A neatly framed citation hanging on Gram Panchayat walls in Pardi village announces that the village is receiving ‘Nirmal Gram Puraskar’ on attaining full sanitation coverage in households, schools and Aanganwadi centres and for outstanding contributions to promotion of rural sanitation. This tiny village, in Kalamb block in Yeotmal district with a population of 508, received the honour in May 2007. Now even one year after this special award, the village has still maintained the hygienic status.
Published on: 05/06/2012
Pardi Village, Yavatmal, Maharashtra State, India
A neatly framed citation hanging on Gram Panchayat walls in Pardi village announces that the village is receiving ‘Nirmal Gram Puraskar’ on attaining full sanitation coverage in households, schools and Aanganwadi centres and for outstanding contributions to promotion of Rural Sanitation. This tiny village, in Kalamb block in Yeotmal district with a population of 508, received the honour in May 2007. Now even one year after this special award, the village has still maintained the hygienic status in all possible spheres. According to Ramesh Jarunde, village secretary, and Sanjay Harkare, both motivators of the sanitation drive, sustainability of good sanitation practices can only be ensured if the process is participatory and inclusive.
“We view Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) as a joint venture of district administration and communities. Success depends on working closely with people to win their trust. Once people are convinced they are willing to contribute in whatever ways required”, said the secretary.
Both the government representatives agree that the Village Micro Planning process is a helpful way to bring about robust involvement of communities, an essential component for any government programme to be effective.
In Pardi too, the sanitation campaign engaged everyone. 62 out of the total 104 families in the village are below the poverty line (BPL). It is not easy for poor wage earning families to spare money and human labour required to build their individual toilets when it can be had for free in the fields. While the BPL families are entitled to get an incentive up to Rs. 1200 (US$ 30) for toilet construction, they get this amount only after they have built the structure.
Women in Pardi are happy to take the lead in the village sanitation drive. Photo: UNICEF India
Pardi villagers thought out this problem together and came up with the idea of weekly savings. A youth volunteer was entrusted with the responsibility of money collection. Each family saved Rs. 20 per week and deposited it regularly with the volunteer. With this amount, construction material was procured collectively, which helped to get concessions in rates and also saved travel costs.
That the sanitation drive did not remain an instantaneous hype is clearly seen across the village. Women and youth have remained key players in the whole process and proudly share their achievement.
“Our village is not only clean but more peaceful than earlier,” feel the women. Specially designed toilets are made in Anganwadi centres and schools for children, who have inculcated habits of toilet usage and handwashing.
All households have also adopted hygienic practices such as safe drinking water management at home. Photo: UNICEF India
Sadhna Dube, district coordinator, shared the experience of Kalamb block, ”micro planning process facilitates participation of all marginalized groups including women in decision making as well as in leadership. Very often micro planning leads to increased demand from these people to take up their concerns, be it in areas of sanitation or water or other social issues.”
Certainly there are going to be many more success stories along the lines of Pardi in Kalamb block, which has already taken a lead in the district with more villages becoming open defecation free.
By Vidya Kulkarni, UNICEF, 2008
