National Council for Civil liberties (NCCl), a Ahmedabad based NGO, concluded project ‘Rainbow Hills’ — to modernise houses of people in tribal community — at Vanaj village in Gujarat. The project was kicked-off in November last year with a view to provide basic amenities to the poor tribal people without disturbing their lifestyle, traditions and surroundings. The scenic Vanaj village is situated in Sabarkantha district of North Gujarat on a small hillock facing a colossal lake.
“After necessary survey, NCCl selected 12 houses in Vanaj for reconstruction and repair. The selected houses are on the hillocks constructed by the members of tribal community using mud for walls and local wood for ceiling,” said NCCl president VK Saxena, adding that before the introduction of ‘Rainbow Hills’, the members of tribal community were living in dilapidated dusty homes in an unhealthy conditions.
NCCl completed repair of walls, floor, roof, verandas as well as plastered mud walls & floor with Cement and also laid cement sheets on the roofs for protection from rain and heat and put roof-tiles on it for long lasting protection, said Saxena. He further said that toilet blocks have also been constructed in all the houses under the project. According to him, holistic approach was taken to complete the project as the volunteers of NCCl are also helping members of tribal community and guiding them to keep houses and surrounding clean and maintain hygienic condition. They are being taught to stop using plastic products, causing maximum damage to the environment, he added.
“The villagers will also be guided to rent out one room in these neatly repaired and re-constructed houses to the tourists interested in eco-tourism, which will generate extra income for them. The technical support for the project was given by Shivangi Saxena, Interior Designer from CEPT University, Ahmedabad,” he informed, adding that the cost of modernisation of houses was borne by NCCl.
NCCl is a non-profitable multi dimensional social organisation. It has actively taken interest and participation in issues pertaining to public and national interest. It remained in the forefront in raising issues against self appointed environmentalists and institutions to prevent perpetration of injustice. In the past, the NGO successfully implemented Mission ENDURE, in Ahmedabad City to reduce dust pollution by constructing footpaths from pre-cast Cement Concrete blocks, which was a unique practical, positive and participatory project implemented in association with Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation.