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        The 
        project to facilitate sustainable habitat in rural Bundelkhand “Housing 
        Delivery and Habitat Development, District Tikamgarh” , was sanctioned by 
        the Council for Advancement of People’s Action and Rural Technologies (CAPART) 
        to Development Alternatives, under the Government of India’s ‘Innovative 
        Scheme for Housing and Habitat Development’ for the construction of 35 
        houses and related community infrastructure. While the project was 
        sanctioned in March 2004 and the basic preparations for implementation 
        were made, 50% of the funds for the project were only released in 
        February 2005. Work commenced in earnest with the advent of the grant. 
        The 
        project is being implemented in the village Mador of Niwari Block in 
        District Tikamgarh, Madhya Pradesh.Vision  The project aims 
        at establishing sustainable processes for upgradation of habitat 
        conditions in rural Bundelkhand. This vision is being realized through 
        the following objectives 
          
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             Enabling the rural poor to improve the quality of their built 
            environment and infrastructure through sustainable access to 
            appropriate technology, skills and finance |  
            | l | Enabling the community to access finance for 
            acquiring housing and habitat infrastructure |  
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             In line with the 
            vision and the broad objectives stated above, following specific 
            objectives have been formulated for implementation of the project in 
            the identified village:  |  
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             To provide 
            improved shelter for 35 rural families belonging to the BPL, SC and 
            ST communities and other vulnerable groups |  
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             To establish community facilities and local infrastructures 
            such as hand pumps, street drains, street lighting and community 
            spaces in the targeted villages  |  
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             To build up capacity of local artisans in production of and 
            construction with innovative building materials and technologiesal">
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             To strengthen local institutions, such as SHGs, Panchayat and 
            Village Development Communities, enabling them to manage village 
            habitat and infrastructural processes over a long term. |  
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             To set up a rural housing finance mechanism, wherein the 
            beneficiary contributes one-third of the total cost of the house and 
            the balance two-third is in the form of grant through the schemes. 
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         The 
        project model is based on two-third grant (from CAPART) and one-third 
        contribution from the 35 local families. The families have to contribute 
        both in cash and kind – material and labour. Interest on loan shall be 
        used for maintenance of the community infrastructure. 
        Project Process  
            As 
            part of the innovative housing construction project in Village Mador, 
            various novel processes have been initiated. For the first time in 
            Bundelkhand, such a project is being executed wherein the 
            beneficiaries are involved as major stakeholders, while major part 
            of the contribution (67%) is external.  
        A 
        Village Development Committee (VDC) has been formed, comprising 12 
        elected members. Men and women as well as both the local communities (Adivasi and Ahirwar) have been 
        equally represented in the VDC. 
        A 
        simple management system has been introduced in the project wherein the 
        VDC manages the local activities with regular inputs from the qualified 
        professionals of Development Alternatives at Orchha.  
        A 
        participatory design meeting was organized with the families in March 
        2005. Various models in terms of designs of dwelling units were shared 
        with the local community and the families were given a free hand to put 
        forward a design they liked. Gender related issues were discussed, 
        during which women expressed their views about the kitchen and toilet 
        spaces. On the basis of the needs of the families, the designs of 
        dwelling units were finalized. A broad choice of materials and 
        technologies was also provided to the families with the help of 
        experienced masons and communication posters and the families, like 
        tough customers cross-questioned the technical team about the various 
        advantages of improved technologies and building materials. At the end 
        of the meeting, the community agreed on a combination of stone masonry 
        and rat-trap bond brick walls and micro-concrete roofing tiles. More 
        emphasis was given on the improvement in living spaces as well as 
        optimum utilization of local resources during this meeting.   
            Project Implementation  
            
            As the first step of the project, the families are encouraged to 
            submit the earnest money (Rs. 2000). Apart from the cash payment, a 
            family is supposed to contribute labour and building materials for 
            its house.  
        As a 
        strategic step, construction of the community buildings have been 
        initiated prior to that of the dwelling units in order to demonstrate 
        improved construction technologies to the villagers; boost the income of 
        labourer families and train the VDC in systems of record keeping and 
        construction management.  
        
        Monsoons being around the corner, it was insisted to start the 
        construction and complete a few dwelling units as well. 
            Current Status 
            
             Presently, 
            the status highlights a number of motivated families and an 
            empowered community. In all, 17 families have paid the earnest money 
            and 17 layouts have also been done. 11 houses have been dug up, six 
            have reached the plinth level and six have attained the cill level. 
            Regarding the community infrastructure, one of the two community 
            buildings has reached the roof level while the second has been laid 
            out, but has not initiated the construction owing to it being in the 
            area of families outside the periphery of the scheme. Water 
            receptivity tests have been also performed for two water points. 
        The 
        names of VDC members have been painted on a wall of the village with 
        their roles and responsibilities. Good construction guidelines have also 
        been painted. While motivation activities were being initiated in the 
        village, six village masons have received a training in stone masonry at 
        TARAgram. Currently, two villagers are receiving RCC chowkhat 
        training at TARAgram, which they may take up as an enterprise to supply 
        door and window frames for the project or sell it locally.  
            Impinging Impediments   
            
            The project has survived many a problems since its inception. The 
            village is situated in a remote region, with virtually no access to 
            any road. The families took a long time to understand the concept. 
            The VDC has been constantly struggling in terms of the management of 
            the project. The families are very poor, and the days they 
            contribute in the form of labour without wages further add to the 
            crisis. Moreover, Bundelkhand is one of the hottest regions of India 
            with hardly any water, which is posing problems in construction 
            activities. 
        An 
        additional obstacle is the fact that despite repeated requests in the 
        proposal, CAPART has not sanctioned funds either for capacity building 
        or administrative expenses of Development Alternatives. These are being 
        sourced from parallel projects and resulting in a financial loss. It 
        must be noted that a parallel training (and capacity building) for 
        masons and production units in the village is essential for “innovative 
        technologies and approaches”. Thus, this issue needs to be addressed 
        urgently for the successful completion of the project.  
           
            The Way Forward 
            In 
            midst of the social housing project, the shelter team is trying to 
            streamline the various sustainable processes. It is trying to 
            convert the project into a model for Social Housing Schemes in 
            Bundelkhand. In order to achieve its objective, the team is training 
            the VDC on a daily basis in the spheres of construction and 
            management skills. Currently, the team aims to: 
          
          Introduce Roof Rain Water Harvesting System in the 
          village;
          Introduce RCC Chowkhat enterprise in the village;
          Initiate water sources in the village for construction 
          as well as drinking purposes;
          Complete the construction of maximum dwelling units 
          before the onset of  monsoons; and Facilitate as 
            well as standardize family contribution procedures. 
        
        
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