The movement has won recognition through awards and citations from various quarters locally, nationally and internationally. A few documents supporting these have been put forward below for kind reference.

Best practices in Dubai International Award

This project has been selected as a ‘good practice’ by UN-Habitat for the Dubai International Award for the year 2004. For details refer Annexure - VI.

Hazard (Tsunami) resistant house design

The Gandhigram Rural Institute, a deemed university in southern India in partnership with national and international organizations came forward to organize competitions on housing design suitable for the Tsunami affected coastline of India. Around 200 participants from all over India including architects, engineers, students enlisted for the contest, among which ODTF won the first prize for the best design concept for “Hazard (Tsunami) resistant house design” along with a cash award of INR 50,000. As per the requirement, the design was to conform to the “Guidelines for Reconstruction of houses affected by Tsunami in Tamil Nadu”. The house design evolved after conducting a field study to understand lifestyles of the local fisher folk. Besides allotting spaces within the house and homestead for the various activities that these households engage themselves in throughout the day, it also incorporates appropriate, cost-effective and multi-hazard-resistant technologies (since this area is subject to periodic cyclones and floods). The letter regarding this is attached as Annexure – VII.

Finalist for the World Habitat Award 2006

The project has been nominated as one of the 12 Finalists in the world for the World Habitat Award 2006 and is presently contesting in the final round of the competition.

“From disasters to development” – an article in Indian Architects and Builders (IAB)

Among many articles published in leading dailies and magazines, a noteworthy article “From Disasters to Development” was published in the Indian Architects and Builders in its May 2006 issue. The scanned version is attached herewith as Annexure – VIII.

8.2 Visitors

• Students and Faculties of School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi • Students and faculties of Tasmania University, Australia • Interns from Architecture and Development, Paris • BCPR (Bureau of Crisis Prevention and Recovery) team, UNDP from 7 countries (India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Iran, Bangladesh, Nepal, Afghanistan) have keenly observed the movement in the villages. • Focus-in-charge, Energy and Environment and Programme Officers of SDC, New Delhi • SDC Partners of Rural Housing Programme, New Delhi came for an exposure visit expressed their intention to replicate the learnings in their provinces • A team of Orissa Legislative Assembly members came for an exposure visit to the project areas and interacted with the construction artisans.

8.3 Media Coverage

The movement has been covered by the local media extensively from time to time, especially during workshops and trainings conducted in Orissa and other provinces. Some of the noteworthy paper clippings in both regional and English languages have been shown below.