Case3-March-2013
DHAN’s regional team at Tumkur and Kalanjiam movement team planned for a stay for two days at Bettashambonahalli village, Kurramkote cluster of Katteganapathi Mahila Kalanjiam Okkuta, Koratagere on 26th and 27th of February 2013. The Kalanjiams and their federations are not merely a savings and credit institutions, but focus on overall development of a family, village and society. This stay was planned with a purpose of creating awareness regarding health, hygiene and sanitation to the village people and also to make them aware of the welfare schemes of the government.The seed for this stay started in the regular regional meeting of the team, in which the team members expressed to spend a full day with the community. The date and the place were finalized after mutual consent.The information about the regions team visit to Bettashambonahalli village was communicated to our Kalanjiam members and that they played a crucial role in creating a facilitating environment for the activities planned. As per the plan the regional team reached the village by 4pm on 26th Febraury, 2013. A meeting was held during the same evening with our the village heads, Kalanjiam members families and other local villagers. We explained them about our purpose of visit and sought their cooperation.
Later the inauguration of this program was done by lighting of lamps by the dignitaries. Mr. Prasannakumar, ZP Member, Thovinakere who spoke during the event said that “Women play a crucial role in maintaining the health and hygiene of a family and they should understand the importance of constructing a toilet in every household and do the need for the same. Women face lot of problems when they do not have a toilet in their house and are forced to go outside”. He also assured the villagers that he will allot some portion of Zilla panchayat fund for toilet construction. Regional coordinator Mr. H C Gowda informed the villagers that the government is providing subsidy support for construction of toilets and in Kalanjiams too loan to a tune of ` 10,000 is given to construct toilet. People can very well use this facility to keep the village clean. He also expressed purpose of the village stay and sought the cooperation of the villagers for the same.
Later a street play depicting the importance of health, hygiene and sanitation was staged by Mr.Shashidhar and Koratagere team. The villagers participated actively and also performed some cultural activities and exhibited their talent. The street plays on ill effects of alcohol and on importance of educating women was also were staged, The event went on even post mid night till 02.00 am next morning. More than 250 persons participated in the event and got benefited. On 27th Febraury, 2013 by 7.30 am our team and the villagers were ready to start up the Shramdhan activity. The Kalanjiam members also joined hand with us to clean the village. The drainage in the village was in very bad shape and no cleaning up activity was done for the past five years. We cleaned the drainage and also the streets in the villages. The entire regional team and 150 other members actively participated in the shramadhan. The event was a big success, since the entire village was left very much clean. The villagers seeing the result assured that they themselves will take up this activity every month to keep their village clean.