NATIONAL CONSULTATION

ON

CLIMATE SMART DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT

Shelter Strategy to Adapt to Climate Change

Project: Barmer Aashray Yojana

BY

SEEDS

7th April,2010

BARMER AASHRAY YOJANA

Introduction:

August 2006 saw unprecedented rainfall/floods in otherwise

drought stricken region of Barmer,Rajasthan. The floods led to a

loss of 139 lives and rendered 50000 homeless.

.

Barmer, Rajasthan, India

Flash flood in desert /drought

prone region.

Situation:

Last 200 years had not witnessed rain!

• Characteristic by sparse and scattered living.

• 4 to 5 circular structures in one cluster formed a family’s abode

(locally called Dhani)

• A set of cluster (Dhanis) formed a village.

• Water is scarce. Women walk several kilometers each day to

fetch water.

• Population density lowest in the district.

• Means of livelihood is severely limited.

CHARACTERISTICS OF LOCAL COMMUNITY

• Environmental friendly materials were traditionally used for housing (mud walls & thatched roofs).

• The houses were conducive and thermally comfortable in the extreme weather conditions. Orientation of Houses such that the wind direction and sun path ensured good ventilation and thermal comfort, critical for summer temperatures reaching about 50 degree C.

• Circular and low heights design protected the structures from strong winds and earthquakes.

• However, the adobe structures collapsed when severe floods took place

INITIAL SHELTER ASSESSMENT

Traditional practices were very appropriate, shortfalls in the water

resistant capacity of the mud structures led to damage during floods.

Traditional design was effective but need some technological

intervention to address unprecedented disaster.

Community needed to start Adapting to Climate Change

HOW INDIGENOUS CONSTRUCTION PRACTICE WAS RECOGNIZED AND

UPGRADED

Good design

for safety and

comfort

Extreme

climatic

conditions

Local

availability of

materials at

no cost

Community

involvement

in

construction

of shelters

Community

leaders

setting an

example

Indigenous

Shelter

Technology

Adapting to Climate Change

300 Interim Shelters were reconstructed through reengineering indigenous coping mechanisms to help the community to adapt

– Mud walling upgraded to soil-cement – Stabilized Compressed Earth Block [ SCEB]

– Traditional roof material retained.

– Traditional design enlarged.

– Reconstruction in-situ and approach participatory

Village Development committees (men, women, local govt. representative,

school teachers, NGO representative) were informed in each village to be

sensitive to the change in climate and adapt it for being Climate Change

Resilience

RE-ENGINEERING SHELTERS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE SENSITIVITY

CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION IN SHELTER DESIGN

CLIMATE SMART DISASTER RISK REDUCTION PROCESS

Adaptation

Climate Smart DRR priorities for the project

• Shelters designed to adapt to the changing

climate patterns and phenomena–

especially floods

• Protection against sandstorms and

Earthquakes

• Thermal Insulation

• Reengineered Indigenous Coping

mechanisms so as to help community to

adapt

• Circular Designs were easy to replicate

locally , therefore sustainable

Thank You

Project Supported by

Christian Aid

&

ECHO