Acute shortage of clean drinking water, sanitation and drainage problems have confronted the villagers for the last two decades. Women and young girls walking long distances in search of water has been a common sight.

These problems would get intensified during summers when the water table would go down. The villagers would have no option but to defecate in the open and the major sufferers would be women and children. Due to poor sanitation, a majority of the children and women would become susceptible to water-born and air-born diseases. There was no proper system of drainage and wastewater would run on the main roads of the village, polluting the environment and offering a breeding ground to the mosquitoes and other insects.

However, the situation has changed considerably ever since Development Alternatives intervened and took a number of initiatives in collaboration with the Panchayat functionaries.

The very first step in this direction was the construction of 35 toilets in the year 2007 and 10 toilets in the current year. The construction of five toilets is in process, which will cover 100 per cent Households.

Numerous awareness campaigns have been launched at different levels to ensure 100 per cent utilisation of these toilets. Awareness camps and Programmes like quiz contests or paining competitions are organised to educate the villagers about the importance of health, hygiene and sanitation.

Additionally, a major drainage system has been developed, which collects the waste water from the smaller drains of the village into a waste water disposal unit.

Three soak pits have also been constructed near hand pumps to recharge the water table. As a result, the waste water is used for ground water recharge.

Today the village is a zero open-defecation zone. Under the aegis of DA, the villagers have learnt to promote efficient water practices, suitable for the region. DA has also initiated an Agri-horti model of Agroforestry. Additionally, DA, supported by Arghyam, has constructed household toilets, covered drainage lines, water disposal systems and other waste water management methods like kitchen gardens, soak pits etc. The DA-initiated TARAakshar Programme, has made headway in promoting Hindi literacy amongst the village women.  q