1. NATIONAL CONSULTATION
ON
CLIMATE SMART DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT
Shelter Strategy to Adapt to Climate Change
Project: Barmer Aashray Yojana
BY
SEEDS
7th April,2010

2. BARMER AASHRAY YOJANA
Introduction:
Barmer, Rajasthan, India
Flash flood in desert /drought
prone region.
Situation:
August 2006 saw unprecedented rainfall/floods in otherwise
drought stricken region of Barmer,Rajasthan. The floods led to a
loss of 139 lives and rendered 50000 homeless.
.
Last 200 years had not witnessed rain!

3. CHARACTERISTICS OF LOCAL COMMUNITY
• Characteristic by sparse and scattered living.
• 4 to 5 circular structures in one cluster formed a family’s abode
(locally called Dhani)
• A set of cluster (Dhanis) formed a village.
• Water is scarce. Women walk several kilometers each day to
fetch water.
• Population density lowest in the district.
• Means of livelihood is severely limited.

4. INITIAL SHELTER ASSESSMENT
• Environmental friendly materials were traditionally used for housing (mud
walls & thatched roofs).
• The houses were conducive and thermally comfortable in the extreme
weather conditions. Orientation of Houses such that the wind direction
and sun path ensured good ventilation and thermal comfort, critical for
summer temperatures reaching about 50 degree C.
• Circular and low heights design protected the structures from strong
winds and earthquakes.
• However, the adobe structures collapsed when severe floods took place
Traditional practices were very appropriate, shortfalls in the water
resistant capacity of the mud structures led to damage during floods.
Traditional design was effective but need some technological
intervention to address unprecedented disaster.
Community needed to start Adapting to Climate Change

5. HOW INDIGENOUS CONSTRUCTION PRACTICE WAS RECOGNIZED AND
UPGRADED
Community
leaders
setting an
example
Community
Good design involvement
for safety and in
comfort construction
Indigenous
of shelters
Shelter
Technology
Local
Extreme availability of
climatic materials at
conditions no cost

6. Adapting to Climate Change
300 Interim Shelters were
reconstructed through
reengineering indigenous coping
mechanisms to help the
community to adapt
– Mud walling upgraded to soil-
cement – Stabilized Compressed
Earth Block [ SCEB]
– Traditional roof material retained.
– Traditional design enlarged.
– Reconstruction in-situ and approach
participatory

7. RE-ENGINEERING SHELTERS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE SENSITIVITY
Village Development committees (men, women, local govt. representative,
school teachers, NGO representative) were informed in each village to be
sensitive to the change in climate and adapt it for being Climate Change
Resilience

8. CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION IN SHELTER DESIGN

9. CLIMATE SMART DISASTER RISK REDUCTION PROCESS

10. Adaptation
Climate Smart DRR priorities for the project
• Shelters designed to adapt to the changing
climate patterns and phenomena–
especially floods
• Protection against sandstorms and
Earthquakes
• Thermal Insulation
• Reengineered Indigenous Coping
mechanisms so as to help community to
adapt
• Circular Designs were easy to replicate
locally , therefore sustainable

11. Project Supported by
Christian Aid
&
ECHO
Thank You