FROM THE MANAGING DIRECTOR’S DESK

Dear Friends,

Greetings from Habitat for Humanity India!

As we approach World Health Day on April 7^th, it is important to reflect on the impact that access to safe and decent housing can have on our overall health and well-being. At Habitat for Humanity India, we believe that a safe and healthy home is the foundation for a better future for individuals, families, and entire communities.

Homes that are overcrowded, lack access to basic sanitation facilities, or have poor ventilation are more prone to the spread of infectious diseases. This is especially true in low-income communities where families often have limited resources to invest in home improvements and repairs.

According to the WHO, improved housing conditions can save lives, prevent diseases, increase quality of life, reduce poverty, help mitigate climate change and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through our housing programs, we provide families with access to safe and decent housing that is equipped with essential amenities such as clean water and sanitation facilities. Housing deficit persists and grows as a result of systemic inequity, which is made worse by stressors and shocks. Habitat India seeks to serve those who experience exclusion and vulnerability. Habitat seeks to improve the adequacy, affordability, and sustainability of housing through interventions in the program areas of Habitability, Basic Services, Tenure Security and Affordability. To maximize intended impact, Habitat uses an integrated and holistic approach, working across all spheres of the housing ecosystem: community, sector and societal. Habitat puts people at the center of its work and addresses systems that perpetuate inequity.

As we mark World Health Day, it is important to acknowledge the link between housing and health, and to work towards creating a fairer, healthier world. At Habitat for Humanity India, we are committed to partnering with communities, governments, and other stakeholders to promote access to safe and decent housing for all.

Let us work together to build stronger, healthier communities that can thrive, no matter what challenges may come our way.

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

Amrapali Kamble, Osmanabad, Maharashtra 

Amrapali, age 35, has been working in the construction industry for over a decade. She started as a daily-wage construction worker accompanying her husband Navnath who was an assistant mason.

After learning about Project Nirmanshree – a project funded by the EU (European Union), she enrolled along with her self-help group to seek support through the project.

Amrapali attended the Recognition of Prior Learning training for assistant masons followed by the Entrepreneurship Development Program and Government Schemes where she learned how to successfully run and market her business and received an orientation on Government entitlements and schemes available for entrepreneurs.
Shortly after, she registered the business unit receiving the Udhyam registration number issued for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises by the Government of India. Further, she received financial support of INR 40,000 as seed money from Habitat for Humanity. Pooling money with her husband, she bought 100 centring slabs and construction materials worth INR 1,00,000 (1,216 USD).

“I do the book-keeping while my husband delivers the centring materials and collects them on time. This is a very fulfilling business. I am grateful for the exposure and training provided by this project. I can go about my work with much more understanding and confidence now.” says Amrapali.

The construction materials and slabs are rented out to masons and contractors earning them a steady monthly income. She rents the centring slabs at 2 rupees per day helping them earn them around INR 6000 (73 USD) per month.

“My immediate wish is to double the amount of centring slabs available for rent. At the start of the new financial year, I will apply for a subsidised loan from the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme. Then, hopefully we can expand the business further,” says Amrapali.

Keys to 13 Homes Handed Over to Families in Tamil Nadu

Improved Sanitation for Policewomen in Mumbai

This Women’s Day, Tata Capital, the financial services arm of the Tata Group partnered with Habitat for Humanity India, a leading non-profit organization, to refurbish sanitation facilities for women in the Mumbai Police Force.

The sanitation facilities were refurbished at the N. M. Joshi Marg Police Station, Lower Parel; Azad Maidan Police Station and VIP Protection Police Station located in Fort.

This collaboration between Tata Capital and Habitat for Humanity India is a testament to the women police personnel and their commitment towards creating a more inclusive and dignified society.The initiative aims to benefit over 300 women constables and officers providing them with access to a better sanitation infrastructure.

Sridhar Sarathy, Senior Vice President - CSR at Tata Capital said, "We are delighted to collaborate with Habitat for Humanity India as we aim to empower and support the women in uniform who serve our nation with dedication and bravery. At Tata Capital, we are committed to creating sustainable solutions that positively impact communities and the environment. We believe that every individual deserves access to basic necessities, and this project is a small step towards ensuring that women in uniform have access to safe and hygienic sanitation facilities."

