Education for Change

Rebuilding Trust and Hope

Efforts towards rehabilitation of earthquake affected people of Kashmir

The border areas of Uri and Tangdar in Kashmir Valley situated close the Line of Control on the international border between India and Pakistan suffered heavily during the earthquake of 8 October 2005. Human lives, livestock and property were lost. Here are glimpses of the work done by CEE under its ‘Rebuilding Trust’ programme to help and rehabilitate the earthquake-affected people.

Psycho Social Care for Children

Psycho-social care especially for children was an urgent need addressed by CEE Himalaya. Programmes were conducted in schools reaching out to more than 5000 children within a month of the disaster. A number of teachers were also trained in psycho-social care so they could reach out to more children.

 

Shelter

Winter is very harsh as temperature dips down to sub zero degrees. Providing shelter was the most urgent need. CEE Himalaya provided more than 1300 interim insulated shelters in the ten worst hit villages which helped people pass the winter comfortably.

Schools

All the schools were flatten and, fully damaged in the earthquake. The school constructed is of 7 rooms, a kitchen and two toilets, one for boys and one for girls. It is close to the border with Pakistan. The hillocks in the background are in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.

Livelihoods Support

A major challenge was the restoration of livelihoods. People were asked for their choices of livelihood support. CEE promoted non-farm based and low-cost options like mushroom cultivation, bee keeping, poly green houses and poultry. Twenty eight technology demonstration-cumtraining centres were set up in 10 villages. Many women have adopted

these occupations to supplement their income.

A total of 302 families were provided livelihood support in the form of cows, sheep, welding machine, catering units, retail shops of hosiery, cosmetics, and medicines.

Capacity building and engaging youth was a long term priority. Computer centres, tailoring and embroidery centres for girls were set up. Qualified tutors were provided and nominal fees were charged to make the centres self sustaining. All the centres are being run by Self Help Groups and are still performing well. These centres being located within the village and being run by local youth are convenient to attend especially for girls. Market linkages are being tried and reinforcement workshops for capacity updating are being regularly organized. Centres have been handed over to local youth under the ownership of the Village Panchayat after signing an agreement.

Mohammad Sidiq has now more than 200 bee hives and harvests more than 200 kg honey every year. Bee keeping is not his primary occupation but even this part-time work supplements his income.

A resource person from J&K Government Department of Apiculture conducted training programmes on bee-keeping as a livelihood option.

Few women self-help groups have picked up mushroom cultivation as a livelihood option.

There is snow outside. Even in such a harsh winter, vegetables are growing in the poly green houses. During winter Jammu-Srinagar highway is often closed and the Kashmir Valley is cut off. Polygreen houses help in food availability in such conditions.

People had wanted pure bred Jersey cows. However, after consulting experts it was thought that cross breds would be more suitable as the terrain is hilly, and the people generally take the cattle out for free grazing. Pure bred cows would need stall feeding, professional veterinary care etc which may be diffi cult to provide. The decision to have cross bred cows has worked out well.

For more information contact:

Dr Abdhesh Gangwar, CEE Himalaya,

Near Hurriyat Offi ce, MP Lane, Khursoo, Rajbagh,

Srinagar, 190 008 J&K

Ph: 9419032252, 9419597983;

E-mail: abdhesh.gangwar@ceeindia.org