Bhavda walks the path of change

By: Sudarshan Ramabadran

Poor sanitation, immense scarcity of water and most importantly oppression from the society; this is exactly what an extremely backward Bhavda village in Ahmedabad district was known for.

With the advent of time self-belief and significant change in mind set has resulted in the village taking rapid strides to walk the path of change.

Bhavda houses 750 people belonging to the Other Backward Caste (OBC) and Schedule Caste(SC) communities. A tail end village, women had to walk 8 times a day covering 8 kilometres up and down per time to fetch their share of water. The walk was filled with strain and uncertainty as the women folk did not know if they would get water, as a result of the oppression they had to face coming from a backward community.

Bhavda women travel 8 km to fetch water 

“We used to be really unsure; sometimes we had to walk in the day and sometimes in the night. There was no respect for us, fights were a regular feature. All that which was on our mind was we had to ensure our children get water, our family gets water. Therefore we must walk.”, said Kasi Jamvat, now an Anganwadi worker in the village.

Just when things were looking miserable, Bhavda got its act together and decisively embarked upon the goal of ensuring water to every house.

Devanji, a resident in the village says the move was welcomed with a lot of resistance. “People were just not ready to change. It required a change in the mind set to believe that our village can get uninterrupted water.”, he said.

The Sector Reform Scheme (SRS) meant 10% of the contribution had to come from the village. Thus, it took 3 years for the village folks to understand how essential it was. This is where the dialogue between WASMO and the village helped people to know how managing your own water supply can benefit the community at large.

Dialogue between WASMO officials and villagers 

“The field workers of WASMO never gave up. They used to visit every house and understand the problems we faced. Sometimes they were welcomed, sometimes they were not, but this did not stop them from giving Bhavda a ray of hope to manage its own water requirements.”, added Meruji another resident of the village.

Youth in the village began to play an active role in making the people aware of how essential it was to have their own water resources and the responsibility which came with it.

Jan Bhagidari (people’s participation) was evident as things began to fall in place. The principal of the primary school in the village led from the front and donated for the cause as part of the village contribution to the scheme. As a result the Gram Panchayat and its Pani Samiti decided to implement the SRS.

Plan of Water supply line in Bhavda

Water Tank in Bhavda

Bhavda installed a tube well, a water tank with 50000 litres water supply, and a 1050 metres water supply line which ensured water reached every house. 

The transformation was beginning to show. “Women now engage themselves in embroidery as an income generating activity. Fights have stopped and we are giving ample quality time to our families as well. That is how important water is to us.”, said Kasi.

Youngsters in the village were also taken for exposure visits on how best to maintain what they have in place back home. Now Bhavda not only ensures water for every home, but for all those who are dependent on animal husbandry, water has become sufficient for even their animals as well. “Since installation, we have had no issues. Through this we not only have water at our homes, but have understood to use water judiciously. We have water for our animals as well.”, said a joyous Mohan who is into animal husbandry. 

WASMO leads to societal transformation

Thought tail end by nature, Bhavda is definitely one of the examples where societal transformation is discernible through the works of WASMO and also a case where involvement of the entire village has brought about a paradigm shift through community management of water resources.

This article originally features in the book 'Good Governance : People's Voice which has been published by the Commissionerate of Information