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| TOTAL SANITATION CAMPAIGN (TSC)
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In view of the loss of natural coverage (i.e. removal of bushes
and other trees from the vicinity of the pond) and also due to the filling up
of water therein, more than 150 families found it difficult for open
defecation. Dr. Kiran Patel happened to visit the reconstructed pond and the
villagers were reluctant to show him the pond due to heavy excreta on the
embankments. In the past they had used the pond for answering the natural call,
since they did not have toilet facilities or any capacity to build them on
their own in view of the poor financial position and poverty ridden life. This
incident had a touching effect on Dr. Kiran Patel and he wanted to do something
to improve their situation and started discussing the matter with the concerned
how toilets could be built for them.
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However, there was some hesitation with the Adivasi people
to change their habit of answering natural calls in open areas, as they never
used toilets in the past and they had some misunderstandings and misconceptions
of using closed toilets. They were also concerned about who would take care of
the toilets and they also feared that it would create problems for the village
womenfolk as someone could hide inside it. The debate continued
for some time, as they discussed the pros and cons of the proposal. Dr. Kiran
Patel then proposed building individual toilets for the families, which was
also met with resistance in view of the finances involved in constructing
individual toilets. Ultimately, Dr. Patel prevailed upon them to construct the
toilets with water sealed pan facilities by offering his financial support and
cooperation and on the other hand soliciting the manual labor of the villagers
from the beneficiaries. The water sealed pan facility was required for
preventing the probability of fire due to the accumulation of gas inside the
underground soak pits. Further, it was suggested to flush the pan with minimum
water, a specially designed pan was introduced and shown them for experiment.
And after having positive response from the beneficiaries, the Trust approached
the Government for construction of the toilets under public-private
partnership.
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The government consented to give a grant of Rs. 600/-
for 158 below poverty line (BPL) families out of 306
families who had no toilet facilities against the
total cost of Rs. 2700/- per toilet. Dr. Kiran Patel , Dr.
Dinesh Patel and Mr. Pradip Patel extended their help to meet the
deficit.
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As the construction of the toilets started, there was
enthusiasm and tremendous support from the beneficiaries but the landlords and
upper caste people of the village were not happy with this project. They were
of the opinion that the poor must remain poor and if they became accustomed to
such facilities, they would demand more facilities in future.
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It was a stupendous task to create awareness amongst the
beneficiaries and change their long time habits and persuade them to use the
modern toilets built for them. Our representatives made a sincere efforts
amongst the villagers, teaching them how to use the toilet and wash their hands
after utilizing it by organizing street dramas, personal meetings, audio-visual
programs and writing slogans on the boards erected in a public place in the
village.
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Now a time has come due to the upward mobility of the poor
people, they are not ready for the cleanliness drive which they were doing in
the past. In order to resolve this issue, Our female volunteers also went to
housewives of landlords and upper caste people for awareness to promote
cleanliness on their own. And thus, the housewives of the village started
cleaning the village roads and bye lanes periodically.
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All these activities led to the awareness of sanitation and
cleanliness amongst the villagers. It also helped to prevent diseases such as
cholera, typhoid, dysentery and pollution of the environment in the village,
and prevented children from contracting earthworm, etc. During the last year,
there was an epidemic of Chicken Gunia in almost all parts of the country, yet
our village did not have a single case of not only Chicken Gunia, but even a
simple fever or other minor diseases.
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Some of the beneficiaries even performed spiritual rituals
before using the toilets and made the village as a " Temple of Sanity ,"
thereby making a name and fame of Mota Fofalia in the state and the country for
its spectacular total cleanliness drive with the participation of the people
and encouragement and planning of our volunteers. As a result of this Herculean
task carried out by the Trust, the village received the "Nirmal Gram
Puraskar Award" from the President of India in
2006 . Due to the better sanitary conditions prevailing in the
village, the villagers could save money and time and use their energy towards
constructive growth in their respective professions. The persons who originally
opposed the project repented of their initial outbursts against the sanitation
program and started cooperating with the program. Further, it has also narrowed
down the mental barriers of forward caste and backward communities as they
realized that unity is strength to achieve the overall progress of the village.
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Due to the recognition received by the Mota Fofalia village and
its success story, the Government of Gujarat advised other Village Panchayat
heads and Self Helped Groups (SHGS) to visit and replicate different projects
at their villages. In response to this, representatives from more than 1,200
villages have visited and been inspired from the work carried out
by our Trust with the participation of the people. The Government of Gujarat
has also recognized these activities under the dynamic leadership of our Chief
Patron, Dr. Kiran Patel and honoured him with the highest civilian award
of the State of Gujarat - "GUJARAT GARIMA - 2007" by Hon'ble Chief Minister
of the State of Gujart.
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