3.2. Introduction of Stabilized Earth Blocks

And this whole house has been damaged but then if you look at the sociological and psychological aspects why these houses are located here, on the top of the ridge or the top of in a slightly higher area, it’s not a mountain area but slightly but if you ever looked from the rich houses villages, you will see the whole entire village. So, this is where the traditional, the landlords or the rich people who used to settle down on the top.

This chunk introduces the conditions of housing in earthquake-prone areas and highlights the sociological factors behind why houses are built in specific locations. Typically, wealthier individuals often build their homes in elevated areas for better views and status. This practice influences the architectural styles and the vulnerability of these structures during disasters like earthquakes.

Think of it like choosing a spot for a picnic. You might choose a hilltop for a nice view, just like wealthier people chose higher land for their houses. However, during a storm, that hill might become more dangerous if it starts to flood.

So, people who were not having any house to live there, so when these people have migrated to a different place because they could able to afford somewhere and they could able to live somewhere else. So, that is where this unsafe houses has become a shelter for the corridor between these two families has become a shelter for the homeless people, but the question is, is it really safe to live there?

Here, we see the effects of migration on housing dynamics. As wealthier families move away from damaged neighborhoods, their abandoned houses often become temporary shelters for those who are homeless. This raises significant safety concerns as the structures may be compromised and not suitable for living, particularly in an area still experiencing aftershocks from earthquakes.

Imagine a playground where some kids leave their broken swings behind. If new kids come to play, they might try to use these broken swings, but they could get hurt because the swings are unsafe. Similarly, homeless families moving into damaged homes risk their safety.

So, that is where the schools have been stopped for about one year, nearly one year. So, how about education, you know what to do, how we can engage the community and the children because you know that is also needed, what happens to the school education and where do we provide the school facilities and this is where many NGOs have came forward, many development agencies have came, they collaborated in different forms as I am not going in detail about how differently they have collaborated.

Post-earthquake, many schools were closed for almost a year due to damage. This severe disruption created a pressing need for alternative education solutions, prompting NGOs and other development organizations to step in. They offer support by providing temporary facilities or establishing new educational programs, highlighting the importance of education even in times of crisis.

Think of a town where a tornado damaged all the schools, forcing the children to stay home. In response, community volunteers might gather to set up makeshift classrooms in parks or community centers, ensuring that kids can continue learning despite the chaos.

This is a school, a temporary school, which has been constructed to provide some education facilities for the people who does not have school, I mean at least from the neighborhood areas and you can see that the kind of linear pattern has been organized to organize the school and this is the interior of a bamboo classroom but now the question is, yes they are good at least bamboo has been supplied.

In response to the lack of educational facilities, temporary schools made of bamboo were constructed. These schools are organized in a linear pattern to optimize space and facilitate the movement of students and teachers. The use of bamboo is noteworthy as it is a fast-growing, sustainable material that can be easily assembled.

Imagine setting up a tent in your backyard for a party when it rains. You use whatever you have—maybe some bamboo poles and a tarp—to create a fun temporary space. Similarly, communities built schools out of bamboo to keep education going despite the challenges.

So, where center for earth unit in the Auroville Center has actually transferred some rammed earth and as well the compressed stabilized, here we call it as CSEB, compressed stabilized earth block... So, that is a kind of composition through which they developed these stabilized earth blocks which are about in a square shape and this is called Aurum press.

This chunk introduces the technology of Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks (CSEB), which is used for constructing durable housing. For effective stability, these blocks are made of a specific mix of soil, sand, clay, and a small percentage of cement. This design helps create strong interlocking structures essential for earthquake resilience.

Think of making a cake. You mix flour, sugar, and eggs in the right proportions to make it fluffy and tasty. Similarly, by combining earth materials correctly, builders can create durable blocks that are strong enough to withstand natural disasters.

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