contacts

areas of operations

Activities - projects

Activities they are involved in
•  Promoting cost effective construction technology through intervention in shelter sector
•  Research and development in appropriate technologies and materials
•  Production of alternate building materials
•  Environment concerns related to habitat development
•  Conservation of heritage buildings
•  Preservation of native idiom in architecture
•  Strengthening local economy by using local materials and skills
• Empowerment of women in social sector by training and educating them in the field of building construction
•  Promoting workers collectives to improve their quality of life
•  Capacity building for workers and professionals in the shelter sector through extensive training programmes
•  Networking among partners in struggle
•  Information dissemination on cost effective shelter solutions
•  Policy interventions for economically weaker sections, tribals, slum dwellers and such other fringe people
•  Designing and building barrier free buildings allowing free access to disabled
- Creative shelter solutions for specific needs: healing center, educational complexes etc.

Projects
HTG has built thousands of buildings all over the country including commercial complexes, tourist resorts, public offices, schools, hospitals and so on-all using appropriate technology.

Habitat was instrumental in rehabilitating hundreds of families in Bhopal after the gas tragedy by offering alternate shelter solutions. Another noteworthy achievement of Habitat is the work done in the cyclone-hit areas of Orissa in October 1999. A team from habitat had been working at the relief site co­ordinating with the state government and other agencies for building homes for the millions who were rendered homeless. Years before the cyclone Habitat had made a remarkable impression in the state of Orissa by way of building several hundreds of buildings including institutional complexes, educational buildings and residences- all using cost effective techniques, all of which withstood the cyclone in 1999. In addition to extensive relief related buildings in coastal Orissa. Habitat technology group is also engaged in the building of the ' Manaveeyam' village for Government of Kerala in Orissa.

Habitat has also been appointed as consultants to the second phase of World Bank aided District Primary Education Program in Thiruvananthapuram and Idukki districts. The work includes new schools blocks, resource centres, additional classrooms and other education related infrastructure facilities. This will be in addition to the first phase of work nearing completion in Malappuram, Kasargode and Thiruvananthapuram districts.

The State Government of Kerala recently recognized Habitat Group as a nodal agency to carryout developmental works under the decentralization process.

One of the most noteworthy achievements of Habitat is an on-going project at Kollam called the "Janakeeya Parpida Padhathi ” or the Total housing scheme, under the Kollam district Panchayat. As part of the project the group has undertaken to provide the total technical support for the building of fifty five thousand houses.


Plans for the future
•  Their dream for the future is to be able to have an Informal School of Housing to impart training in the shelter sector;

•  A Habitat commune where everyone can dream together, live together, think together and work together;

- Begin a network of Habitat shops where building materials would be available at affordable rates. This is directed at breaking the nexus between the construction sector and middlemen.