Karnataka - Belgaum   

For the villagers, by the villagers

Vijaykumar Patil

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: A road that has been developed at Hulkavi.

Belgaum: In a novel initiative towards making life better in a clean and healthy environment, villagers of Hulkavi in Bagewadi Assembly constituency of Belgaum taluk have made a common cause in what is being described as a "model village."

The village, about 26 km from Belgaum, has a population of about 1,000 people from 135 families and is free from alcohol. It has become self-sufficient and self-sustaining.

The villagers, who have very little idea as to how a "participatory approach" could make a difference if applied with a commitment, have successfully implemented it.

"Who else can be more ideal to inaugurate this model village than President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam?" says Abhay Kumar Patil, MLA representing Bagewadi constituency.

The President has been requested to inaugurate the model village. The response from the President's Office is awaited.

Mr. Patil said the villagers and politicians, dumped their political affiliations and decided to support the initiative. The villagers conceived and conceptualised the overall development of the village under the project, "e-Halli" and engaged a voluntary organisation, Yashaswini Urban and Rural Development Parishat (YURDP) to implement it a year ago. The project essentially aims at creating basic facilities in a selected village and bridge gaps prevailing between the village and towns and cities.

According to YURDP secretary Shivakumar M.D., who along with Mr. Patil spoke about the initiative, the gram panchayat and taluk panchayat provided Rs. 18 lakh, while the villagers contributed about Rs.17 lakh and "shramdaan" (voluntary labour) to realise their dream. Now, the village has good roads/streets, drinking water facility, public library, goshalas, toilets and a garden in front of every house. These apart, an Oxygen Park is being created over an acre of land donated by a Veerashaiva seer.

The maintenance of the park has been taken up by villagers.

Above all, the villagers decided to give no room for discrimination the basis of caste, creed or religion.

They have painted their houses with a common "saffron" colour as a message of unity and oneness.

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