Orissa cyclone relief effort
Proposal from Sri Aurobindo Marg, Cuttack

Renewal of Cyclone Ravaged Schools in Orissa

The coast of Orissa is today a picture of death and devastation. The grade 5 cyclone, the highest level possible, that hit the state’s 10 coastal districts on the morning of October 29 was accompanied by 260 kmph winds and surges of water that swept 15 km inland. The fury of this super cyclone lasting 36 hours was almost unprecedented and left a trail of death, destruction and desolation in its wake that has no parallel in the country in the past century. The ensuing floods in many areas of the State caused further devastation.

It is difficult to comprehend the scale of the disaster. A truly challenging amount of work is urgently needed to address the almost hopeless condition of the survivors and a lot of relief work is underway. In mid November, Sri Aurobindo Education Society, Delhi Branch sent a team of workers led by Pranjal Jauhar and Dr Tarun Baveja with 100 gunny bags of clothes and several cartons of medicines. The Society also raised a few lorry loads of relief material from Pondicherry. Further, the relief mission also toured seven of the most ravaged districts and 41 schools in order to evaluate the priorities for the next step in relief efforts.

Jagatsingpur, Kendrapara, Cuttak and Khurda bore the full brunt of the cyclone and floods, whereas Jajpur, Bhadrak and Balasore were less severely affected by the cyclone but were ravaged by the subsequent floods. Village after village had survivors awaiting relief. Bodies of the human dead were being removed, but no one had the time to deal with the carcasses of dead animals. The stink, therefore, was awful and since most of the birds including vultures had also died, even the natural process of cleansing was not functioning. Trees were the worst hit in the affected areas and an estimated 70% have been uprooted. Orissa has been facing a severe heat wave for the last several years in May resulting in many human casualties. With so many trees gone, this situation is likely to worsen in future. Amongst all this chaos and destruction one fact that stood out was that despite the fury of the cyclone, concrete dwellings and structures came out almost completely unscathed. The few that were damaged were because trees had toppled on them.

Natural disasters are a universal reality. Bringing any kind of normalcy to the area is a Herculean task in itself, including providing cyclone resistant structures for the future. In all of this, the team felt that rebuilding rural schools was not being given the focus that they felt it required. The Sri Aurobindo Education Society (see Appendix 1) forwards this proposal with a view to addressing devastated schools and disrupted education, the rationale for which is discussed below.

1. Rationale for Focus on Schools and Education

1. Limited resources lead to secondary status for education - In India, in the wake of a natural disaster, education of children is not accorded the priority it rightly deserves. Government machinery focuses mostly on food, clothing and shelter – and many a time, there are no resources left for education.
2. Neglected Children - In times of momentous calamities, children are in a forlorn, pathetic, and helpless state with nothing much to do. They constantly brood over their predicament, leading to bouts of depression and despondency which may leave permanent psychological scars detrimental to normal development.
3. The schools serve the whole community - Their resuscitation is, therefore, in the interest of all, and the whole community can be motivated to provide whatever ancillary support they can furnish.
4. Concrete school structure as future shelter - Building concrete structures for schools will benefit communities by providing a place of refuge to those living in thatched dwellings in times of calamity. Sri Aurobindo Education Society's team observed that time and again destruction of thatched dwellings also resulted in devastation of stored food, clothes, medicines, utensils, furniture, and the like. In fact, concrete structures will not only provide safety from injury and death, but will also function as a store for basic necessities in times of need.
5. Jobs and revival of economy - Like any other building project the construction of schools, will naturally provide jobs to the local populace thus helping to generate jobs and revive the economy.
6. Learning is the main objective of children and adolescents - Above all, this project will help to resume the educational system in those areas where they are presently suspended due to the ravages of the cyclone.

Specific target group and administrative machinery in place

New Life Education Trust, manages 300 schools located in areas ranging from urban cities to the interior tribal belts in Orissa. Of these, 75 are in areas that have been totally devastated. The teachers by and large receive only sustenance level support and are dedicated to doing meaningful work. Thus, an infrastructure for administration, work priorities, guidance, personnel orientation and motivation, and community involvement and support is already in place. (Please see Appendix 2 for a brief description of New Life Education Trust).

Pattern of Assistance Sought

Estimated Project Costs are given on page 4. The following objectives have been kept in mind while seeking assistance for the needs of cyclone affected schools in Orissa.

1. Criteria for Selection of Target Schools

Orissa is economically quite backward. Therefore, under this particular grant proposal, the following criteria have been developed to help screen beneficiaries.

• The school should be in the cyclone-affected area
• The school should have been functioning for at least 3 years
• The school should be located on its own land
• The school should be catering at least up to 3rd grade
• The school should have a minimum enrolment of 75
• The school should not have more than one room with concrete roof

2. A speedy resumption of the functioning of the schools will require:

Temporary facilities: Thatched huts, tents

Tarpaulin/ straw mats for the floor

Books and stationary

1 – 2 meals per school day

Concrete structures: From the fact finding tour it is evident that to minimize loss of life, damage to property, and disruption of life, concrete construction will be of much help.

