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REBUILDING HOMES AT 1150FT HIGH |
By Kamal, Architect, Seeds |
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| The night of 5th August will be etched in the memories of the people of Ladakh. The flash floods that hit the region on that night caused death and destruction on an unprecedented scale. It destroyed homes and families leaving people traumatised and shelter less, trying to come to terms with the tragedy that had suddenly hit them. The much needed response in the aftermath of the tragedy seemed to be difficult since Leh is located at a height of about 11500 ft. and access routes were blocked. We at SEEDS, however found ways to access the site with help from locals and responded to the tragedy immediately by initiating a shelter restoration |
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program aimed at providing safe and resilient houses, rather than makeshift tents or temporary dwellings, to the affected people. Working in difficult conditions was quite a challenge but everybody involved with the restoration worked tirelessly to try and restore as much as they could. Help of the affected community was also enlisted to enable them to participate in the reconstruction process and to develop skills for safe construction. Responses of Tsewang and Stanzin to our work amply reflect the response of the community to the work
Tsewang and Stanzin are a bit shy and reserved. They will not fight for what they deserve. I did not want them to be left out, especially since both fall below the poverty line.”
Stanzin Dolma: Communicating through the language of empathy
“Ab lagta hai ke kahin saalon se pani aane se bhi nahin girega”
(I now feel that even if the water comes for many years, my house won’t fall.)
Hearing and speech impaired, Stanzin Dolma makes a living as a labourer in the fields and through odd jobs. Her house, literally the last one in the village-, had been her home for the last six years and afforded an amazing view that she loves dearly. However, when the floods came, Stanzin could do nothing to stop the destruction, with her roof caving in and a wall collapsing. She was afforded little relief, with just one gas stove to tide her over. A couple of months in a camp was followed by living with next-door neighbours for a year.
Referred to by the Village Head, the design of the SEEDS’ team was novel for her and was initially met with a few concerns. However, once the architects and SEEDS’ manager explained the whole reasoning behind the methods and showcased a previously built home in Shey, Stanzin jumped onboard. She even participated in the process as much as possible, salvaging usable wood and bricks from her old home to help save costs.
Despite the issues in communication, one phrase rings clear: “Me bahut khush hoon.” (I’m very happy.”)
Tsewang Dolma: Scarred but always smiling
“Bahut dil se kaam kar rehi hoon. Khud ka ghar banane me madat karna acha lagta hai.”
(I am working really sincerely. Helping build my own house feels good.)
Tsewang Dolma is a study in positivity. Permanently scarred due to an accident in the flour mill where she works, she has been deserted by her brother and sister and lives alone. Her old rented house was made of raw mud and was washed away in the floods. Since it was not her own property, there was no entitlement to compensation from the government. The only form of help she got came in the form of a few utensils, a bucket and a heating system. She and the others from the community split whatever money they had between them and arranged for food in the coming two months.
Despite being left out and ignored by every relief team that came to survey the place, Tsewang Dolma remains cheery and positive. The small piece of land given to her by the Goba and community is a chance to start anew.
With no qualms about the methods used, she proudly lists all the new things she is learning – how to build the local mud blocks, how to cut the willow braches for the roof and how to mix the mortar (masala) that binds the bricks. In fact, despite the long 1 ˝ hour trek from her rented accommodation to the project site, she comes every day, generally overseeing the work and assisting with the masala creation. Beaming with her trademark smile, Tsewang comments, “Until my house is complete, this is my job. I will go back to the mill once it is over.”
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REBUILDING HOMES AT 1150FT HIGH
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