Shivani Mehdiratta

The National Rural Housing Exposition “GRAMAWAS 95”, organised by Ministry of Rural Employment and Poverty Alleviation, and India Trade Promotion Organization was inaugurated on the 15^th Nov. ’95 by the Prime Minister Mr. P.V. Narasimha Rao who was accompanied by three union ministers, viz, Shri P. Chidambaram, Shri Jagannath Mishra and Shri S.S. Ahluwalia. The P.M. took keen interest in the technologies displayed, the model houses put up by the states, namely – Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Orissa, Kerala & Jammu & Kashmir. Malaysia was also invited to participate.  It has put up a prefabricated house that was assembled on site in just 8 hours.  The state model houses use local materials and some cost-effective construction techniques which are bound to be increasingly adopted in the future.  The cost of the model houses vary from Rs. 15, 000/- to Rs. 40,000/- depending on the materials used – biomass, bamboo, sandstones, ferrocement, mud blocks, tiles of different varieties such as terracota, Mangalore and TARAcrete.

 The central theme area, one of the main features of the exposition, is divided into 5 sections each of which highlights the concept and philosophy of Rural Housing in India.  The five parts are:

i)	Context	:-	Examines problems of rural housing and mismanagement of resources
ii)	Rural Habitat and Environment	:-	Deals with issues like water supply, sanitation, energy etc.
iii)	Housing Patterns	:-	Covering habitat planning, housing typology and house sites for the landless.
iv)	Building Systems	:-	Includes cost effective Technologies adopted by various agencies working in appropriate technology area, e.g. Laurie Baker’s; Centre for Science for Villages, Wardha; Anangpur Building Centre; Nizamuddin Building Centre; Development Alternatives & Building Materials Technology Promotion Council.
v)	Roofing the Landless	:-	Contemplates issues like light weight roofs, House design & size, use of timber, house upgradation methods and delivery systems.

There is HUDCO Gram, a Cluster of 6 model houses built by HUDCO in collaboration with building centres of A.P., Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, U.P. and Laurie Baker’s.  These houses display techniques like filler slabs, terracotta tile roofs, ferrocement roofing channels and doors.

Role of Development Alternatives

Tara Nirman Kendra installed 2 roofs of micro concrete roofing (MCR) tiles with primary and secondary wood in the central theme area, along with providing stabilised compressed earth blocks for making part of the theme pavilion.  MCR roof has also been provided for M.P’s pavilion.  Ferrocement roofing channels have been installed for Laurie Baker’s display pavilion in HUDCO Gram.  Development Alternatives has set up a live demonstration of manufacturing process of MCR tiles on the Vibrator machine developed by it.

 A prefabricated unit has also been set up by TNK sponsored by BMTPC, which is made up of precast ferrocement wall panels and columns – assembled at site.  The roof is of MCR tiles with ferrocement understructure, a unique feature.

 The Prime Minister showed much interest in the prefabricated unit and the MCR demonstration during his visit.  Ministers and important persons of the Central and State governments followed suit.

Based on the theme paper prepared by Mr. S.K. Sharma (Published in December 1995 issue of the Newsletter), a series of 4 seminars has already been organised by Ministry of Rural Employment and Poverty Alleviation and ITPO during 7^th to 15^th December’95, in which representatives from various states participated including Senior Administrators, Professionals, Panchayats and NGOs.  Mr. Laurie Baker chaired the plenary session and MR. S.K. Sharma of Development Alternatives and Chairman of the Co-ordination Committee presented the key issues which are, in the main –

i)	Quantum of Assistance Indira Awas Yojana.
ii)	Selection of house sites for beneficiaries under IAY.
iii)	Housing typology
iv)	Engineered Vs. Non Engineered house
v)	Roof-the critical component
vi)	Thermal comfort
vii)	Use of Bamboo and wood
viii)	Energy & Drinking Water
ix)	Sanitation
x)	Rural Civic Buildings
xi)	Appropriate Technology
xii)	Local Participation
xiii)	Capacity Buildings through sustainable Livelihoods

BMTPC and HUDCO made technical presentations and CAPART outlines the participatory process.  These presentations were followed by state-wise group discussions.  The recommendations of the states were then presented in the concluding session.  The recommendations are now being processed for working out strategies for speedy implementation. There was great emphasis on region specific planning, housing typology, building techniques and choices at state levels.

More seminars are scheduled for January, 1996 for professionals to participate in and divert their creativity toward the needs of Rural India.  We have the expertise and the awareness, but do we have the will to utilise the wherewithals?  Once there is a shelter, rural people may find it worthwhile adopting a sanitary system that gives them a clean and hygienic living environment, reducing risks of disease vectors that thrive in unhygienic conditions, and seeking qualitative improvements to personal and community health care and education.

 Making rural shelter available at an affordable cost is a great leap forward on the development track.  Posterity will judge whether the exposition was a serious effort to tackle one of the most basic development needs or just a pre-election public relations exercise!

Entry from Gate No. 1, Pragati Maidan is free.  The exposition is on till 31^st January 1996.

Shivani Mehdiratta works in the Shelter Group of Development Alternatives

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