Appropriate Housing Technologies in Orissa

The Orissa Development Technocrats’ Forum (ODTF) began after the 1999 super-cyclone to help families build safer, low-cost, disaster-resistant homes. Located in one of India’s poorest states, Orissa, where most rural houses were mud and thatch, the project trains local masons and promotes affordable building technologies using local materials.
Over 3,500 families have built safer houses at 20–25% lower cost, often using government housing grants. More than 3,650 masons, including 500 women, have been trained in small groups and organized into Artisan Self-Help Groups (ASHGs) to run small businesses, increasing their monthly income by nearly 50%. ASHGs also provide savings, credit, and informal insurance.
ODTF’s approach includes demonstration houses and nursery school buildings to showcase techniques like rat-trap brick walls, brick arches, and filler-slab roofing. These methods reduce the use of bricks, steel, and cement, lowering costs and environmental impact. Local stone and eco-friendly brick production further reduce emissions.
The project promotes community involvement in house design and construction, creating a stronger sense of ownership. It has influenced policy by increasing rural housing grants and integrating disaster-resistant methods into national training programs. ODTF now earns income through training, construction support, and research, moving toward financial self-sufficiency as a not-for-profit social enterprise.
Socially, the project improves skills, livelihoods, and housing quality, giving poor families durable shelters and women new income opportunities. Environmentally, it cuts resource use and pollution. Its methods and training have been shared across Orissa, in post-tsunami reconstruction, and in 17 other Indian states.
ODTF shows that with technical guidance, local skills, and cost-effective designs, vulnerable communities can build affordable, disaster-resistant homes while creating sustainable livelihoods.