"I have been living in the slum of Dakshineswar for 15 years, under a roof made of plastic tarpaulins firmly anchored on bamboo poles in a one-room hut made of bamboo. It was a difficult time. Especially during storms. During the last super cyclone in 2020, called Amphan, our houses were almost completely destroyed
But not anymore," says Bani (name changed). Bani and 15 other families have finally said goodbye to their shabby accommodation made of plastic tarpaulins and bamboo sticks in the slums of Dakshineswar.
Their newly built one-room concrete houses, equipped with sturdy tin roofs, sliding windows and cement floors, provide them with much-needed security, comfort and protection from the harsh weather conditions.
Asif, the head of the Calcutta Rescue Living Standards project, explains: "We started construction with 16 households. It was completed in mid-March. By the end of March, we had completed 28 houses. And we are currently building 18 more houses. If all goes well, we believe we will be able to complete all 60 homes in the next 5 months. This project has really changed the lives of the residents.
Mehul (name changed) and Vishal (name changed) are happy: "Earlier, when we still had muddy floors, it was really difficult for us to concentrate on our studies. Our clothes were always dirty and during the monsoon, the rainwater would enter our house, which made life very difficult for us. Now I am very happy that I can live and study in peace. Their new home has given them a safe space to learn and grow.
Zainab (name changed), who has spent his life as a day laborer, feels incredibly happy to be able to retire in the comfortable house he has always dreamed of. "A beautiful house! I've been dreaming of this for a long time. Now, finally, it's a reality. Thank you Calcutta Rescue."
Calcutta Rescue's commitment to improving the living standards of people on the margins of society is evident in its efforts to provide a safe home for those in need and to give the residents of Dakshineswar's slums a fresh start full of hope and joy.
With the financial support of the ABZ housing cooperative in Zurich, Calcutta Rescue was able to improve the living conditions of these marginalized people. After many efforts to obtain building permits, the residents of the Daskhineswar slum were provided with safe houses that changed their lives and gave them back the hope of an easier and more joyful everyday life.
The Dashkineswar residents, with a total of more than 200 families, had settled on this empty plot of land in the north of the city since 2016 after being evicted from another slum by the Kolkata city administration, which had confiscated the land. Since 2016, the Dashkineswar slum has been equipped with electrical and sanitary facilities as well as a pilot project for vermi-compost.
The construction of small houses like the one in Dashkineswar is a first for Calcutta Rescue! The Calcutta Rescue team hopes to be able to implement this project in other slums as well. The cost of a house is CHF 800. Calcutta Rescue is also planning to implement a garden project in sacks in the future. Dashkineswar - yesterday's visions are being realized today. This is thanks to the cooperation with the local authorities, the trust of the slum dwellers in the Calcutta Rescue team and the financial support of ABZ and our donors.
A great collaboration - and we keep dreaming!
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