The Karavan Programme for Indigenous Technology (KAPIT)

The following are the advantages of using vernacular construction:

  1. Core unit can be built immediately; with further additions on ground or first floor as and when required;
  2.  Units can be built with ease by people themselves;
  3.  Stone is available in abundance; mud, when stabilized with lime or cement becomes water resistant with 2-4 times increased compressive/tensile and shear strengths;
  4.  Wooden members are light and can be transported from selected areas of AJK and Punjab. Cheap wood such as eucalyptus or peepal logs can be utilized. The wood can be cut in sections and transported. Imported Malaysian wood is also available.
 

4.2 Component 2: Building Material Kits
4.2.1 Since it is important that the required building material is available speedily to the various locations, it is proposed that kits should be prepared of materials that are not readily available e.g. lime or cement, wood logs and battens, g.i. sheets etc.

4.2.2 The immediate need will be of lime or cement so that as soon as reconstruction of masonry walls begins they are available at the various sites. In case the procurement of timber logs or battens for walls is delayed, these can also be placed on the face of the walls. The construction of walls should be taken up as soon as possible. The kits for rafters and battens, roofing material and windows should be provided within a week of the beginning of wall construction.
 

4.2.3 The following building kits are proposed:

  1. Wooden logs or purlins for bracing treated with solignum or similar material
  2.  Wooden logs or purlins for roof treated with solignum or similar material
  3.  Roof sheeting options: kana matting, g.i. or asbestos sheets with fastening materials and tools
  4. Polythene sheets
  5. Packs of lime and cement
  6.  Doors 3’x7’; Windows 3’x3’6”
  7.  Equipment packs to include: ladders, pick axe, kassis, tagharis, mason’s tool set, 100 gallon tank, water cans, lanterns

4.2.4 The following are the advantage of Building Material Kits:

  1. Each pack can be provided as needed
  2.  Better control over inventories
  3.  Ease of storage in warehouses
  4.  Transportation as and when needed
  5.  Each pack can be solicited as separate items
Any funding can be channeled through building material kits in kind to avoid misuse
 

4.3  Component 3: Technical Volunteers
In view of the large scale destruction and the need to build better, it is important that large numbers of young technical persons with architectural, engineering and building backgrounds are inducted into the programme on a voluntary basis. These technical hands can be provided orientation and guidance regarding their tasks and sent out to the areas where the work will be undertaken. Since the need in only for 2-3 weeks, an activity such as this can be easily organized. An appeal is being given out by the HFP to encourage architectural, engineering and contracting organizations to place the services of their architects, engineers and supervisors at the disposal of the project. Depending upon how large the programme might be, the services of such people will be utilized.

  1. KaravanRehab Volunteer Corps

The structure of the volunteer corps has been developed. The KaravanRehab Volunteers will be provided briefing and sensitization regarding working with local people and materials. Most of them are used to working with reinforced concrete and modern materials and will need to be sensitized regarding the value of traditional materials and techniques.
 

4.3.2  Manuals, Working Drawings, Instruction Sheets
The manuals, drawings and instruction sheets will need to be printed to be available to the people as well as to the technical volunteer corps.
 

4.3.3  Workshops
Before sending the technical volunteers to various locations, it is important to conduct workshops where various issues related to better construction and the methodology of imparting information and supervision could be discussed. Since there will be a lot of variation in each locality, indeed from one house to another, the value of flexibility needs to be underscored.

A large number of casualties occurred due to the vulnerability of the location. It is important to guide people to build away from vulnerable locations. The importance of orientation also needs to be emphasized in order to make the house more livable during extreme weather conditions.

The technical volunteers are expected to play a major role in providing the much needed assistance at the time of reconstruction. It is hoped that through their assistance better quality of construction will be attained for earthquake mitigation.
 

4.3.4  Requirement of Technical Volunteers
The following are the requirements:

  1. Young architect- and engineer-volunteers for providing guidance in construction and layout of houses
  2. Immediate requirement of 100 volunteers for 2-3 weeks
  3. One technical volunteer per 50-100 houses/week
  4. Training/briefing programme
  5. Workbooks and Manuals containing drawings, details, methodologies will be provided
  6.  Worksheets carrying details will be distributed to the community to help ensure better construction.
 

4.3.5  Tasks of Technical Volunteers
The following are the tasks of technical volunteers

  • Provision of technical advice to home builders
  • Guidance to build improved dwellings
  • Explanation of drawings and instructions
  • Propagation of the value of vernacular architecture
  • Developing an understanding of local materials and technologies by technical volunteers
  • Promoting a ‘Culture of Caring and Sharing’
 
 
 
 

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