Village re-starts cleaning up the village water source & continues after project ended

[Virender Thakur]

NGO Mamta HIMC is facilitating HealthRise project on #NCDs, #Diabetes #Hypertension in Himachal, India supported by Medtronic Philanthropy.

Phase I of the project-Oct 2017- Aug 2018

The NGO used Constellation's Community life competence process and SALT for #patient centred approach in phase one October 2017-August 2018.

The Khatnol village community in the Mashobra Block of Shimla district took action following the SALT process, recognizing the significance of addressing the needs of their village. They understood that if they didn't take action, no one else would.

Some years ago, the young boys in the village used to maintain an ancient water source, locally known as "baoli," which collected fresh water from mountain streams. However, as the village transitioned to piped water, this practice was abandoned, and the baoli fell into disrepair. The water source became polluted, and the villagers no longer paid it any attention. During summer, they would face water shortages, reporting the issue to the government department and waiting for their intervention.

In the wake of the SALT process, the villagers had a realisation that they could take matters into their own hands. In August 2018, they began the process of cleaning and restoring the baoli, so they could once again access fresh water.

Phase II of the project from August 2019

The project concluded in August 2018, and upon our return to the village after a one-year gap, we were delighted to see that the villagers were still dedicated to the upkeep of the water source. Women, youth, and school children, along with their teachers, continued their periodic cleaning efforts. In the video below, you can witness the village women actively engaged in maintaining the water source.

In August 2019, we initiated the second phase of the implementation. My co-facilitator Arun who hails from this village but now resides in the city is very proud of this work by his village.  

[Rituu B. Nanda]

Last month (Aug 2023), I spoke to Arun who is from this village and to Virender who is a local and facilitated in this village. Happy to share that the village continues to clean the water source. Due to recent landslides in Himachal which cut off tap water supply but the village could use water from the this baoli.

[Marie Lamboray]

Thank you for sharing Virender!

In French:

Un village recommence à nettoyer sa source d'eau et continue après la fin du projet

L’ONG Mamta HIMC facilite le projet HealthRise sur #NCDs, #Diabetes #Hypertension à Himachal, en Inde, avec le soutien de Medtronic Philanthropy.

Phase I du projet : octobre 2017 - août 2018

L'ONG a utilisé le processus de la compétence communautaire pour la vie et l'approche SALT de la Constellation dans une première phase d'octobre 2017 à août 2018. SALT a encouragé la communauté du village de Khatnol, Mashobra Block, district de Shimla, à agir car elle avait compris qu'il s'agissait d'un enjeu important pour les gens du village et que si les habitants n’agissaient pas, qui le ferait? Il y a quelques années, les jeunes garçons du village nettoyaient une ancienne source d'eau (appelée baoli en langue locale), mais cette pratique s'était arrêtée ; la source d'eau n’était plus entretenue. Après SALT, les villageois ont pris conscience de leurs responsabilités et ont recommencé à la nettoyer pour pouvoir utiliser de l'eau fraîche. C'était en août 2018.

Phase II du projet à partir d'août 2019

Le projet s'est terminé en août 2018 et, un an après, lorsque nous sommes retournés au village, nous avons été agréablement surpris de constater que les villageois continuent de nettoyer la source d'eau. En août 2019, nous avons commencé la deuxième phase de la mise en œuvre. Les femmes, les jeunes, les écoliers et leurs enseignants nettoient périodiquement la source. Sur la vidéeo, vous verrez des villageoises en train de la nettoyer. Mon co-facilitateur, Arun, vient de ce village mais vit maintenant en ville. Il est très fier de son village #givingupwaste