Community base development at the implementation of rehabilitation and reconstruction project after earthquake in West Sumatera

Abstract

This study aim to assessing and investigate the construction process of damaged houses during the rehabilitation and reconstruction phases due to the 2009 West Sumatran Earthquake. Community empowerment approach is adopted considering its sustainability to strengthen the capacity of community in order to reduce disaster risk. The community empowerment concept will run effectively if it is designed properly. Through self-help scheme, the social solidarity, voluntary, and self-reliance, the community is expected to be prepared to forge synergic partnership based on equality and interdependency. Community orientation not only mobilizes the potentials of internal resources but also takes the move to mobilize and utilize all parties involved such as outside community, local government, interested groups, and others. The partnership is very much needed to strengthen the community capacity and to expand its development efforts. People oriented development is formed based on community approach. The community approach is determined by individuals who are expected to build critical awareness and positive behavioral changes, self\xadreliance, and independence towards the rehabilitation and construction process. The individual behavior change that becomes the pillar for collective community behavioral change, resulting the capability of the community to build up and develop the social resilience of the community, housing and human settlements infrastructure and basic service independency, and economic reliance. The community implementation at community level, in principle, is adjusted to local priority needs of respective area by taking into account the three pillars of the balanced community. This study finds that the rehabilitation and reconstruction process in the aftermath of the 2009 West Sumatran Earthquake had not actively empowered the society. Therefore, development reorientation approach has to be done as a new paradigm and the development concept has to be started with community empowerment.