Empowerment of Women and Communities through Technology Transfer
S Raghuram, Manjulika Pais and Kavita Paul

Technology shapes human life and transforms cultures. Technology means know-how and know- why.   It is aimed at reducing drudgery and to make life simpler.  Technology is a double-edged sword.  It can either create or destroy.  When we at Development Alternatives talk about technology we always refer to what is known as appropriate technology, which is eco-friendly, energy efficient, makes use of local resources and creates plenty of employment. It is production by the masses and not mass production.  

We are in the pursuit of bettering human life through appropriate technology intervention.  The path is not easy.  Most of the time the target population is so poor and marginal they are considered to be beneficiaries of an intervention, and not partners. In such situations the interventions are likely to fade out as soon as the implementing organisation withdraws because the behavioural patterns of these target communities are not changed to the fullest extent.  The target community will not feel that it is for its own good and will not maintain the resources created during the intervention. To make the scene positive we are initiating  participatory development initiatives of technology transfer. We have built a strong  network of partner organisations who in turn take the benefits of this technology to the grass roots.  The following are two interesting stories of empowerment of women and communities through our efforts. 

Gowramma builds a strong house

When unprecedented rain  hit Devanahalli in Bangalore district in 1991, Gowramma a daily wager, lost her house along with thousands of poor people in this area. It was during this time the State Government sought help from the Voluntary Organisations  around Bangalore to work for the affected communities.  Development Alternatives came forward and submitted a proposal to CAPART  to build  houses for  50 SC/ST families  at Devanahalli, 35 km from Bangalore and  2 km from our R&D Centre located there.  Community participation was the key component of  this rehabilitation plan.

Community mobilisation began with  lengthy discussions with the local people, on the technologies to be used, the necessity of their participation and our role in the process. Discussions were held with the communities on a number of occasions to understand their needs and perceptions and to convince them of our role and bonafides and to elicit their participation.  The design of the houses  which was of an area of  180 sq.ft. was  finalised with help of the people.  The strategy adopted which bore significant  results, was to identify someone like Gowramma who could play her role with enthusiasm and efficiency displaying a sense of ownership. She picked up training fast and produced good quality mud blocks and MCR tiles. This influenced her peers  favourably.   The youth of each family  contributed their labour in block, tile and ferroconcrete rafter production, the transportation of materials and help with the masonry and curing etc. This contribution was valued at Rs.  5300 per household  out of Rs 15,600 which was the cost of the entire house. Thus Gowramma and her neighbours became happy house owners and not beneficiaries of a programme. A community which was considered backward was able to build good houses itself when its felt needs were addressed and the entire community participated in the decision making process.

1,25,000 compressed earth blocks and 15,000 micro concrete roofing tiles over ferroconcrete understructure were used in construction of 50 houses.  These houses are  more than five years old  and are a very impressive demonstration of participatory technology transfer.

Vijaylakshmi becomes an entrepreneur

Vijaylakshmi an agricultural labourer  from Kudlur village of Hunsur taluk, heard of Mahilodaya  Women’s Self Help Group organised by ODP, a grass root NGO from Mysore and became a member. Shy and reserved, Vijaylakshmi was poor and could not afford a decent house but had always dreamt of having one.  She saved with Mahilodaya her hard earned money.  Mahilodaya, floated a scheme for the members to get their own homes which are environmental friendly and cost effective, yet strong and beautiful. They selected Vijaylakshmi to get one house under the scheme.

The scheme was unique, the members had to learn the production of cost effective building materials  and also the management of group enterprises and then  participate in the construction.  Mahilodaya  helped its members in procuring the requisite machinery and the initial capital. Vijayalakshmi was trained in mud block and MCR tile production. She started earning a decent income from the entrepreneurial activity and used this extra income in paying for the loan she had taken from Mahilodaya. She now lives with her family in the newly built house, full of confidence. Vijaylakshmi is  an entrepreneur and a proud owner of a house.

Mahilodaya of ODP has extended the scheme of building houses for its members in the districts of  Mysore and Kodagu.  More than 75  Mahilodaya members are now proud owners of houses built with compressed earth blocks and micro concrete roofing tiles.  Mahilodaya members have produced 3 lakh compressed earth blocks and nearly 1 lakh micro concrete roofing tiles.  The members are very confident about the materials and technologies used in their houses and are becoming role models for other interested people and organisations in replicating the unique experiment.   q

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