- Nizamuddin Basti, a treasure trove 700-year-old of fascinating history and living cultural heritage, is located in the heart of Bastis. But three decades ago, Bastis image started degrading – from a cultural hub to a ghetto, discouraging visitors and encouraging criminals.
- Aga Khan Trust for Culture revitalized monuments and peoples’ lives through the Nizamuddin Basti Renewal project. The project was focused on several pillars and included the revitalization of the environment.
- The project reached 15 of 17 sustainable goals and won two UNESCO Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation for 2021.
Nizamuddin Basti is known for its Sufi saints or shrines. It is one of the oldest inhabited areas in Delhi. The Basti welcomes you with colour, culture, chaos, and crammed streets. The Basti is home to a living cultural heritage that includes cuisine, music, handicrafts, and traditions.
Around three decades ago, Nizamuddin Bastis image started degrading – from a cultural hub to a Muslim ghetto, discouraging visitors and encouraging criminals. A project came along that made things better. The Aga Khan Trust for Culture’s Nizamuddin Basti Reveal project, which was led by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, (AKTC), revived history and rebuilt lives. It also achieved 15 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. Along with the sustainable development of the region and its communities, conservation of more than 20 historic monuments was done.
Through an innovative People-Public-Private Partnership model, the Nizamuddin Basti Renewal project, started in 2008 overcame significant socioeconomic challenges by working on three core areas: health, education, and environmental sanitation. Two awards were presented to Delhi’s Nizamuddin Basti at the 2021 World Economic Forum.UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation– Award of Excellence and Special Recognition for Sustainable Development Award.
Ratish Nanda was the CEO of Aga-Khan Trust for Culture and the Project Director for the Nizamuddin Rural Renewal Initiative. He explained how the project incorporated community and heritage conservation. We see heritage as an asset and not as a burden. And, we are demonstrating that through our projects.According to Nanda, the Nizamuddin Basti Renewal initiative went beyond monuments restoration to the holistic, sustainable development of the community by working on five key pillars – livelihood generation, environment sanitisation, education, healthcare, and heritage appreciation.
Reviving the environment in Nizamuddin Baisti
Prior to AKTC’s intervention, environment was treated as secondary in Nizamuddin Basti. People were more concerned about their basic needs than the environment. The Basti was faced with major environmental issues, including pollution in water bodies and diminishing green cover. There was also a lack awareness among the locals about environmental issues. AKTC works to address some of these issues and encourage local participation and responsibility.
The restoration of the 800-year-old Hazrat Nizamudin Auliyas Boli (stepwell), was the first big win. Delhi’s only Baoli, which is still fed with underground springs. Baoli walls fell apart in 2008 from sewage water seepage. The residents used the Baoli as a rubbish dump yard. The project team dug out the pool and removed all the garbage that had accumulated over 700 years. The water in the baoli can still be used for drinking, but it is not potable. However, the locals can use the water to clean their homes and grow crops.
Another important environmental win was also the desilting the Barapullah Nallah, which flows with the Nizamuddin Basti, and improving the surrounding landscape to make it a green belt. It was once a rainwater source for the Yamuna. However, it had become a drain laden with waste, solid waste, and wastewater. Over 1000 trucks of garbage were taken away. And at AKTC’s request, Delhi Jal Board laid out a 300-meter long sewage line to collect toilet waste from the nallah facing houses and connected to the main sewage line.
Sunder Nursery is also included in the Nizamuddin Renewal Project. 18000 trees were planted, and the 22000 sqm road network has been reduced to 8000 sqm. The garden is one of the most popular green spaces in Delhi.
Stressing on how important it is to involve the locals in the environmental issues, Ratish Nanda said, “We wanted to make the locals own the project and participate wholeheartedly. Instead of waiting for people to come to us we went to their homes. It took us many years to convince them to join. To win their trust, the team devised innovative ways to integrate a healthy environment in the basti’s built fabric. Environment education was introduced in the SDMC School, and the basti children who are a part of the Eco Club created environmental awareness through activities like terrace plays, roof-gardens, no-plastic zones etc.”
When asked why environmental conservation is vital for healthy communities, Nanda replied, “many health issues spring from pollution and waste that is just thrown “away”. Poor waste management, untreated sewage, and water contamination by waste can lead to many diseases. So, while working on the project, it was important for us to make the Basti residents understand the importance of environmental conservation.”
The basti had to deal with a lack of safe and clean toilets from 2008 onwards. Basti was home to more than 25% of the population without toilets. The remaining 25% had to use the two public toilets which were neither safe nor clean for women.
Anisa, 35 years old, recalls the horrible days of her youth. Boys would climb up them and harass me. The toilets weren’t safe and were very smelly. To improve and maintain the conditions of the community toilet, AKTC created Rehmat Nigrani Samooh. It has transformed into South Delhi’s model public toilet. It now has thirty toilet seats, a wash and shower area, and is a vast improvement from the previous dirty toilet. The locals have been trained to clean the public toilet and to educate visitors on how to keep it clean.
Other than the toilets the Nizamuddin Basti Renewal initiativeThe landscaping and beautification of Barapullah Nalaah, Nizamuddin Baoli and other local parks, streets, schools, and public spaces was also undertaken.
Education, heritage, and living standards
Insha-e-Noor, a women’s self-help group for women, was created by AKTC in 2008. It was created to train and create opportunities for women of the Basti. Zaida, now 48 years old, started learning tailoring in 2008 and has been an integral part of the organization ever since. Mongabay-India heard from her that joining Insha-e-Noor was the best decision she made in her life. She has not only achieved financial independence but has also gained a lot self-confidence, and respect from others. She expressed her pride in her mother with a twinkle in the eyes. Bacchae bhi dusro ko kahte hai ki Hamari Ammi yeh sab karti hai. (The children also tell their friends that their mother does this all the time).
The project has also created livelihoods and improved education and infrastructure. It has also brought many improvements to the healthcare sector. The project’s foundation was also heritage appreciation. It provided employment for young Nizamuddin men who went on heritage walks in the Hazrat Nizamuddin Area, including the World Heritage Sites of Humayuns Tomb, Rahims Tomb, and Rahims Tomb.
Banner imageAfter it was revived in 2011, the Mother and Child Park in Nizamuddin Basti. Photo courtesy AKTC.