Dr. Rajan Samuel, Managing Director, Habitat for Humanity India, said, “Mumbai Police force is a pillar of strength for the people of Mumbai and women officers are at the forefront in upholding law and order and helping Mumbaikars lead a safe and secure life. Access to better sanitation facilities will ensure greater dignity for women officers in the force and help create a better work environment for them. Last year, we refurbished sanitation facilities at Byculla and Nagpada Police Stations and this year we are delighted to partner again with Tata Capital and Mumbai Police to upgrade the hygienic sanitation units.”

Click here to Read more...

Improved Sanitation for 110 Families in Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu

Habitat India partnered with Mahindra Rural Housing Finance Limited (MRHFL) to build Individual Household Latrines with 110 families living in Ketti Panchayat, Nilgiris district, Tamil Nadu. On 22^nd March 2023, Ms. P. Hema Malini, President of Ketti Town Panchayat officially handed over the sanitation units in the presence of Mrs. Suprita Tambe, Director Resource Development – Support, Habitat for Humanity India; Mr. Alphonse Raj, Director - Island Trust; Mr. Senthil Kumar, Area Manager, MRHFL; Mr. Ravishankar R, Zonal Manager, MRHFL; and Mr. George P Kurian, Senior Program Manager, Habitat for Humanity India.

Commenting on the partnership, Dr. Rajan Samuel, Managing Director, Habitat for Humanity India, said, "We are extremely delighted to collaborate with Mahindra Rural Housing Finance Limited to bring improved sanitation facilities to the marginalised communities in Ketti Panchayat. This partnership reflects our shared vision to build healthy housing ecosystems that support safe, decent homes with better sanitation facilities. We hope that this project will have a positive impact on the lives of underprivileged communities and contribute to the development of a healthier India”.

Read the full story here: https://habitatindia.org/partnering-with-mahindra-rural-housing-finance-to-build-sanitation-units/

School Renovation in Haryana

Habitat India partnered with Fluor Daniel to build new infrastructure for Government Primary School Bhangrola and Government High School Hayatpur in Manesar, Haryana.  The completed project with accessible sanitation unit, RO water cooler and a 5KV solar power unit was handed over on 18^th March 2023. Representatives from Flour Daniel including Rajiv Sharma, Engineer Manager; Naresh Jain, Project Information Manager; Alok Katiyar, Lead Engineer - Control Systems; Nivedita Sharma, Fluor Cares Chairperson and Navin Agarwal, Piping Stress Engineer attended the handing over ceremonies.

WASH Project in Andhra Pradesh

Habitat India handed over a safe drinking water unit to the Government High School, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh on 27^th March 2022. Supported by HCL Technologies, Habitat India built a Reverse Osmosis drinking water plant and foot-operated handwash unit to cater to the 399 students enrolled in the school.

Green Habitats and Habitat Young Leaders Build

Climate change has far-reaching impacts on the people of the country. However, the millions of families Habitat partners with are often among the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, which include increasingly common and severe weather events such as cyclones, floods and droughts. These events can result in tragic outcomes for families, including damage to or complete loss of their homes. We believe we have a responsibility to recognize that climate change has a disproportionate impact on the people we serve, and that to be accountable to them, we must address that impact through resilient housing.

Habitat for Humanity India launched its Green Habitats campaign to raise awareness of climate change and to urge youth to take urgent climate action for preserving a livable planet climate.

As we conclude the campaign, 261 students from 7 schools and 20 employees from 6 corporates have raised awareness and crucial resources in support of Habitat India.

“Supporting for Habitat India’s green initiative is one step towards creating a better environment. As an aspiring architect, I want to be able to create sustainable and inclusive spaces and this initiative is a stepping stone towards my goal,” says Tanvi Sriramaneni, as an architect student at Syracuse University in New York.

Assam Flood Response

In the aftermath of the devastating Assam floods, Habitat for Humanity India is distributing Humanitarian Aid Kits (HAKs) and Emergency Shelter Kits to disaster-affected families in Assam with support from local partners and district administrations.

A total of 130 Emergency Shelter Kits were distributed in Karbi-Anglong district. This support came from Texas Instruments (108 kits) and Clifford Chance (22 kits) in March 2023.

Hundreds of families are still in need of disaster-resilient housing. Habitat for Humanity places the families affected by natural disasters on a path to durable and sustainable shelter solutions in a phase-wise manner through its Pathways to Permanence disaster response strategy.

To donate, visit https://habitatindia.org/campaigns/assam-flood-response-appeal/

To support us through CSR, please get in touch with:
Suprita Tambe (Director – Resource Development Support): [email protected]
Mohan D'souza (Director – Resource Development): [email protected]

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