Steer India; Day 8

Namaste! After a hearty breakfast at Sham-E-Sarhad, we were all energized and excited for this jam-packed day! We made a 20 min bus ride to the Hodka village (which was the hometown of the staff at Sham-E-Sarhad) and got to experience the village life for ourselves.

Being in a rural and dry terrain, water is an important and precious resource for the Hodka villagers. They have developed an ingenious method of harvesting water by building depressions on the flat land. This method is called the zeel and virda technique. These depressions will collect the surface water during the monsoon season and serve as their water supply for household and agricultural purposes during the dry seasons. Each depression is able to last a household for 15 days. Some of our students tried harvesting the water themselves and it was definitely not an easy feat! As we walked around, we discovered a large dam nearby. Although modern technologies such as dams may be more efficient in collecting water for the entire community, traditional methods are still relevant and widely used in rural areas today due to their low cost and feasibility. However, with the rise in urbanization and development even in rural areas, it is interesting to note whether such traditional methods will still persist in the future, and how the lives of the villagers will be influenced.

At Hodka village, we saw many villagers - both adults and children alike - who displayed their handmade crafts including woven blankets and scarves, necklaces, bracelets, earrings and more. They were extremely colourful and intricately designed. We later learned that weaving is a personal expression of art in the communities we visited in India, and many villagers incorporated daily elements into their patterns and designs. Some even wove blankets as a gift to loved ones, as an expression of their gratitude. However, given that the village is located in a remote area, it is difficult for the villagers to sell their crafts to earn some supplementary income. Shaam-e-sarhad, a lodging and accommodation for tourists, provides a platform for these villagers to promote their craftwork and showcase their culture. For instance, some of the villagers sang for us, and upon interacting with them, we also found out that they painted the walls of the huts that were built. Some of them also hold dual jobs, farming or weaving depending on the season of the year.

Upon arrival at Hunnarshala, several staff members shared with us about the history of Hunnarshala and how the organisation came to being. Hunnarshala was founded after the earthquake occurred in Kutch in 2001, with the aim of teaching people to reconstruct their habitats. By combining scientific and modern building knowledge with traditional skillsets artisans have, Hunnarshala aims to expedite the reconstruction process, ensuring long term sustainable development. The organisation has three main foci - community empowerment, artisan empowerment and artisan training school. A few projects undertaken by the organisation to empower the community include flood rehabilitation, recycling sewage and slum redevelopment projects. The organisation also aims to empower artisans by establishing artisan enterprises and incorporating artisan practices into modern structures. For example, Hunnarshala aims to promote artisanship by developing the green potential of traditional technology, modifying the product for a contemporary market and providing formal training and design support for projects, such as financial, accounting, administrative and legal support. One example of a successful enterprise would be Mathachhaj, a thatch company with women specialising in thatch roof solutions.

After the sharing, we took a short walk from the Hunnarshala office to Karigarshala, which is an artisan school set up by Hunnarshala to provide skills training for school dropouts to develop them into potential artisans. The teens are taught relevant skills such as craftsmanship and carpentry during their one year stay in Karigarshala. This is to ensure their employability when they enter the workforce. Training fees are being covered by organisations that support Hunnarshala, hence making training available and affordable for anyone who is interested to learn. It is very heartwarming to hear from the Hunnarshala staffs that they hope to change these teens’ opinion of education through the use of hands-on education which they may be more interested in learning. The passing down of artisan skills to the next generation also ensures the continuity and preservation of traditional craftsmanship. As India becomes more developed, such continuity and preservation of traditional practices may potentially die out. Karigarshala provides the platform to ensure that traditional practices still remain relevant and attractive in today’s context, which is crucial in preserving India’s rich culture and diversity.

We then made our way to a nearby slum in the city of Bhuj to witness a slum redevelopment project that Hunnarshala is currently working on. The slum redevelopment project is part of India’s scheme to be slum-free by 2022. Hunnarshala works with the local community and engages them in both the planning of the housing development as well as in the construction of their new homes. Each household is given a fixed plot of land and a structured design for their house which includes proper water systems and waste-management systems. This helps to develop a sense of ownership and empowerment for the local community as they previously being slum dwellers did not own the rights to their land, making them vulnerable to external threats such as the landlords. The construction of the village together as a community also promotes camaraderie and community spirit. Government funds are given directly to the local community, as opposed to being given to third party construction companies, thus maximising the overall benefit given to the local community. At the village, through the help of one of our students, Dhruv, we managed to interview one of the villagers on her opinion of the project. She is very thankful to be part of the slum redevelopment project and is looking forward to her new home. Housing is a basic necessity and developing a proper housing system for the slum dwellers can address many societal issues such as hygiene and social order. The Hunnarshala staff highlighted the social problem of the lower class and poorer Indians living in slums often being shunned by the richer communities. However she feels that addressing the problem of slums in India is crucial in allowing India to progress as a developing nation as slum dwellers also play a huge role in the economy of India. Although Hunnarshala is a non-government organisation, we find it very amazing how they are able to handle such large scale projects that can improve the lives of the poor. In contrast, in Singapore, urban planning and housing are under the planning and regulation of government bodies such as the URA. It is truly inspiring to understand the driving force behind Hunnarshala’s vission and mission in their outreach in the community.