Blog post 2 of 8 (Part B: Village Maarapanahalli)
3rd January 2019
The day started off at around 11:30 am. Firstly, we visited Maarapanahalli, 1 km from the place of stay at Itteppanahali. On reaching Anganwadi, we organized a Focus Group Discussion, (with a comparatively smaller crowd).
Observations:
The observations and analysis were more or less the same.
- Kere (lake)
Even if present, water is too less or completely absent due to the infrequent rains.
- NGOs
Ujjivan Micro Finance is the NGO that is found in the villages, if at all they have one.
- Agriculture
One month crops:
Coriander leaves
Three month crops:
Beans, Potato, Chilly, Onion, Carrot,, Beetroot, Tomato
Four month crops:
Ragi, Jowar, Rice
Six month crops:
Flowers
One year crop:
Grapes vines that lasts for 15-20 years, with six month consecutive harvest after the first cycle.
Gollahalli village has Spinach as well.
- Merging of old and new houses.
As far as I remember and dig my memory from my visits to Dharwad, I can say that when an old house with a sloping roof is extended or enlarged in terms of space, it follows a sloped roof clearly responding to the climatic needs, with very few exceptions.
Chikkaballapur on the other hand sets an example of how sloping are going off use and people are beginning to adapt flat roofs, probably because of the diminishing rains or because of the growing fascination for moulds (RCC). When a sloped roofed house is enlarged, it is done so with a flat roof extension (in most of the cases).
House level:
- Paaya
The older foundations (3′) are less in depth compared to the new ones (4′ – 5′)
- Cow shed
People prefer to keep it separate and not part of the house. They don’t mix both these functions unlike what was seen in Dharwad.
- Bathroom and Toilet
– Many houses use the toilet for bathing and toilet needs.
Asked so far, the villagers seem to be very okay with the idea of having both together. If they have it separately, it is only because of money shortage (Where they have created temporary shelters for bath)
– Most of the bath rooms have a water heating space/ Chula at the corner.
- Entry
As far as the entry is concerned, they prefer East, South, and North. If asked why, they have no answer.
Will cross check with its significance with the Vaastu consultant tomorrow!
- People’s adaptation to climatic changes.
– A lot of houses have windows but are covered with Flex. When asked why, they say, it is too cold. Hence.
The Flex brings in light but at the same stops the wind flow. That’s the most immediate solution they came up with.
And, now I feel like that’s probably why they have no Katte as well. Climatic reasons. It is super foggy early morning. Too cold.
– People prefer to sit inside during winters mainly December. Outside spaces (pockets spaces between houses) are preferred to be used only during summers. Whereas, porticos seem to be preferred and we’ll utilized even during winters (based on one of the house study).
They use fire outdoors to keep themselves warm is what they claimed.
- People’s preferred house in the village and why?
As expected, they quoted a big G + 1 RCC house for the most obvious reasons.
- Security
Security concerns are starting to re consider the needs and re shape the spaces.
For instance:
A woman only house was revamped to introduce the toilets and bathrooms inside the house for safety purposes.
Spear test:
-We found a land beside the Anganwadi and a construction site. Hence borrowing the tools wasn’t difficult. After initial cut of 2′, it hit further in 1.5″ – 2.5″ into the soil when dropped.
Miscellaneous:
We were planning on to meet the Vaastu consultant today. But, unfortunately, he was unavailable by the time we had gone.
Tomorrow, we would be covering Kethanahalli village and carry out the Spear test there. We are also planning on meeting the Vaastu consultant. If possible, we would be going to the market to get the rates of building materials. (Note: This is part of the market survey done in the surrounding villages so that materials can be sourced locally.)
Some pics of the houses which were measured:
Nivasa blog 