Revitalization of Indigenous Munda Community Through Settlement Re-development

SUST

Project idea

Mundas are one of Bangladesh's major forest-based tribes having a distinct indigenous way of living.The Munda people originated in India, travelled to Bangladesh around 300 years ago and have been living here ever since. The majority of them settled in Bangladesh's south-west region, the ecological zone of the Sundarbans. Living in this country's one of the most vulnerable areas, the Munda people of Sundarbans are facing challenges of subsistence, survival, and prejudice. Every year, they face enormous challenges from saline intrusion, tropical storms, tidal surges, and other natural calamities, making their lives harder.

The project intends to develop a socio-economically sustainable Munda settlement by increase the resilience, adaptability, and affordability of their houses, households and hamlet in an effective way to withstand climate challenges with the help of their indigenous knowledges and construction techniques. This may also aid in the enrichment of their indigenous culture, as well as the introduction of their heritage to the rest of the world.

Project description

This project aims to design a self-sustaining community by introducing hazard-specific low-cost housing solutions, generating alternative income possibilities, and promoting their culture with the support of their indigenous knowledges, therefore protecting this ethnic community as well as the Sundarbans. This research can serve as a model village for other ethnic minority groups as well as catastrophe victims.
The specific objective of the project are:

• Develop their self-sufficiency in all areas (socioeconomic,
educational and cultural) and pave the route for self-realization.
• Policymaking at the micro, meso, and macro levels.
• Introducing mainstream society with their culture.
• Exploring resilient household feature with the help of their
indigenous knowledge.
• Taking environmentally sound solutions at all levels.

The issues were narrowed down to four major factors- ecological factor, economic factor, social factor and cultural factor.
Micro, Meso and Macro level intervention were implemented in accordance with the major key factors, through a new masterplan approach. The issues and their traditional practices were taken into account during the whole master plan development.

The concept was developed by focusing on the relationship between present challenges and conventional practices while maintaining environmental soundness. To keep their cultural heritage intact, their present condition should be elevated. Monoculture has been practiced in this particular area for many years now. Trees has been cut down & land has been used for monocrop, now shrimp culture. In order to bring back the past topology of this area the intention leads to the concept of “Agro-forestry”. The purposeful integration of trees and shrubs into agricultural and animal farming systems to provide environmental, economic, and social advantages is agroforestry. This concept was considered
in order to bring economic, climatic and ecological resilience.

Feature for Resilient House Design
• Resilience through three major features; Response, Recover and Adapt.
• Multipurpose uses of space
• Shared macha can economically help the families. Also, it can be used as livestock shelter in time of water clogging.
• Hipped roof with 30-degree angle.
• Rainwater harvesting in house and household level.
• Varanda surrounding the core area can act as a buffer space for wind, can protect the mud wall inside, also can be used for various activities.
• In time of a disaster, attic space can be used as a temporary shelter and storage in usual time.
• Bamboo fence surrounding the varanda can act as a primary protection from wild animals.

To enable this indigenous community in surviving and safeguarding their distinctive culture from extinction, a redevelopment of their settlement has been proposed while preserving their own characteristics. A bottom-up approach was followed to meet up all levels of issues in order to develop a self-sufficient Munda community, from disaster-resistance building to a defensive masterplan. Their traditional knowledge and customs were major consideration which may also contribute to this ethnic forest-based community's sustainable development.

Technical information

Easily producible, local, sustainable materials (such as; thatch, bamboo, mud, jute, straw) were used to reduce cost. Local indigenous building techniques were used so that they, themselves can build their own house which also create a sense of ownership. Lightweight materials to reduce damage in case of structural collapse during hazards. They can produce the building material from agro-forestry, which will reduce the dependency on Sundarbans to some extent. Capping on plinth to protect from saline erosion. Coal-tar coated bamboo to increase lifetime. Cross bracing, reinforcement between mud wall, bamboo slit frame on roof to withstand hazards.