Youth in Kala Pipal Jagir take initiatives to improve health and education

The village of Kala Pipal Jagir is situated 14 km from the block headquarters. There are 250 families and its total population is 1754. The youth facilitators are Mr Rajendra Vishwakarma and Ms Sheela Sharma.

The greatest achievement of the facilitators has been to activate the Village Health and Sanitation Committee. This is the first Panchayat in Ichchawar block which has totally spent its entire fund. Initially funds were spent on cleaning the village. Then women were taken to a health camp in Ichchawar. Further, a health camp was set up in the village for pregnant women. Soakpits were made in areas of water blockage. Aid was also provided to infants (ages 1.5 to 3.5) who were suffering from malnutrition. They were given milk and biscuits till their health improved.

Half the households now have access to toilets. Some toilets had been made before but were not used under the mistaken impression that their usage would result in mosquitoes. Open defecation was reduced further when they found that a prominent source of drinking water was a well situated at a lower incline. The facilitator pointed out that open defecation in the area would result in the dirt being deposited in the well during the rainy season contaminating the water and opening them to spread of diseases.

An important change was ensuring that the local quack did not use used needles in injections. The quack was an outsider who was aware of the need to avoid using the same needle twice but did not follow the same to save money. The male facilitator along with the panchayat sachiv and Sarpanch inspected his practice and found that he was using the same needle multiple times. They warned him to use separate needles otherwise he would be asked to leave the village and that they would monitor his activities to ensure that he complied with the directives.

Improvement in School

The school did not open on time and the teachers were not punctual. Of the 6 teachers only one came on time while the rest delayed. The male youth facilitator met the Headmaster and took him to tour his own school to see the vacant classes. The teachers were absent without an application. The Headmaster was rude in his reply dismissing hi as a local person who could do nothing. The facilitator talked to the sarpanch, PTA members and the other boys and took them to the school.  The Sarpanch threatened to complain to the upper levels and have the Principal transferred. From the next day the school started opening on time with all teachers becoming punctual. In case of absence there is a written application explaining the reasons for absence.

Changes were made in the mid day meal as well. The children were given only 2 chapatis. The menu was not followed and the food quality was bad. They even had to wash their own plates. The facilitator went with the TA and Sarpanch and they saw the sorry state of affairs themselves. The Sarpanch admonished the SHG and told them that he would cancel their contract if they did not follow the menu and maintain food quality. Both quality and quantity were improved. The cook washes the plates so the children no longer have to do so.

Personal Change

The male youth facilitator, Rajendra Vishwakarma, himself acknowledges the changes wrought by the training. He was a regular consumer of Gutka but the play on the harmful effects of tobacco and Gutka in the training left a lasting impression on him. He initially replaced the habit of Gutka with saunf and later phased out that habit as well. He influenced his friends to do the same and most of them are now free of that habit. The training removed misconceptions about sexual phenomena like nightfall and masturbation as well as menstruation. Both he and his wife were wary of her menstrual periods during which his wife was not to bathe and had to remain attired in unclean clothes and isolated from the rest of the family. Now his wife not only bathes but wears clean clothes during her menstrual periods and interacts with the rest of the family.

Group member Jitendra Vishwakarma has convinced his grandfather to stop smoking bidis. Initially he was scolded for preaching to his grandfather but he persevered. Finally his grandfather gave up smoking and now avoids the company of those who smoke. Another case is that of Om Prakash Verma. He used to eat Gutka till a year ago in the company of friends. Then he learned about the after effects of Gutka and left the habit. He has convinced his friends to do the same over a period of time.