FROM THE MANAGING DIRECTOR’S DESK

Dear Friends,

Moving forward with intent and perseverance.

My visit to an urban village in Sadayankuppam, Tamil Nadu last month left a deep impression on me.

This was the second time I had the opportunity to interact with the families, youth and community leaders. Our engagement with the community began in the aftermath of the Tamil Nadu Floods in 2015. In keeping with our Pathways to Permanence strategy, we were able to support the disaster-affected families through relief, transitioning to repairs and new disaster resilient homes. Our engagement did not end there. 

Sanitation and access to water were the felt need in this urban-economically marginalized community of about 300 families. Individual Household Latrines made the village Open Defecation Free while rejuvenation of the Sadayankuppam Lake, the water reservoir adjoining the village, improved the water table significantly in this drought-prone state.

I have been most impressed with the youth who took advantage of the livelihood, life skills, and leadership training opportunities made available through our engagement. They are playing an active role in mobilization and advocacy for many of the interventions we are implementing so far. I am happy to note that our local partners are also working with the community in different capacities to complement our work. This can only ensure a vibrant social environment for the community on its march towards progress.

I see Sadayankuppam as a community going through a transformation, looking at how individuals, families, and community institutions are bonding together to affect one another positively. This synergy is possible because of the intent and perseverance of all the stakeholders. I am both proud and humbled at the transformation this community is going through with just a little hand-up and a nudge.

This is how we build strength, stability and self-reliance. This is how we move forward with transformation at all levels.

Wishing you and your family abundant joy and good health!

In partnership, Dr. Rajan Samuel Managing Director Habitat for Humanity India

Murali Lal is a farmer from Dhanera village, Dholpur, Rajasthan. He cultivates 7 acres of farmland in the lower catchment area of the Dhanera water reservoir. Due to overexploitation, the water table around the Dholpur district has receded significantly over two decades. Farmers in this part of the region usually cultivate only one seasonal crop a year without access to a natural perennial source of water like streams and rivers.

“I started cultivating in this land 30 years back. My wells used to be dry as bones just three months after the rain. Pearl millet was the only crop I could grow,” says Murali.

The community water reservoir in Dhanera village is on the elevated part of a gentle slope adjoining villages of Barauli, Durgasi, Jhala. But the water reservoir fell into disuse and had receded rapidly consequently reducing the water table.

When Habitat for Humanity India and We Are Water Foundation came to the tribal area to support the community around access to water and sanitation, Dhanera was one of the locations chosen for intervention. Because water reservoir is crucial for preserving the groundwater level, improving water retention and increasing the intake capacity was important for the villagers and neighbourhood community.

Rejuvenation work involved desilting an area of about 2.2 acres, excavation of diversion channel for the rain to reach the pond, construction of bund walls to increase the water storage capacity by 30 lakh litres and seeding of water grass. The community actively contributed to this process by working on the inlet channel and volunteering on bund construction and tree plantation around the water reservoir.

The pond has been dug 15 metres deep. Now farmers from four villages – Dhanera, Barauli, Durgasi, Jhala in the catchment area have access to water all year round. This pond has a catchment area of about 79 hectares. Because this is in the upstream part of the land, brooks and wells will continue to receive a healthy amount of water throughout the year. The soil moisture content of the farms has drastically improved in the area since renovation work.

“Timing the sowing and cultivation with the rain used to be so important. Ever since the renovation of the reservoir, I have now been able to cultivate multiple crops including millet, wheat and mustards since we can now easily access water through the wells throughout the year,” says Murali Lal.

Habitat for Humanity India has built 3 community water reservoirs in Dhanera, Pavaini and Khinnaut improving the livelihoods and sanitation needs of 1500 families in 5 villages.

Improved Sanitation Facilities for Women’s Division of Mumbai Police

On the occasion of International Women’s Day celebrated on 8^th March, Tata Capital in partnership with Habitat for Humanity India handed over improved sanitation facilities to Nagpada and Byculla Police Stations in Mumbai. Refurbished sanitation facility at the Nagpada police station includes two restrooms that will benefit around 40 women constables and 5 officers.

The restroom at Byculla police station will benefit around 50 women constables. With a view to enabling access to an improved sanitation infrastructure for the women in uniform, the new facilities will include separate toilet and bathroom, hand wash area, bunk beds for resting and storage space.

Shri. Sanjay Pandey, Commissioner of Police, Mumbai presided over the handover ceremony. They were joined by other eminent dignitaries Smt. Yamini Jadhav, Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly; Shri. Amin Patel, Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly; Shri. Vishwas Nangre Patil, Joint Commissioner of Police, Law and Order; Dr. Dnyaneshwar Chavan, Additional Commissioner of Police; Shri. Sarosh K. Amaria, Managing Director - Tata Capital Financial Services Ltd. and Dr. Rajan Samuel, Managing Director of Habitat for Humanity India.

