And lots of agencies are contributing their bit in this endeavour. The Council of Architecture (COA) is making its unique contribution by offering solutions for temporary housing for earthquake-affected people. Made of bamboo, these shelters are designed to last for two years. The 200 sq ft (12 ft by 18 ft) shelters are made of split bamboo in a barrel vault like framework, tied up with binding wire. The vault is held in shape with a horizontal bamboo member, which gets buried under the floor soil. The ceiling is made of bamboo mats and the shelter is covered with canvas tarpaulin to protect the shelter from rain.

But why bamboo? Explains Mr Parmendra Raj Mehta, president of CCA: "The flexible nature of bamboo makes it more resistant to after-shocks, it's locally available, and it's long lasting. The shelters are very simple to put up and four people can put up the shelter in four hours. Besides, the process of building these shelters would generate employment." The material required for the shelter includes bamboo, tarpaulin and plastic sheets besides minor things like nails and steel binding wires. ``All these things,'' points Mr Mehta, ``are locally available in the Kutch region.''

Kutch, he explains, has very little vegetation and hence Green Bamboo (easily available from Assam or Madhya Pradesh) comes in handy. Coir rope (from Kerela), steel binding wires (from Punjab), Tarpaulin cloth and plastic sheeting are also easily available. The structure is designed to be self-supporting and needs no metal hardware. Even a bulb and a ceiling fan can also be put in these shelters.

Each of these shelters can house a family of six. Adds Mr Mehta: "The immediate need for a common shelter in the times of such calamities gives the feeling of togetherness to the family members. These shelters would not only give a temporary solution to the problem of housing but also help the people of a family to come together and stay under a roof once again."

CCA is raising 500 such shelters in Gujarat. The cost of each shelter is Rs 5,000.