In this holistic development project, Habitat for Humanity India has helped 236 flood-affected families in Mundar with housing and housing eco-system initiatives in partnership with HSBC.

The devastating floods of August 2018 severely affected the village of Mundar and 236 families who reside in it. Two years later, the village has undergone a complete transformation thanks to the partnership between HSBC India and Habitat for Humanity India. On 18^th November 2020, a dedication ceremony was held in Mundar to handover newly built disaster resilient homes to families and to mark the completion of the project in Mundar, Kerala.

Housing is at the core of this holistic disaster response project in Mundar where Habitat India has rebuilt the lives of 236 families. 26 families now live in newly built disaster resilient homes equipped with sanitation units. 129 families have repaired their damaged homes and have access to a sanitation unit. Over the coming months the following infrastructure will be provided - a community centre, an anganwadi centre, two RO water plants and street lights. As a part of rebuilding lives and livelihoods, women have been trained as masons and in tailoring, farmers have received training and families have been supported for livestock rearing. The project has also involved identifying and training women leaders and forming Self Help Groups to ensure sustainability of the programs.

Swayam Sikshan Prayog has supported Habitat India in implementing the project.

“Kerala witnessed the worst floods in almost a century which destroyed thousands of homes and left people with no access to basic necessities. Habitat for Humanity India and HSBC India have made an earnest effort to rebuild the lives of the flood-affected people. We are proud to witness the transformation that has taken place in Mundar,” said Surendra Rosha, Group General Manager and Chief Executive Officer, HSBC India.

“Habitat India’s disaster response approach ‘Pathways to Permanence’ focuses on placing the affected families on a path to durable and permanent disaster resilient shelter solutions. Through this project, we have placed 238 families of Mundar on the pathways to permanence. We are grateful to HSBC India, the Government of Kerala and Swayam Sikshan Prayog for their support,” said, Rajan Samuel, Managing Director, Habitat for Humanity India.

HSBC India and Habitat for Humanity India had joined hands previously to build a model village in Pedda Bidda, Visakhapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh which was devastated by Cyclone Huhud in 2014. The Mundar Development Project in Kerala is the second such holistic disaster response project undertaken in partnership by HSBC India and Habitat India.

Habitat India has served 1,56,671 families in Kerala in the aftermath of the devastating floods of August 2018. In the first phase, we provided immediate relief to families through the provision of humanitarian aid kits, tool bank and conditional cash transfers. In phase two, we supported families by helping them build transitional shelters. In the third phase, we have helped families build disaster resilient homes, sanitation units, repaired houses, restored people’s livelihood, trained families on disaster risk management and provided shelter related solutions through housing support services in collaboration with the local administration.