It is rightly said, “Working for the environment is a thankless job.” Would one be passionate enough about the conservation of the environment to leave their high-paying job? Many of us would not be, but then we have Shagun Singh.
Everywhere we look around us, we see houses made up of cement, bricks, and sand. Nevertheless, these are not sustainable, and neither do they decompose. Shagun had decided to begin a change. She quit her high-paying corporate job, sold off her house and car so that she could start the ‘Geeli Mitti Foundation.’
She received certified training in Permaculture designs, and today, in a small village Mahrora near Nainital, she is teaching others to build a sustainable living place. The houses are built primarily using mud and lime. The best part about these materials is that they are energy efficient. These houses are warm during winters and cool during winters. People from all over the world often visit here for the 45 days workshop where they learn to build such houses.
It is interesting to note that while the houses made of cement perish after a few years, there are castles built of mud that are still standing tall. People often think that mud houses are weak, but Shagun thinks differently; speaking about one such technique, she says that the earth-bag technique is extremely important. It is highly beneficial for earthquake-prone areas. Many people do not know that during the Nepal earthquake, in one area, only one building kept standing while the others collapsed. It was a result of the earth-bag technique that it was built with.
She has faced numerous challenges, but the one that is the most difficult to overcome is the mindset of people about the mud house.
People think that mud houses are weak but, they have been there for centuries all across the globe. Cement is just 70 years old as a building material. It has been a few decades, and look at the conversion of the human mind. The thought that naturally built mud houses die shatters the entire existence of centuries-old knowledge.
Shagun and her team are working tirelessly to make us aware of the damage that we are causing to the environment. It is her endeavor and her drive towards a better change that has motivated thousands of people all around the world. Her lifestyle is an inspiration for all of us to contribute our bit for a better tomorrow.