government, the collaborating organizations from Kutch could also assist in following areas of intervention for promoting owner driven approach:
1. Organizational planning for rehabilitation
2. Semi-permanent and permanent shelter planning and capacity building
3. Coastal and urban planning
4. Livelihood rehabilitation planning
Disaster Response in Kashmir
In October 2005 India and Pakistan were involved in another disastrous earthquake, which had its epicentre in the region of Kashmir at a magnitude of 7.6. It cost life of about 86.000 people. When faced with a calamity of that kind, the Divisional Commissioner and the Government of Kashmir and Jammu invited a selected team coming from different organizations in Kutch, like Hunnarshala, which already witnessed the earthquake in 2001. Based on the experiences in post disaster rehabilitation in several stations (Kutch, Nagapattinum, Aceh), the work of the mentioned team should ensure that the victims had interim shelters before the onset of winter.
This team, composed of technical resource persons and professionals from the disaster response network, that emerged in the District of Kutch, elaborated the Interim Shelter Program. It contained e.g. the initial demonstration of the approach, methodology and design of the shelter, the dissemination of the house design and norms and policies through pamphlets. Moreover, the coordination with the Deputy Commissioner, various Government departments and NGOs, cluster planning and field assessment to identify vulnerable, indigent families.
This team, composed of technical resource persons and professionals from the disaster response network, that emerged in the District of Kutch, elaborated the Interim Shelter Program. It contained e.g. the initial demonstration of the approach, methodology and design of the shelter, the dissemination of the house design and norms and policies through pamphlets. Moreover, the coordination with the Deputy Commissioner, various Government departments and NGOs, cluster planning and field assessment to identify vulnerable, indigent families.
Disaster Response in Bihar
On the 18th of August 2008 the eastern embankment of Kosi was breached near Kusaha/Nepal. After the water inundated adjoining villages, it reached Bhimnagar, Birpur, India within a few hours. In Birpur flood water rose alarmingly to height of 5-6 feet shortly after the breach, while elsewhere, namely in Supaul, Saharsa, Madhepura and parts of Araria and Purnea, the water spread over a great extent and caused a severe damage to life and property. 3.345.545 have been affected and the devastation was spread over 3000 sq km of land area.
In the course of the calamity the ODRC (Owner Driven Reconstruction Collaborative) was invited by the Government of Bihar. The members could apply their multiple skills and abilities in various demands, e.g. conducting a rapid assessment followed by a quick medical relief. Furthermore, reconstruction policies and schemes for the affected families were put in place. The Government of Bihar should be supported by all available means and the reconstruction process was demonstrated in 2 hamlets, Puraini and Orlaha, which were harmed by the flood mostly. Before the people were able to rebuild their own houses the preparation phase was extensiv. A system had to be set up to warrant smooth financial transactions whereas informative materials, like booklets and manuals, in local language were created to describe the construction techniques. Additionally, and before moving into the huge task of reconstruction, workshops were initiated by the ODRC and other local organizations, e.g. Megh Pyne Abhiyan, in December 2008. They contained the planning and the interaction with the district administration and the block level stakeholders. Practical programmes, such as mason training and bamboo carpentry workshops were organized to extract the best of the local resources and the traditional skills and to combine them with the valuable knowledge of the local and foreign helpers. When the pilot program began the most vulnerable families were identified, subsidized with about Rs. 115.00 as assistance, and, above all, instructed how to rebuild their homes using their own competencies and the natural resources of the region.
In the course of the calamity the ODRC (Owner Driven Reconstruction Collaborative) was invited by the Government of Bihar. The members could apply their multiple skills and abilities in various demands, e.g. conducting a rapid assessment followed by a quick medical relief. Furthermore, reconstruction policies and schemes for the affected families were put in place. The Government of Bihar should be supported by all available means and the reconstruction process was demonstrated in 2 hamlets, Puraini and Orlaha, which were harmed by the flood mostly. Before the people were able to rebuild their own houses the preparation phase was extensiv. A system had to be set up to warrant smooth financial transactions whereas informative materials, like booklets and manuals, in local language were created to describe the construction techniques. Additionally, and before moving into the huge task of reconstruction, workshops were initiated by the ODRC and other local organizations, e.g. Megh Pyne Abhiyan, in December 2008. They contained the planning and the interaction with the district administration and the block level stakeholders. Practical programmes, such as mason training and bamboo carpentry workshops were organized to extract the best of the local resources and the traditional skills and to combine them with the valuable knowledge of the local and foreign helpers. When the pilot program began the most vulnerable families were identified, subsidized with about Rs. 115.00 as assistance, and, above all, instructed how to rebuild their homes using their own competencies and the natural resources of the region.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Disaster Response in the District of Kutch
In recent years the District of Kutch has been affected frequently by several natural disasters. When in 1998 the Kandla Cyclone hit the region, which cost the life of 900 people, Kutch and its communities were in need of profound and professional development aid, which emerged as numerous NGOs. Their main concerns were to support and assist the affected communities on rebuilding and mobilizing the Government and charitable donors. In 2001 the work of the organizations became more important, when a devastating earthquake shook the District of Kutch and Gujarat in large part. It left a scene of destruction, about 30.000 dead people and a vast number of casualties: an enormous loss of life and property.
In close collaboration with the communities and civil society more than 200 NGOs worked in various sectors, namely reconstruction, dam repair, health, education, handicrafts, livelihood and legal. Considering their implementations and initiatives until today, Abhiyan and its member organizations extended their work from immediate short-term relief after the earthquake to long term rehabilitation.
In close collaboration with the communities and civil society more than 200 NGOs worked in various sectors, namely reconstruction, dam repair, health, education, handicrafts, livelihood and legal. Considering their implementations and initiatives until today, Abhiyan and its member organizations extended their work from immediate short-term relief after the earthquake to long term rehabilitation.
Monday, September 6, 2010
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