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Summary Points:
- The temporary housing project provides the migrant construction workers and their families a stable option despite the transient nature of their work.
- To further support the families in a practical and holistic manner, Nebula partners with local non-government organizations.
- Nebula’s social impact initiatives are in line with the Sustainable development goals (SDGs).
‘Affordable living; not just Affordable Housing’
Established in 2016, Nebula Infraspace’s Aavaas initiative aims to provide inclusive, affordable and sustainable housing in India. Sustainable housing solutions can only be successful, if the residents can thrive in them. Hence, Aavaas seeks to be a socially impactful business model wherein it provides subsidiary social infrastructure, including fair priced shops, healthcare facilities and school to its residents. Nebula has 2 Aavaas projects under development in Changodar (Ahmedabad) and Miyapur (Hyderabad) with over 6,000 affordable apartments under construction and another 5,000 apartments in entitlements stage. Projects in Sanand & Bechraji (Gujarat) and Chettipunniyam (Chennai) are in the planning sanctions stage.
Innovative Housing Solutions
To execute this mission, Nebula partnered with Hannah Broatch and Mason Rattray of Hatch Workshop to design a reusable, low-cost and realistic housing solution for construction workers and their families. Its innovative feature lies in its easy dismantling and reassembling capabilities, which is particularly useful for migrant workers who move from site to site. The housing framework thus provides the workers and their families a better quality of life and ensures their lives are not disrupted because of the nature of their work.
The temporary housing project for construction workers is currently being implemented in Changodar, Ahmedabad.
Strong, Multi-Pronged Capacity Building Support
To improve the standard of living and wellbeing of the construction workers, Nebula is collaborating with two non-government organisations (NGOs) who can build the communities’ capacities in various critical ways.
Providing Healthcare Services
Nebula partnered with Aajeevika Bureau, an NGO focused on providing resources and training to migrant workers, for providing healthcare services to the construction workers. A health profiling has been conducted to understand the present health status and prevalence of common illnesses in the community. Regular awareness sessions on sanitation and hygiene, childcare and immunization, occupational safety and reproductive health are also organized for them.
Healthcare facilities for construction workers at Aavaas site
Providing Quality and Inclusive Education for Children
Nebula is collaborating with Saath Charitable Trust, an NGO empowering socially excluded members of the society, to provide education through a crèche and learning center for the children of workers on site. A multi-grade multi-learning (MGML) technique is adopted at the in-house center for inclusive and age-appropriate learning. Children are also provided with nutritional meals and clean drinking water at the center.
Nebula crèche & learning center at Aavaas Changodar
Other facilities
Furthermore, to ensure holistic implementation of the initiative, facilities like clean drinking water, bio-digester system for toilets, separate well maintained toilet blocks for men and women, community kitchen and waste management is also implemented. Cooking and safety provisions have also been arranged to operationalize the housing community for the workers. Nebula is collaborating with The 4th Wheel, a company working in the area of social development and impact assessment, to track, monitor and assess the impact of the initiative.
Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
By mapping the efforts with the SDGs, Nebula aims to tackle issues related to poverty, hunger, health, sustainable living, education, sanitation, clean water and proper consumption. Using this multidisciplinary approach, Nebula will continue to invest in the developmental model for construction workers, which can be used in a ‘plug and play’ approach by other industries, as well.
‘Building the Future of Those Who Build Our Future Homes’ – with this motto in mind, Nebula aims to set a benchmark for decent work environment and living conditions for migrant workers at construction/Real Estate Projects across India.
To find out more about Nebula’s work towards this initiative, click here.
