Building Green Enterprises
in Post COVID Scenario

The mountain state of Uttarakhand in North India which has witnessed mass rural to urban migration in the last decade is now facing mass reverse migration in the post COVID scenario. As per 2011 census, almost 1,048 villages out of 16,793 villages¹ were completely abandoned in the hilly districts of Uttarakhand. Some of these abandoned villages are currently accommodating the return of its residents in COVID scenario. In one of the districts of the state, Pauri Garhwal - out of the 70,000 villagers who migrated to cities, almost 20,000 have returned back during COVID².

In the current situation, demands for jobs has been high in the villages and as the government is working towards Atma-Nirbharta (self-reliance), the focus should be on localisation i.e. demand for job creation through local enterprise development in rural areas. The building material sector can help create jobs at the local level. Uttarakhand state is highly vulnerable to disasters, primarily earthquakes and in the aspiration of building pacca (concrete) houses, construction practices have been shifting from local / traditional materials to more energy intensive cement and steel-based construction, practiced with incorrect structural technicalities and the materials often transported from far away plain regions for the last two decades.

An integrated sustainable approach in construction could be the critical step towards local economy generation and creating climate resilience in the state where green building materials can contribute towards generation of local economy, disaster resilient infrastructure, natural resource optimisation and social inclusion through community participation. One such model has been demonstrated in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand with the support from the Department of Science and Technology, where six building material technologies have been introduced.

1. Reinforced Random Rubble Masonry

2. Stabilised Compressed Earth Blocks

3. Concrete Blocks

4. Chir Pine Timber Shingle Roofing with Timber Truss Under Structure

5. Precast Reinforced Concrete Door Window Frames

6. Plank & Joist for Roofing

All the above 6 walling and roofing technologies have been locally produced involving women and youth of the villages, maximising the use of local materials and standardised technology production process for structural integrity.

To promote such a model, there is a dire need to develop and strengthen the sustainable supply chain of these green building materials through micro-enterprise model. The state already targets to develop 850 Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by 2030 for employment generation. The Green Building Material Enterprises can be a way forward to create decent employment and achieve sustainable development agenda of the state. The need of the hour is to integrate this approach in the development processes of the state through required policy imperatives in government schemes and programmes.

• Integrating green growth components in government schemes and programmes: Local economy generation, technology innovation and low-carbon resource efficient components should be included in State Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) plans and rural housing schemes like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (PMAY – Gramin). The same can be incorporated in their capacity building programmes.

• Strengthening the supply of local / traditional materials: The supply of local materials like stone and timber currently has been strictly regulated due to environmental concerns, which is pushing people more towards concrete based building materials. Policy for sustainable management of forests with involvement of mountain communities for sustainable supply and utilisation of timber in the region is needed. The supply of same can be strengthened through micro-enterprise models.

• Strengthening the supply chain of green building materials through green micro- enterprises: Techno-financial support to micro-enterprises to produce green building materials and the provision of the same can be tapped through the state level employment generation programmes like Prime Ministers Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP).

• Generating demand for green building materials: Promoting the use of green technologies in public building and community infrastructure and facilitating green public procurement through inclusion in regional schedule of rates and subsequently in tender documents is a must.

This integrated sustainable approach can be used by state governments across India to create employment and green livelihoods in this difficult pandemic time while contributing positively to local economy generation and creating climate resilience in rural areas.  ■

References:
1. The Indian Express, published on 22nd May, 2020
2. Uttarakhand Vision 2030, Department of Planning , Government of Uttarakhand (2018).

Suhani Gupta
sgupta1@devalt.org