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 |