Many local people making many shelters better than one agency doing it

Sent by Ramkrishna Mukerji. Based on report by Rajendra and Rupal Desai (National Centre for People's Action in Disaster Preparedness, Ahmedabad). 

आपदा प्रभावित इलाकों में मध्यावधि शरणस्थल के लिए ज़रूरी है कि स्थानीय क्षमताओं व संसाधनों को मान्यता दी जाए और उन्हें सशक्त किया जाए।  किसी भी एजेंसी द्वारा बाहरी हस्तक्षेप लोगों द्वारा अपने आवास स्वयं बनाने की प्रक्रिया को समर्थन व प्रोत्साहन देने की ओर संचालित हो। बाहरी सहयोग संपूरक सामग्री, आर्थिक सहायता, सूचना, तकनीकी सलाह व आवश्यक प्रशिक्षण देने तक सीमित हो।  

मध्यावधि शरणस्थल का प्रारूप पारंपरिक ज्ञान और आधुनिक तकनीक का संगम हो जिसमे स्थानीय तौर पर उपलब्ध सामग्री का अधिकतम उपयोग हो व जिसे स्थानीय ओड (मिस्त्री) आसानी से बना सकें, बजाय कि ये काम बड़े ठेकेदारों द्वारा व पूर्व-निर्मित ढाचों से बनें। स्थानिकता अपनाने से ये शरणस्थल सबसे कम समय और खर्च में बन सकेंगे; लोग विशेषज्ञों पर निर्भर रहने की जगह आत्म-निर्भर होंगे; बाद में वे अपने शरणस्थल को आवश्यकतानुसार बढ़ा सकेंगे; और भविष्य में जब वे अपना स्थाई घर बनायेंगे तो अभी उपयुक्त सामग्री का तब भी बखूबी प्रयोग हो सकेगा।   

इस दिशा में, सरकार आपदा-प्रभावितों को मुआवजा का निपटारा जल्द-से-जल्द करे। पुनर्निर्माण के लिए लोगों की लकड़ी, पत्थर, पठाल, रेत, आदि की ज़रूरतों के लिए वन विभाग द्वारा निश्चित अवधि के लिए आवश्यक रियायती आदेश शीघ्र पारित किये जाएँ।   

मध्यावधि शरणस्थल के लिए कोई एक एजेंसी 1000 घर बनाये, उससे बेहतर है की 1000 लोग 1000 घर बनायें!

In rebuilding mid-term shelters, it is important that local capacities are recognized, respected and strengthened and processes consistent with resources and capacities of the local community are adopted. Any external intervention by any agency could best be directed at strengthening peoples’ initiatives to build their own mid-term shelters. The approach that promotes self-help with limited assistance from the government or NGO yields best results. External assistance could be in providing the supplemental materials and financial support, information, technical guidance, necessary tools and artisans or labour, if required.

The design of a mid-term shelter must be a gel between traditional knowledge and modern technology – one that makes maximum use of local material, and which can be effectively executed by local artisans.  

1. This is the quickest and also the most affordable economically. 
2. People are self-dependent rather than relying upon specialists.
3. People can upgrade the shelters in due course, if necessary.
4. Local materials used can be salvaged and recycled for extending or modifying the permanent housing that is built at some later stage.

Humanitarian agencies should ideally stay away from large contractors and prefabricated design, especially those using industrial materials. Use of ready-to-assemble structures with metal frame and infill panels must be avoided.

1. They are almost as expensive as the permanent structures. Also marred by procurement delays, transportation and insensitive distribution.
2. They are generally not repairable locally.
3. These are abandoned once people make their permanent structures. At that stage no material is salvageable. Then they degrade rapidly and remain as eyesores in the area for years to come.
4. Where large number of mid-term shelters are to be built, these do not save time since they require specially trained teams having special tools.

Policy recommendations

• Owner driven policy framework, supportive mechanisms for information, accessing required materials and skills and grievance redressal. 
• Quick redressal of compensation to the disaster affected will help community in rebuilding and reconstruction. 
• Policy intervention for specific time period on the use of forest resources such as timber (both fallen and green), stone, aggregate, sand by local communities in disaster hit areas for reconstruction