Passing it on

Having got its share of accolades,the villagers are now reaching out to other villages and advocating a cleanliness programme for them. After bagging the Nirmal gram puraskar two years ago,the villagers played a role in villages in adjacent talukas bagging the award given for effective waste management,solid waste management,100 per cent open defecation free village as well as good personal hygiene. In fact,of the 69 villages from Pune district that were awarded the nirmal gram puraskar last week by the Governor,many were from Junnar taluka and the Kalwadi villagers had had a hand in the achievement.

After we achieved the title of nirmal gram we decided to reach out to other gram panchayats and helped them achieve the title as well, said Sharad Waman,deputy sarpanch of Kalwadi. Waman revealed that each of the 307 families in the village have independent toilet blocks. Filter beds for treating drainage water,gobar gas plants for effective fuel management as well as separation of wet and dry waste in solid waste management have been effectively incorporated by the villagers.

It all started when the gram sabha called in 2006 decided to earn the award and work started on the construction of toilet blocks for each family. Women members who were part of various self-help groups managed to get bank loans to construct toilet blocks initiating the drive towards an open defecation free village. We approached banks with our proposal,got the loan and had almost all the families construct the block in a year8217;s time, says Meena Behlekar,a gram sabha member. Gobar gas plants followed along with filter beds for drain water. Using sprinklers for irrigation and drip irrigation methods were followed as part of water saving for the village while the solid waste management was done through separation of wet and dry garbage.

For us it had become a way of life. We then took these simple lessons to other villages with the help of district officials. It8217;s not about just bagging the award but also our continuing efforts to maintain it as well reach out to others where we have succeeded, points out Waman.

District officer from Junnar,Anand Bhandari said that for the 86 per cent of Nirmal gram gram panchayats in Junnar taluka,a lot of credit goes to Kalwadi residents. They are always willing to help us by talking to other villagers and help them do the same. It becomes easier for us, he says.

Sulochana 80 one of the oldest village residents,emphasises how she has seen the village progress in the last six decades.

I came after marriage and it was just like any other village. Effective administration as well as the determination of the villagers has helped achieve such laurels, she says.