September 30, 2021: The keys to 45 flood-resilient houses were handed over to beneficiaries from Amaida colony, Ambalappuzha taluk, Alappuzha district, Kerala. The houses, supported by Tata Trusts and designed as sustainable solutions to cope with extreme natural events, were built with technical input from Habitat Technology Group as per the requirements of the afflicted families.
In 2018, Kerala was devastated by severe floods. Thousands lost their homes in this natural disaster. As part of their Urban Habitat portfolio, the Tata Trusts had provided a ‘Rebuild Kerala’ grant to the Sri Sathya Sai Trust (SSST), Calicut. The grant was used for the Shri Sathya Sai Vastudhara Project to construct flood-resilient homes for the afflicted. Each house, with a total built-up area of 450sq.ft., comprising two bedrooms, one sitting room, a kitchen and bathroom, is built on a stilt column 5ft above the ground.
SSST organised the event which was inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who attended the event through a virtual platform. In his inaugural address, the chief minister appreciated the social welfare interventions being undertaken by the Sri Sathya Sai Trust and Tata Trusts in Kerala. He lauded their efforts to provide free homes to flood-affected victims living in the state’s coastal areas and highlighted the unique feature of the houses being handed over, which were built to withstand future disasters, especially flood.
Ms Mridula Tangirala, Head Tourism, Tata Trusts, also attended the meeting virtually. Addressing the attendees, Ms Tangirala said that the Trusts were committed to creating a deep, wide and irreversible impact in the communities they serve. This project was undertaken to revive the lives and spirits of communities which were most adversely affected by the floods. She emphasised the need for like-minded organisations to adopt the design and replicate these model homes across the state so as to address recurrent floods and other natural disasters.
The event was graced by Shri Saji Cheriyan, Honourable Minister, Fisheries and Culture, Kerala; Shri RJ Ratnakar, managing trustee, Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, Prasanthi Nilayam, and other dignitaries and senior officials.
Read more about Tata Trusts' flood relief initiative in Kerala
