6.2. Decentralized Approach Benefits

First of all, making their own decisions about the construction they wanted. So, now how this decentralization process have explained, have been implemented. Now, in most of the cases being a farmer’s community and most of these individual agricultural activities, most of these families own land so that at least they have a capacity to build on their own piece of land and they could able to develop self-help construction for the following reasons.

In decentralized approaches, the local community, especially farmers, have the autonomy to decide their construction needs. Since most families in these communities own land, they can plan and execute their buildings without waiting for approval from centralized authorities. This empowerment fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility.

Imagine a neighborhood where instead of waiting for city planners to decide when and how homes will be built, residents share ideas and make plans together. Each family's input helps create the community they desire, much like how farmers collectively decide on the best crops to plant based on their land and resources.

One is farmers have skills and knowledge in construction, their extended families allow many people to work on each dwelling and because as I said to you earlier, it is a family businesses, their regular season of harvesting was almost 5 months after the disaster leaving the peasants with free time for other activities.

Farmers are not just agricultural workers; many have construction skills learned over generations. Their extended families often collaborate on building projects, which means there are many hands available to help. After the harvesting season, when they have more free time, families can focus on building homes or community structures together, enhancing efficiency and connection.

Think of a family reunion where everyone pitches in to renovate an old house. The grandparents might know how to fix the roof, while the younger members can paint the walls. This shared effort can make renovations faster and more fun, creating a stronger bond among family members.

Construction materials including bamboo were available locally in that region and at least if some elderly people or if they are unable to make their own can self-built self-help construction then still the labour was easily accessible and they were affordable as well.

Local availability of materials like bamboo makes construction easier and cheaper. Even if some individuals, such as the elderly, cannot carry out the construction themselves, affordable labor is accessible within the community, ensuring that everyone can still participate in the building process.

Consider a small town where everyone knows a carpenter or mason. If someone needs to repair their roof, they can easily hire a local worker instead of searching for someone from a neighboring town. This not only supports local business but also fosters a caring, interconnected community.

Rural communities have a deep-rooted sense of mutual cooperation. It’s unlike an urban setup where the rural community cooperates with each other.

In rural areas, people often help each other out. This sense of cooperation is vital for successful construction projects as neighbors come together to share resources, knowledge, and labor. Unlike urban environments where individuals may be more isolated, rural settings thrive on collaboration.

Imagine a barn-raising event where everyone in the village helps build a neighbor's barn. This event not only speeds up the construction but also strengthens community ties. Similarly, when residents work together for common goals, they create a support system that benefits all.

Once the society the individuals when they realize the housing needs and economic needs so they actually made their understanding of their requirements in a piece of paper and they drafted that in what they want and that is where the engineers or specialists about 17 engineers were working in order to assist them with the technical expertise.

The community identifies their construction needs and drafts a plan, which is then reviewed by engineers and specialists. This collaboration ensures that the buildings meet safety and environmental standards, providing technical assistance that complements the local knowledge of the community.

It's like a group of students collaborating on a science project. They brainstorm ideas, write down their plan, and then seek guidance from a teacher or a mentor to ensure they're on the right track. This collaborative effort enhances their project outcomes.

Residents optimized the use of resources by using recycled material like from their old houses they use the doors, windows, and other materials which have been reused which could reduce the cost and also get back the similar fabric what they had.

Residents creatively reuse materials from previous structures to save costs and maintain the aesthetic of their community. This practice not only minimizes waste but also helps keep the building process financially viable for families with limited resources.

Consider someone who decorates their home using items from their previous home. By repurposing favorite pieces, they save money and retain a sense of familiarity and comfort. Similarly, using recycled materials in construction leads to unique and personalized homes.

For any project, there are always some downturns. In this segment, in this whole project, because it’s a coffee growers associations which I working on, the coverage of informal dwellers has not been addressed...

Despite numerous benefits, there are downsides to decentralized approaches. One issue is the lack of support for informal dwellers, which can lead to inequalities. There may also be the concentration of decision-making and a potential loss of knowledge due to project shortness, demonstrating the need for better management and sustainability strategies.

Think of a community garden where some individuals have full access to water and resources while others do not. Without consideration for every community member, the garden may flourish in some areas while others struggle, pointing to the importance of inclusive planning and ongoing support.

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