Learning from Habitat Reconstruction Initiatives—New Approach for Reducing Vulnerability of Rural Housing in India

Mona Chhabra Anand, Thitiphon Sinsupan, Sisira Madurapperuma and Vijayaraghavan M. Chariar
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Mona Chhabra Anand: Research and Knowledge Management, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, New Delhi 110001, India
Thitiphon Sinsupan: Mainstreaming and Recovery, Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Sisira Madurapperuma: Preparedness for Response and Recovery, Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Vijayaraghavan M. Chariar: Centre for Rural Development and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi 110016, India

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 7, 1-16

Abstract: Post-disaster reconstruction offers an opportunity to address some of the fundamental causes of vulnerability that are an inherent part of mainstream housing processes located at the intersectionality of sectoral interdependencies. Well-designed initiatives in the aftermath of a disaster can help displaced populations enter a positive cycle of resilience-building using new approaches. This paper draws from a recent field study to examine the reasons for the poor performance of existing housing stock in the face of disasters and presents a chain of graded causal factors that contribute to their vulnerability. Specifically, in the context of rural housing, the paper looks at three case studies of innovative habitat reconstruction initiatives undertaken in the aftermath of major disasters in India and analyses them for their impact on building the resilience of displaced communities. The study highlights that in order to address the various causes of vulnerability of rural housing, it is important to leverage the existing connections between different dimensions of habitat development, including access to finance, choice of appropriate materials, skill-building, and safe construction methods. This is at the core of the ethos of “building back better.”

Keywords: build back better; habitat reconstruction; local capacities; post-disaster recovery; rural housing; resilience; vulnerability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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