Shelter — Houses Across Regions of Jharkhand and India

Overview

Shelter is a basic human need alongside food, water and clothing. In the EVS curriculum for primary classes, the topic of shelter helps children understand how houses differ based on climate, available materials, occupation and cultural traditions. This topic connects geography, science and social awareness — making it ideal for integrated learning.

For JTET Paper I, questions typically test knowledge of regional house types, building materials, reasons for design variations and Jharkhand-specific dwelling patterns. Understanding the link between environment and shelter is essential. Expect 2–4 questions from this area, often combined with aspects of family, community and local culture.

Students must grasp why an Eskimo builds an igloo while a Rajasthani builds a mud house with thick walls — the answer lies in climate adaptation. Similarly, tribal houses of Jharkhand reflect forest resources and community living patterns.

Key Concepts

• **Shelter as a basic need**: Protection from heat, cold, rain, wind, wild animals and provides security and privacy for families.

• **Climate determines house design**: Hot regions have thick mud walls and small windows; cold regions need insulated walls; rainy areas have sloped roofs for water drainage.

• **Local materials shape construction**: Houses are built from materials available nearby — mud, bamboo, stone, wood, grass, bricks or concrete depending on the region.

• **Kutcha vs Pucca houses**: Kutcha houses are made of mud, thatch, bamboo and leaves; Pucca houses use bricks, cement, concrete and steel. Semi-pucca houses combine both.

• **Occupation influences shelter**: Fishermen live near water in stilt houses; nomads use portable tents; farmers build houses with space for cattle and grain storage.

• **Tribal houses of Jharkhand**: Santhal, Munda, Ho and Oraon communities build distinctive houses using mud walls, tiled or thatched roofs and decorated facades.

• **Urbanisation changes housing**: Cities have apartments, flats and high-rise buildings due to limited land; villages have single or double-storey houses with open courtyards.

• **House reflects culture**: Design, decoration and layout of houses often show religious beliefs, joint family traditions and community customs.

Key Facts

| Region/Climate | House Type | Materials | Special Features | |----------------|------------|-----------|------------------| | Jharkhand tribal areas | Mud houses with sloped roofs | Mud, bamboo, tiles, cow dung | Decorated walls (Sohrai and Khovar art), verandah for community gathering | | Rajasthan (Hot desert) | Bhunga / Mud houses | Mud, thatch, stone | Thick walls, small windows, flat roofs, keeps interior cool | | Kerala (Heavy rainfall) | Nalukettu / Sloped roof houses | Wood, tiles, laterite stone | Steep sloped roofs for rain drainage, central courtyard | | Kashmir (Cold region) | Wooden houses / Houseboats | Wood, mud, grass | Sloped roofs for snow, thick walls for insulation | | Assam (Flood-prone) | Chang Ghar (Stilt houses) | Bamboo, wood, thatch | Raised on stilts to avoid flood water | | Ladakh (Extreme cold) | Stone houses | Stone, mud, wood | Flat roofs, thick walls, small windows to retain heat | | Arctic region | Igloo | Ice blocks | Dome shape traps warm air inside | | Cities across India | Apartments / Flats | Bricks, cement, steel, glass | Multi-storey, limited space, modern amenities |

**Jharkhand-Specific Facts**:

• Santhal houses have beautiful wall paintings called **Sohrai** (harvest festival art) and **Khovar** (marriage art).
• Houses in Chota Nagpur plateau region use locally available red soil and sal wood.
• **Akhra** is the community space in front of tribal houses where social gatherings and dances occur.
• Roof tiles are common in Jharkhand; thatched roofs are used in remote forest villages.

Worked Examples

**Example 1**: Why do houses in Rajasthan have thick walls and small windows?

*Solution*:

• Rajasthan has a hot desert climate with extreme daytime heat.
• Thick mud walls act as insulation — they absorb heat slowly and keep the interior cool.
• Small windows reduce direct sunlight entering the house.
• Flat roofs are used because there is very little rainfall.

**Example 2**: A child from Assam lives in a house built on bamboo stilts. Why?

*Solution*:

• Assam receives heavy rainfall and experiences frequent floods.
• Stilt houses (Chang Ghar) are raised above ground level.
• This prevents flood water from entering the living area.
• Bamboo is locally available, lightweight and water-resistant.

**Example 3**: Identify the house type — "A dome-shaped structure made entirely of ice blocks, used by people in polar regions."

*Solution*:

• This describes an **Igloo**.
• Eskimos (Inuit people) build igloos in Arctic regions.
• The dome shape and ice walls trap body heat inside, providing warmth despite freezing temperatures outside.

Common Mistakes

• **Confusing climate with building material** → Students think all hot regions use the same materials. Correction: Hot-dry areas use mud (Rajasthan), but hot-humid areas use bamboo and thatch (coastal regions) for ventilation.

• **Assuming pucca houses are always better** → Kutcha houses are well-suited to local climate and are eco-friendly. Pucca houses may be hotter in summer without air conditioning.

• **Ignoring regional context of Jharkhand** → Students memorise national examples but forget tribal house features. JTET specifically asks about Santhal/Munda houses and Sohrai art.

• **Mixing up stilt houses and houseboats** → Stilt houses (Assam) are on land, raised on poles. Houseboats (Kashmir) float on water. Both are adaptations but for different environments.

• **Forgetting occupation-based shelters** → Nomads use tents (portable), fishermen use houses near water, shepherds use temporary huts. Shelter is not just about climate but also livelihood.

Quick Reference

• **Three factors determining house type**: Climate, locally available materials, occupation/livelihood.

• **Kutcha** = mud, bamboo, thatch; **Pucca** = brick, cement, concrete.

• **Sloped roof** = heavy rain areas (Kerala, Assam, Jharkhand); **Flat roof** = dry areas (Rajasthan, Ladakh).

• **Jharkhand tribal art on houses**: Sohrai (harvest) and Khovar (marriage) paintings.

• **Stilt houses** protect from floods; **thick walls with small windows** protect from heat.

• **Akhra** = community gathering space in Jharkhand tribal villages.