The
most challenging time for our field staff is when we encounter deep-seated
cynicism of the service providers, be it the health workers, anganwadi workers
or the school teachers. With the school teachers the cynicism arises from a) a perception that the students
are dumb and are not interested in studies b) from disenchantment that nothing
can be done better than what is being done currently in the circumstances c) distrust
of the NGOs and corporates who are seen as coming and doing something
for a day or two with no long term association or impact.
Bade
Sir of Zilla
Parishad School Vehlonde, epitomised such cynicism and refused to permit the Population First (PF) team to conduct the five-day School
In Development (SID) programme in the school.
This was despite the fact that we were invited by the village education
committee members and other teachers of the school, Waghire Sir and Jadhav Sir to conduct the SID programme
in the school. They got to know about the initiative at
the orientation programme conducted
by PF for the service providers. It was unanimously
agreed by the committee members
and teachers that the SID
programme would help promote better hygiene and sanitation
practices in the village.
It was only on the intervention of Mrs. Jatal, the Kendra Pramukh, that Bade Sir
allowed the team to interact with the students. Forty
students from class V,
VI, and VII
were selected to be trained as Vikasdoots or Messengers of Development.
The
five-day SID programme was always
transformational for the children who were given hygiene and sanitation
messages through a number of group and fun
activities. For instance, all the children were
asked to clip the nails of their
family, friends, and neighbours and bring the nails so collected to the
session. All the nails were then soaked in a transparent bowl to demonstrate
how much mud they carried. An equally interesting activity was the hand washing
demonstration with only water and then with water and soap. The activities are
full of fun and make the children realise the importance of good hygiene
practices for good health.
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Students running
their election campaign seen with their symbols for election in Bal
Panchayat.
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The village and school mapping exercises for identifying areas which are
insanitary like garbage dumps, stagnant water pools, slushy surroundings of the
wells etc. helps the students mark out the trouble spots for action.
Live demonstration of water
treatment with Medichlore and good water use practices helps them
promote the same in their villages and houses. Each child, thereafter, takes
the responsibility of monitoring hygiene, sanitation and water use practices in
five households.
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The group of Vikas
Doots cheers at the end of the training.
They are set to take action on sanitation and hygiene conditions.
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Identifying the emerging leaders and giving them on a rotation basis the
responsibility to ensure timely attendance in the class, cleaning and
decorating the class room and documenting the activities of the day helps them
over come their fears and inhibitions and take proactive role, be it cleaning
the class rooms and school premises, or the approach road to the school and their
neighbourhood.
Helping them understand the local self government system, the role of the
village committees and also enabling them to contest and participate in the
formation of a Bal Panchayat – a cabinet of elected students. The Bal
Panchayat is constituted through an election process where they file their
nominations, canvass for votes and win elections to become office bearers of various
ministries builds immensely their leadership and communication skills making
them the real messengers of inclusive and people-centric village development.
It is this transformation in children, of this school in a remote tribal
village, which changed Mr. Bade into a supporter of AMCHI and its village level
initiatives.
While he did
not come even once to see the training on the first day, from second day on he started
making rounds to the training hall and by fourth day, when the election process
was explained and conducted
in the school, he was
completely drawn into the training. He was amazed to see the students fully
involved in the training and enjoying it so much. They were learning and
demonstrating what they had learnt.
Bade Sir expressed his
opinion on the last day. He said that PF team conducted the training with a lot
of involvement and considered each student as its own. The students too reciprocated with
involvement, creativity and enthusiasm. Such trainings should happen again and
again. He was very happy with the initiative. That is the reward we cherish as it reflects hope, positivity and a
desire to change and that we can bring about change if only we know how to be
in a sharing and nurturing mode.
The students were equally generous in their praise of AMCHI team
and shared their plans to work on
sanitation, hygiene and health of the community. The teachers were touched by their enthusiasm and energy.
Later, when PF
organized an educational tour to Mumbai for the students in February 2016, Bade
Sir took the lead and guided students to be in groups and manage all the tasks
required to be done during the trip. He appreciated the planning and execution
of the trip by PF.
Now the students are getting involved
in planning and executing hygiene and
sanitation projects in the community and in the school. Till April 2016, the students have
constructed nine soak pits and five compost pits in the villages.
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Vikas Doots have cleaned the area around the common
tap and made provision for waste water disposal.
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They regularly
organise the Bal Panchayat meetings in which teachers also participate.
They water the plants in the school premises and clean the premises regularly.
They organise rallies to spread hygiene and sanitation
messages in the community. Constructing a
vermi-compost pit in the school is being
planned and the Teachers have promised to guide them in their activities.
The SID
programme changes the way children perceive hygiene and sanitation issues and
reduces their tolerance to unhygienic and insanitary behaviours. By providing
them the required skills in leadership, communication and team work they are being
transformed into Vikasdoots and their activities really speak louder
than any endorsement by us.
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Soak-pit
constructed by the students keeps the area free of waste water.
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