Other States - Rajasthan   

A unique movement for hygiene

Mohammed Iqbal

SIKAR: Tucked away in the dusty environs of Rajasthan's Shekhawati belt, three village panchayats have led an unusual movement for hygiene and sanitation by saturating all rural households, schools and anganwadi centres with sanitary toilets. The feat has brought to them the prestigious Nirmal Gram award instituted by the Union Ministry for Rural Development.

The goal

The Katrathal, Jajod and Khachariawas panchayats in Sikar district are among the 22 village panchayats in the State selected for the award to be given away by President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in New Delhi on May 4. The broader goal of the incentive scheme is to eradicate the practice of open defecation.

Clean lanes and by-lanes, rows of spotless houses and modest huts, covered drains and sparkling, well-maintained toilets in the three villages testify to high sanitation standards. The success was made possible by a participatory approach convincing the villagers of the efficacy of cleanliness.

The panchayats provided financial assistance of Rs. 1,200 each to selected families living below poverty line (BPL) for constructing toilets under the Total Sanitation Campaign. Social activist Ashfaq Kayamkhani pointed out that the three panchayats had dedicated themselves over the past year to the sanitation drive -- launched with UNICEF support -- aimed at bagging the coveted prize.

Chandri Devi, the proud Sarpanch of Katrathal with a population of 8,000, said she distributed 1,000 ladles in the village at her own expenses, formed teams of schoolchildren to generate awareness and installed a number of dustbins. The villagers were motivated to improve their surroundings and make the village open defecation-free.

Mahendra Sharma, a local resident owning a hardware shop in Sikar, pointed out that getting the award became the obsession for all the villagers a few months ago. "Open defecation was rejected as a dirty and outdated practice. Each household made a provision for a decent and hygienic toilet,''he said.

When a group of the wandering Bhopa tribe decided to settle down on the outskirts of Katrathal last year, the Sarpanch took the initiative of getting their names added to voters' list. They were then dissuaded from defecating in open fields and encouraged to build small toilets near their huts.

The Muslim-dominated Jajod village, 45 km from Sikar, welcomes the pilgrims on way to the famous Salasar temple, situated nearby, with its clean ambience.

Sarpanch Liaqat Ali said the dust and litter-free roads and proper drainage were the outcome of a campaign launched by elderly villagers, most of whom are ex-Army men.

Awareness

Subedar Iqbal Khan, an elderly citizen of the village, said the panchayat's Gram Sabhas and at least three rallies of schoolchildren and teachers taken out during the last six months were instrumental in generating awareness among the villagers about cleanliness. A "Kala Jattha'' (group of performing artistes) of UNICEF pitched in to render support through cultural events motivating the people.

Megha Ram, another resident of the village, felt that the installation of hygienic toilets in the Dalit hutment where he lives had led to an improvement in the quality of life for womenfolk. The women in the household testified to this by pointing out they no longer had to step out to open fields in the dark injuring their privacy.

In Khachariawas village, famous for being the hometown of Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, the residents actively help the sweepers in collecting the garbage and dumping it at an identified location. Sarpanch N.S. Shekhawat -- the youngest in the State -- pursued cleanliness as a passion and involved the Zila Parishad officials in the drive.

The three panchayats intend to use the cash prize of Rs. 4 lakh to be given along with the Nirmal Gram award as well as the incentive of Rs. 1 lakh sanctioned by the State Government for improving the sanitation facilities by evolving a model of self-sufficient hygiene system and focus on solid and liquid waste disposal.

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