The Building Materials Services Bank – The Ashraya Reconstruction Project, Orissa, CARE India
During October 1999 the Indian state of Orissa was struck by two severe cyclones. The second one was
particularly damaging, destroying about 800,000 houses. CARE India was one of the agencies active in
reconstruction and supporting people to recover their livelihoods. It developed a broad programme covering
restoration of livelihoods, multi-purpose shelter provision, food for work, and disaster preparedness.
Another element was the construction of 1,400 core houses facilitated through a Building Material
Services Bank (BMSB) known as the Ashraya project.
The core houses used cyclone resistant designs which would provide a safe retreat during future
cyclones. The Indian NGO, Development Alternatives, developed the designs of the core houses and
provided the specifications for the building materials and construction techniques. Priority for getting a
core house was given to the most vulnerable people whose homes had been destroyed: among them were
women-headed households, the landless and disabled people. The project gave priority to community
management and capacity building of community groups and their NGO partners. This included training
in building materials production, construction techniques and construction management, providing
livelihoods opportunities for local people.
As a support service three Buildings Materials and Service Banks were set up. Here building materials
and components production units were set up employing local people. NGOs and community groups
building the core houses could go to the BMSBs to obtain building materials and components or hire a
skilled builder trained by the project. Later on the outreach of the BMSBs was extended by setting up
mobile building centres that offered training at the construction sites.
For the longer-term the project considered how to make the BMSBs more sustainable and able to
support themselves so that they can continue to supply building materials and raise the skill levels of
local building artisans. Their activities would also focus on awareness raising and mitigation for reducing
the disaster risks of cyclones. They have therefore been linked more closely with the Indian Government’s
Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council, and the potential of BMSBs to support provision of
other infrastructure and services such as water, sanitation and energy has also been investigated. These
they could provide, alongside building materials, on the commercial market.
For more information see Development Alternatives (reference below)
Post-tsunami reconstruction with a fishing community in Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu
The small village of Pillumedu was located on the coast of Tamil Nadu between a mangrove forest and the
sea. The tsunami of 26th December 2004 completely destroyed the hamlet including all 82 houses, as
well as fishing boats and nets. The villagers were helped to rebuild by an NGO ‘Centre for Rural Education
and Economic Development’ (CREED). As well as being the implementing agency, they acted as an
intermediary between the community and various other stakeholders including funding bodies and the
Government.
The reconstruction effort was highly participatory. The community were involved in all matters such as
the selection of land for relocation and the choice and adaptation of house designs. Community members
provided both paid and unpaid labour. The reconstruction effort involved rebuilding not only houses, but
also providing better roads and drainage, sanitation, and an over-head tank for community water supply.
The houses are “jointly owned” by both husband and wife, or by the women where they lost their husbands
in the disaster.
In terms of their livelihood in fishing, the site they chose was along a backwater which allowed
them access to both the sea and the local market where they sell their fish. The project also included
components to help replace fishery technology, infrastructure and poultry.
Source: Case Study in UNDP India (2008) p.67-70
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