Nagpur, May 27
The Centre had launched Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen SBM (G) on October 2, 2014 that time the sanitation coverage in the country was 38.7 per cent. After five years on October 2, 2019 the government declared that all the 5,99,963 villages of India are Open-Defecation Free (ODF) as per the data reported by states and UTs under integrated management information system.
But when we talk about urban areas or cities, we cannot say the same. The problem of ODF is urban area is much more grave and huge. Unauthorised slums develop overnight and then there are issues of sanitation, water, electricity et al., putting a pressure on the tax payers.
According to famous quote of Helen Keller “Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much”. Community development is key to many of these issues. The best example for this transformation is Shanti Nagar slums in Isasani village, near Hingna.
HCL Foundation (HCLF) along with National Institute of Women Child and Youth Development (NIWCYD) and the Gram Panchayat of Isasani village, which has a population of 2,000 and has 400 houses, will be constructing 200 toilets by March 2022. Out of the 200 proposed toilets, 125 have already been built and the residents are using it.
The funds and material is being provided by HCLF, NIWCYD is implementing it with the help of Isasani Gram Panchayat and the people are doing the actual labour. It is a concerted effort supported by all to make Shanti Nagar a model slum and ODF by March 2022.
Apart HCFL is also working on other community initiatives through Community Life Centre (CLC) and have formed different groups for adolescents, women and youth.
The women are being empowered by providing them lively hood at their doorstep and teaching them other initiatives which include kitchen garden, paper bag making through Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) intervention. They have been given 800 dust bins for waste management (wet & dry) and training is imparted on sanitation, personal hygiene and waste water management.
The people in the area who have settled there have come from Wardha, MP, Katol and most of them are daily wage earner and labourers.
The foundation also provided them with fruit and medicinal trees for kitchen garden, the supplies from which are being used at home. Various programmes are tailor made from time to time for girls and youths of the area including skill development by partner NGO.
25 girls employed by NMC in CCC
HCL Foundation (HCLF) imparted nursing aid course to 25 girls from the slums and all the girls are now working with city hospitals and assisting the nurses. During the first corona wave, 25 girls from the locality were employed by Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) at their Covid Care Centres, and the salaries were paid by HCLF.
HCLF working towards holistic development
The HCL Foundation follow an Integrated Community Development Approach (ICDA) and under its -WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) initiative along with National Institute of Women Child and Youth Development (NIWCYD) to make a difference in the life of marginalised population and make them part of the main stream. The Foundation is working towards equitable and sustainable development of the communities living below poverty line in the urban areas.