3. The Design Aspect

• Designs of the proposed school buildings are based on the following considerations
• The building should be able to provide as cyclone and flood shelters. Thus, it may consist of a two-storey structure with staircases and access to all terraces.
• The classrooms shall facilitate activity-based learning.
• The objective will be to provide 4 classrooms of 33 sq. mtrs. each for 30-40 students, an additional 3 teaching spaces which may include verandahs and pavilions, and an office and store. These specifications have been developed in conformity with the past experiential knowledge gained in similar rural areas.
• Necessary toilets, water resource and water tank are incorporated in the structure.
• The design is in conformity with the local climate.
• The designs incorporate features of low energy consumption, are ecologically conscious and cost effective.
• The layout will emphasize cross ventilation, ample natural light, and facile interaction with the outdoors.
• In addition to the above, following situations were also kept in mind in developing the design features:

4. Construction Considerations

In addition to the conventional techniques of construction, the following innovative options of construction have been short-listed. These are specifically based on field experience in constructing school structures in South Orissa, Eastern Rajasthan, and North Andhra Pradesh.

Foundation:

* Strip footings in random rubble/ laterite/ brick as applicable to specific site

* Stub foundation with grade/ plinth beams

Walling

* Laterite masonry wherever available

* Precast hollow/ solid cement concrete blocks

* Rat-trap bond in brick

Roofing

* RCC Filler slabs

* Precast ferroconcrete channel roofing

Design and Construction Resources available

An important local resource of 75 engineers who are doing field work through the society of Sri Aurobindo Engineers is available for this project. It is proposed that management, on-the-job training, and micro planning shall be provided by an on-site team (with a leader from Sri Aurobindo Education Society) along with short-term inputs from various organizations who hold expertise in cost effective and appropriate construction technology.

Please see Appendix 3 for a brief resume of the Architect consultant, Mr. Sanjay Prakash, for this project.

Note:- The training will be essential as the local artisans can be trained in cost saving techniques.

A few areas where training will be required are as under

Name Sri Aurobindo Education Society,

Address Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi 110 016

Phone: 652 4810, 656 9225, 656 7863

Fax 011-685 7449

E-Mail: snsdl@del2.vsnl.net.in

Founded 1964

Contact Person Mr Pranjal Jauhar

FCRA Reg. No. 231 650 533 under section 1(a)

IT Exemption DIT (Exemptions)/98-99/4-46/66/34 dt 20/4/98 up to 31/3/2001 under 80G

Focus Education (All Aspects)

Ongoing Institutions and Activities

(a) The Mother’s International School (CBSE accredited 10+2 school, enrolment 2,200)

Mirambika (Free Progress Integral Education School, enrolment 150)

Matri Kala Mandir (Music, dance, art school, enrolment 350)

Teacher Training Institute (enrolment 30)

Sri Aurobindo Institute of Vocational Training (6 month practical training courses, 120 per year)

Sri Aurobindo Institute of Mass Communication (yearly enrolment 150)

The Mother’s Health Center (caters to the needs of campus and neighborhood residents)

Matri Karuna Vidyalaya (School for poor children, enrolment 75)

(b) Periodic Programmes

Adventure camps (yearly for 1,500 participants)

National Integration Camps (yearly for 1,500 participants)

National Integration Camps for youth from backward areas (yearly for 600 participants)

Study Camps (yearly for 150)

Rural Medical Camps (conducted during holidays in Orissa, U.P., and M.P.)

Teachers conferences

Support and Sponsorship of several schools and 100 students in various parts of the country

Appendix 2

Name New Life Education Trust

Address Matrubhaban, Sri Aurobindo Marg, Cuttack 753 013, Orissa

Experience Over two decades

Focus Integral Education

(2) Annual Orissa conferences for women, teachers, engineers, doctors and students.

(3) Annual State level workshops for Engineers, Doctors and social workers.

(4) The Integral Schools run by New Life Education Trust in Orissa are recognized as Value oriented experimental schools by the Govt. of Orissa.

(5) The Schools are spread throughout the state from urban cities to most interior tribal belts. The teachers in these schools are by and large volunteers, and receive only a subsistence level support.

Appendix 3

Name Sanjay Prakash
Address S-239 Panchashila Park, New Delhi 110 017

Professional Association: Practising architect, Sanjay Prakash & Associates

Honorary Advisor to Delhi Urban Art Commission

Indian representative to International Union of Architects, UIA, Working Group on Energy and Architecture

Consultant to Society for Development Alternatives

Member of Kamthan of Lok Jumbish Parishad on School Design

Member of several advisory committees to Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources

Teaching, Research Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi

& Lectures Graduate School of Design, Harvard University

University of California, Berkeley

Institute for Lightweight Structures, Sttutgart, Germany

Bureau of Ecological Buildings, Kassel, Germany

SCOPE, Paris

University of Massachusetts, Amherst

And numerous others

Professional Education B.Arch., School of Planning & Architecture, Delhi (best graduate gold medal), 1980

Architectural Design * Research Centre and School (Mirambika), Tapasya, residential building, on Sri Aurobindo Ashram and Sri Aurobindo Education Society campuses

* Two Engineering colleges, a Higher Secondary School

* Integrated Sports Complex

* Hospitals, medical dispensaries

* Resorts, residences, factories, warehouses, office space requirements, etc.

Community Managed Rural schools in Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, and Haryana

Projects Bricklayers training campus in Orissa

Numerous passive solar and low energy constructions