KUTCH EARTHQUAKE RECONSTRUCTION
The very beginnings of Hunnarshala lie in the 2001 Earthquake. A collective of Kutch’s NGOs, Kutch Nav Nirman Abhiyan was formed in 1998 as a response to a devastating cyclone that ravaged parts of Gujarat. In the aftermath of the earthquake in Bhuj, Abhiyan - as it is popularly called - constituted a Building & Innovation Cell to aid the reconstruction activity. This cell went on to become Hunnarshala in 2003.
In 2001 the state government didn’t have guidelines for construction in earth technologies which meant that the affected villages couldn’t rebuild in their traditional format. Hunnarshala (as a unit of Abhiyan) invited the Technical Advisor of GSDMA, Dr. A. S. Arya to examine stabilised earth technologies. Together with him, we tested earth technologies and helped issue guidelines for the same. Later we also worked towards issuing technical building guidelines for unstabilized earth technologies.
Along with the guidelines we prepared a manual for masons in gujarati to educate them about safe construction practices. These technical guidelines and manual enabled more than 100 villages to rebuild using earth technologies. Hunnarshala worked closely with partner organisations of Abhiyan, like Kutch Mahila Vikas Sangathan (KMVS) to train the rural population in bhunga construction so that they could rebuild their homes in a way that didn't compromise on safety as well as their cultural expression.
In 2001 the state government didn’t have guidelines for construction in earth technologies which meant that the affected villages couldn’t rebuild in their traditional format. Hunnarshala (as a unit of Abhiyan) invited the Technical Advisor of GSDMA, Dr. A. S. Arya to examine stabilised earth technologies. Together with him, we tested earth technologies and helped issue guidelines for the same. Later we also worked towards issuing technical building guidelines for unstabilized earth technologies.
Along with the guidelines we prepared a manual for masons in gujarati to educate them about safe construction practices. These technical guidelines and manual enabled more than 100 villages to rebuild using earth technologies. Hunnarshala worked closely with partner organisations of Abhiyan, like Kutch Mahila Vikas Sangathan (KMVS) to train the rural population in bhunga construction so that they could rebuild their homes in a way that didn't compromise on safety as well as their cultural expression.
