Welcome!

Abhiyan is a collective of development organizations based in the District of Kutch (India). The purpose of the network is to synergize human knowledge and physical and financial recources in order to work towards a Kutch which is governed by several communities. Abhiyan encourages self-help development and combines traditional acquirements with new technologies. Moreover, the collective innovates and balances subjects concerning human rights and human responsibilities.

Kutch Nav Nirman Abhiyan and its members welcome all interested agencies, supporters, followers and also those who have not decided yet.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Anna Hazare Anti-Corruption March

On 5th of April 2011 the Indian social activist and Gandhian Kisan Bapat Baburao Hazare, respectfully called "Anna" (older Brother), started a "fast unto death" to exert leverage on the Government of India to enact an efficient anti-corruption law as envisaged in the already existing but blocked Jan Lokpal Bill. This law should establish an ombudsman with the power to deal with corruption in public offices. This initiative led to nationwide protests in support of Anna Hazare. Hundreds of his fellow campaigners joined in the hunger strike. After 4 days the Indian Government saw itself constrained to retreat and gave the okay to start new negotiations, with the participations of Anna Hazare, about the Lokpal Bill.
The Indian public seemed relieved that someone made the first move and reacted immediately: telestations broadcasted live for hours, actors and sportsmen assured their support and people of every age took to the street and demonstrated for more justice and a new Indian spirit.



Even the people of Kutch joined a rally organized by Kutch Nav Nirman Abhiyan in Bhuj to support Anne Hazare's act. On the 8th of April 2011 hundreds of citizens came out into the streets, carrying placards and stating slogans. "Anna Hazare age bhado!" (Anna Hazare go ahead!) and "Hindustan jaga hai!" (India is awake!) people shouted relentlessly, even during the coming together at Hamirsar Lake, where Abhiyan trustees such as Lalbhai and Adakaka spoke to the people. After the speeches, every participant went to the Mahatma Gandhi statue to light a candle, as a symbol for the non-violent protest.


Saturday, May 21, 2011

Sheetal's Farewell



In April Kutch Nav Nirman Abhiyan had to say 'Good Bye' to one of its dedicated fellow employees. Shree Sheetal P. Patel resigned after 9 years working and being committed for the NGO and for the people of Kutch, in order to apply herself to different occupational interests. Sheetal joined Abhiyan in 2002, after the devastating earthquake of 2001. By this time she was especially working in Bhachau taluka, before she associated herself with the Setu programme of Abhiyan in 2005. For Setu she occupied the position of the health coordinator.

Sheetal, the whole Abhiyan staff misses you a lot. But we hope that you enjoy working in a new task field and we wish you the best of luck. Stay the way you are, a sweet and warm person with a heart of gold. Thank you for being with us. 

Friday, May 20, 2011

Dear All!

At Abhiyan, we have lots of regular updates on projects, trainings, networking etc. We always want to share all this information with all of you, but this information is always not available in format that we can email you. Again all members do not have email addresses or internet access facility. We are always sending you important information by post/courier and in future also we will do the same. But to make it easy to share information with you, we are starting a blog in the name of Kutch Nav Nirman Abhiyan. Regularly we will update you through this blog.

Thanking you,

Harish Hurmade,
Consultant for Abhiyan and Khamir

Indigenous Housing Technologies: The Hunnarshala Foundation

The devastating earthquake in 2001 showed cruelly but also impressively how disaster can bring out the best in human and likewise how well coordinated disaster rehabilitation is skilled at infusing new energy and at changing development directions for a region.
These are the principles of the Hunnarshala Foundation. Its members gave proof of lifesaving and innovative abilities not only during the earthquake but especially for strengthening traditional wisdom and technology.
During the Shelter Reconstruction Programme after the calamity of 2001, that was undertaken by various NGOs and the Government, arose the need for a long term institution which could enable a sustainable revival of traditional building crafts. That was the birth of the non-profit organization Hunnarshala, which was primarily guided by the ideas of working with and encouraging the interests of building artisans and their craft through training, assistance and capacity building to the end that it leads them into the mainstream of construction. Furthermore, the organization promotes eco-friendly, cost effective and low energy building materials and techniques and it provides housing und construction facilities which combines high quality and affordability.
From the beginning, Hunnarshala has worked towards owner and community driven reconstruction in Tamil Nadu, Kashmir, Indonesia and Afghanistan, where the organization facilitated the building process of more than 30.000 interim shelters and 12.000 permanent homes, while in Bihar, after the Kosi floods, it initiated one of the most comprehensive demonstrations for rehab.
By cooperating and working with the community, rural experts, professionals and the Government, Hunnarshala showed that two important principles can lead to development concerning success: on the one hand, most regions in the world have communities, which, when trusted and well assisted, are able to create equitable, cost effective and safe recovery. Moreover, traditional design, building practices and the use of natural resources and materials, such as bamboo and mud, offer the best directions for sustainable habitat development.

Training on Decentralization to Local Governments

In the state of Gujarat, decentralization has grown increasingly important in ensuring that the development programs created by the government at the central level actually reach those who need those benefits the most. By focusing on strengthening local governments, Abhiyan ensures that those who live in a village are able to plan for their village and to shape the future of following generations. Through decentralization, local governments work on the local needs of their village and are empowered with the proper tools to do so. 
The state government of Gujarat is rapidly endorsing industrialization and has created all kinds of corporate tax breaks and incentives for major factories to  establish themselves in the Kutch district. The local governments and citizens have only little power to encourage these corporations to take the environment, culture, tradition, the health and well-being of people into consideration. Farmers face land encroachment and migrant workers have doubled the populations of small villages not yet at capacity to support such sudden growth. This has led to severe sanitation, hygiene problems etc. and weighs heavy on the spirit of the people in rural Kutch. 
Kutch Nav Nirman Abhiyan, in cooperation with qualified resource persons from all over India and as part of a larger proposal to strengthen grassroots governance, citizenship and the political economy of rural Kutch, has begun the process of establishing a leadership and Research Centre on Decentralized Governance, in order to engage with change makers within civil society, key Local Government (Panchayat) leaders and grassroots administrators. The Centre will put in place a Learning Hub, which will, amongst other activities, undertake structured knowledge building on good decentralised local governance. One of the core interventions of the Learning Hub is to develop a course on Local Governance and Citizenship. The objective of the course is to equip change agents in decentralized governance with the theory and practice of decentralized governance. This innovative training program encourages citizens and local government officials to become advocates for their right to govern. This course introduces them to new tools such as natural resource mapping and budgeting, and conceptual ideas about democracy, advocacy and citizenship, leaving all participants hopeful for a better future. 
This month the first session of the training ended and the motivation, the engagement and the energy of the participants was inspiring. See the pictures of the different workshops held in November 2010 and January and May 2011.