Lead Partner: Orangi Pilot project
Description
The Orangi Pilot Project (OPP) is based in one of the largest ‘katchi abadi’ (unauthorised settlements) located 12 kms from the centre of Karachi –the largest metropolitan centre in Pakistan. The pilot project was established there in 1980 by Dr. Akhtar Hameed Khan. The Orangi Project became famous for its Low Cost Sanitation Programme that enabled low income families to construct and maintain an underground sewage system with their own funds and under their own management.
For this programme, the OPP provides social and technical guidance (based on action research), tools and supervision of implementation. The OPP’s work has shown that people can finance and build underground sanitation in their homes, their lanes and neighbourhoods. This development is called “internal” development by the OPP. However, people cannot build “external” development consisting of trunk sewers, treatment plants and long secondary sewers. This only the state can provide. In Orangi, people have invested Rs 78.79 million on internal development (including 405 secondary sewers) In 5,987 lanes consisting of 90,596 houses (there are 104,917 houses in Orangi). The state would have spent over six times to do this work. The programme is being replicated in seven cities of Pakistan by NGOs and CBOs and in 49 settlements in Karachi.
The OPP now considers itself a research institution whose objective is to analyse outstanding problems of Orangi, and then through action research and extension education, discover viable solutions. These solutions can then be applied, with modifications, where necessary to other settlements and become part of state policies. The OPP does not fund development but by providing social and technical guidance it encourages the mobilisation of local resources and the practice of co-operative action.
The OPP Project now has four autonomous institutions:
- The OPP Society responsible for channeling funds.
- The OPP Research and Training Institute(RTI) managing housing, sanitation, forestry plus technical support to government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and others.
- Orangi Charitable Trust manages the credit programs.
- Karachi Health and Social Development Association. It manages all health related program.
Reflections
“ Whenever they also have faith that the development agency -government or NGO- is a responsive and responsible partner, the common people readily accept the invitation to join development projects. However, as our experience with Orangi demonstrates, this requires that the development agency is willing to go out among the people, to listen and learn, and only then to teach and advise.”
Reference
Akhter Hameed Khan, ‘The Orangi Pilot Project’ In “Reasons for Hope: Instructive experiences in Rural Development”. Ed Krishna, Uphoff and Esman. Kumarian Press.
“ Through the years, we have held to our belief that genuine development cannot take place by subsidizing the costs of any activity; people themselves should be prepared to pay for what they want.”
Contact Details
Parveen Rehman (+92300-2293864)Director Research And TrainingOrangi Pilot ProjectTel.021-6652297/6658021Fax.6699347opprti@cyber.net.pkWebsite: http://www.oppinstitutions.org/