“Mumbai Police are glad to collaborate with Tata Capital and Habitat for Humanity India in this initiative. Access to better toilet facilities will ensure greater dignity for women officers in the force and help create a better work environment for them,” said Shri. Sanjay Pande, Commissioner of Police, Mumbai.

“Mumbai Police are the backbone of this city. Women police officers have always been at the frontline in upholding law and order especially during the pandemic to mitigate COVID-19 related risks. Given the tough conditions in which they work, we need to be sensitive to their sanitation requirements. By upgrading the toilet facilities for women police officers at Nagpada and Byculla police stations, we aim to resolve their sanitation problems and help improve their work environment,” stated Dr. Rajan Samuel, Managing Director, Habitat for Humanity India.

Project Nirmanshree Certificate Distribution and Seed funding for 50 Social Enterprises

On March 8^th 2022, women trainees, women entrepreneurs, women participants, staff, Government officials and stakeholders of Project Nirmanshree gathered together to celebrate International Women’s Day. 

3255 women participants received certificates for successfully completing their training in Enterprise Development Program and Government Schemes. 3000 women entrepreneurs received tool kits and 50 women-led enterprises received seed funding to enable them to start and expand their journey towards social enterprises in the housing ecosystem.

Dr. Rajan Samuel, Managing Director, Habitat for Humanity India launched the Nirman App that will serve as a one-stop solution for all services offered by the project. The program was conducted in a hybrid manner with participants joining on-ground and virtually as well.

Second Hope Village Project Breaks Ground for Decent Homes and Better Sanitation

Habitat for Humanity India has partnered with LG Electronics (LG) and Community Chest of Korea to build five new homes for low-income families, and one new school sanitation unit that will benefit 101 students of the Zilla Parishad School, in Dehane village, Khed block in Pune district of Maharashtra. A hybrid ground-breaking ceremony was held connecting the villagers of Dehane with stakeholders from LG, Habitat Korea and Habitat India dialling in from Korea and other parts of India on 3^rd March 2022.

Senior officials like Mr. Yonghee Kim, Person-in-Charge, CSR team, LG Electronics HQ (Korea); Mr. Atul Khanna, Vice President, LG India; Ms. Neeta Linz, Deputy General Manager – CSR and Public Relations, LG India; Mr. K. H. Lee, Managing Director, Habitat Korea; Mr. Yongchul Lee, Strategy and Finance Division, Executive Director, Habitat Korea and Dr. Rajan Samuel, Managing Director, Habitat India, joined the ceremony virtually.

The homes come fully equipped with solar lighting systems and contain one living room, a bedroom, a sanitation unit and a kitchen. The new school sanitation unit will benefit both boys and girls studying in the Zilla Parishad School, Dehane, helping to improve enrolment, especially of adolescent girls. Both of these initiatives are part of ‘Life’s Good - Hope Village,’ a community development project under which 12 new homes and 25 individual household latrines were built in 2021.

ROAD TO RECOVERY 2.0: COVID-19 RESPONSE

Till date, we have served 3,66,995 people by providing them with Hygiene and Family Essential Kits and by setting up Habitat Care Centres under Road to Recovery 2.0. Under Road to Recovery 1.0, Habitat India served over 1.32 million people from March 2020 to March 2021.

The crisis is far from over. We request you to consider our urgent appeal and donate now to help Indians affected by the pandemic

You can contribute as an individual or through your company’s CSR department. Write to Mr. Mohan D’Souza, Director - Resource Development on [email protected]  

Click here to learn more about or contribute to our COVID-19 response.

School Sanitation and Hygiene Education

Come 15^th May 2022, thousands of runners will participate in the marathon – some of them will run as individuals, and some as a team – as the city comes alive with renewed energy and passion to achieve more, with renewed hope for a better and more compassionate tomorrow.

We are excited to announce our participation in the marathon as a registered CSO (Civil Society Organisation) partner.

Individuals and corporate teams can partner with Habitat for Humanity India by raising resources to build homes and sanitation units in support of people living in poor housing conditions. This is an opportunity to contribute towards the initiatives launched by the Honourable Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi such as Housing For All and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

Marathons like TCS World 10K Bengaluru are amongst the top marathons and hold a prestigious reputation as they are known as one of the largest philanthropic sporting events in India. This year, the marathon will be a hybrid event with 5 on-location race categories on 15^th May 2022:

• Open 10K
• Majja Run - 5K
• Senior Citizens Run
• Champions with Disability
• Champions with Disability (Buddy)

In addition, 10k and 5k virtual runs can be made through the TCS App over the race weekend.

For more details, please get in touch with
Sameer Shrivastav: +919999692187, [email protected]

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