FROM THE NATIONAL DIRECTOR’S DESK

Dear Friends,

Greetings from Habitat for Humanity India!

It is with great pleasure and humility that I introduce myself to you as the interim National Director of Habitat for Humanity India. I am incredibly honoured to step into this role and contribute to Habitat’s mission of providing safe and decent housing solutions for vulnerable families across the country.

Some of you may already be familiar with my background, as I have been associated with Habitat globally for over 14 years and previously served as Habitat India’s Director of Disaster Risk Reduction and Response. This role has provided me with a deep understanding of our organisation's mission, values, and operational intricacies. I am excited to leverage this experience to lead Habitat India with renewed vigour and purpose.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our outgoing Managing Director Dr. Rajan Samuel. Rajan’s exceptional leadership and unwavering dedication have been instrumental in propelling Habitat’s efforts and establishing a strong foundation for growth. I am committed to building upon his legacy and continuing to drive forward the mission of Habitat for Humanity India.

On a recent trip to Chennai and Delhi, I had the opportunity to interact with homeowners who partnered with Habitat to build their homes. It was a humbling experience to see the transformation and the smiles on their faces. At Habitat, we pledge to keep vulnerable families at the heart of our work so that they can thrive with dignity through safe and decent shelter. We also met with Shri. Hitesh Vaidya, Director, National Institute of Urban Affairs and Shri Sarada Kumar Hota, Managing Director, National Housing Bank to update them about the progress and future plans of Habitat India’s People-Public-Private Partnership project titled the Odisha Gruhabikas Program.

At Habitat for Humanity India, we firmly believe that a decent home provides the foundation for families to achieve strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build a better future leading to improved health, education, and economic opportunities.

Together, with the support of our incredible donors, partners, and volunteers, I am eager to embark on this transformative journey. I invite each one of you to join hands with us as we strive to create a future where every family has a safe and secure place to call home.

In partnership, James Samuel National Director (interim) Habitat for Humanity India

Life’s Good in a Habitat Home

Durga Kashale (37) and Kondibhau (45) live in Dehane village, Khed Block in Pune district, Maharashtra. Together they have two children Varsha (9) and Arjun (6) who study in the local government school. 

Kondibhau has had a hearing disability since childhood. It has affected his speech and also his ability to communicate. As a result he could not complete his education. 

“We don’t have enough resources for my husband’s treatment or to buy a hearing aid. Because of his hearing loss, people have stopped giving him work. We have to manage our household expenses within the meagre salary I get,” says Durga who is the sole breadwinner of the family. She works in a restaurant nearby earning INR 3000 per month.  

She adds, “Our old home was constructed by my in-laws. It was a house built with mud, stones but without a strong roof. As Dehane is located in a hilly region, the village experiences heavy rainfall. As a result, the roof leaked every monsoon. With our limited resources we could not do much. All the homes in our neighbourhood were being reconstructed. My children used to feel bad looking at the state of our home.” 

In addition to their poor housing condition, Durga and her family did not have access to a sanitation unit or water. She would fetch water from the handpump nearby. The home lacked a constant supply of electricity too. Durga would share the electric bill with her neighbours and get limited electricity for the entire home. 

In October 2021, Habitat for Humanity India began the second phase of the Life’s Good: Hope Village project supported by LG Electronics and Community Chest of Korea. In phase II, Habitat India aimed to build 5 new homes and 1 school sanitation unit. An initial survey of the households was conducted in Dehane and Durga was selected along with four other families. 

The construction of new homes with the families was completed in September 2022, equipped with sanitation units, bathrooms and solar lighting systems to tackle the issues of hygiene and electricity supply. Durga and 4 other families moved into their new homes in a dedication ceremony on 28^th September 2022. 

“I have no words to tell you how happy I am! My kids can’t believe that we have a new, permanent, concrete home. Now I can focus on the growth of my children and my husband’s treatment. I want to give my children quality education and a better life. I truly believe that when one wishes to aspire or achieve something in life, it may come late but it will come to us one day,” says Durga with a smile on her face. 

To read more, click here: https://habitatindia.org/lifes-good-in-a-habitat-home/

LG Says Let’s Build a House!

Building Better Futures Through School Infrastructure

On April 14, 2023, a ground-breaking ceremony took place for the school infrastructure project at the Government Upper Primary School in Kharkada located in Jaipur district of Rajasthan. Supported by Teleperformance – a global digital business service company – the project includes the construction of four classrooms, establishment of a gender segregated sanitation unit for boys and girls, provision of furniture for all four classrooms, installation of a water purification system, implementation of solar power (off-grid system) for the school building, and vibrant BaLA (Building as a Learning Aid) paintings on the school building.

The project will significantly benefit 180 students attending the school. The ceremony was attended by Mr. Vikas Chand Jain, the Panchayat Elementary Education Officer (PEEO), Mr. Dharmendra Kumar Meena, the School Headmaster, teachers Mr. Ramgopal Sharma and Mr. Omprakash, Sarpanch (village head) representative Mr. Chhitarmal Kumawat, Mr. Girdhari Lal Saini, the President of the School Management Committee, along with 15 villagers and 60 students. They were joined by Habitat India’s team.

This collaborative effort between Teleperformance, Habitat India, and local community aims to create a conducive and improved infrastructure for the students, empowering them with better resources for their academic journey.

Health Centres on Solar

On 27^th April, 2023, we celebrated the handing over ceremony for providing access to solar energy to 11 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in Kolar district, Karnataka. This initiative was made possible with the generous support of HDFC LIFE. Access to solar energy will enable the PHCs to function in an efficient manner.

Palghar School Gets a New Sanitation Complex

Habitat India handed over school sanitation units to the Zilla Parishad Middle School located in Wada, Palghar district, Maharashtra benefitting 148 students. The previous sanitation facilities were non-functional, but thanks to the support of Scotia Bank, we were able to build new and improved units. Additionally, we extended our efforts to the Primary School, which caters to over 50 students, by providing them with a newly repaired sanitation unit and classroom repairs and other improved school facilities.

Corporate Employees Run for Habitat at the TCS World 10K Run

In the TCS World 10K Bengaluru Run 2023, 20 employees of Karle Infra Pvt. Ltd. ran to support Habitat India’s vision of building a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Among the participants, 19 runners took part in the Majja Run, while one runner completed the challenging 10K race. Two of Habitat’s staff members Mr. Prashant Pawar and Mr. Wajed Sayed also took part in the Majja Run. We thank all the runners for demonstrating their commitment to making a positive impact in the community through their active participation in the marathon.

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