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Role of Community Participation and Its Impact on Sustainability in Rural India

Despite the government's best intentions, development efforts in a vast and diverse country like India fail to reach the public due to structural inefficiencies. In India, there is sometimes a lack of awareness of the initiatives for sustainable rural development and their benefits, which leads to errors in executionLocal participation and sustainability program of one of the best rural development NGOs in India, S M Sehgal Foundation, works relentlessly toward the success of sustainable rural development in India.

Transparency, a participatory approach, and local capacity are all necessary for development efforts to succeed. In India, community-driven rural development is the best strategy to reach out to isolated and disadvantaged people. Local participation and sustainability programs raise community awareness and positively impact the reach of government services.

STORIES FROM THE GROUND

Fakruddin Creates Cleaner And Safer Surroundings For His Family

Waterlogging and poor liquid waste management were longstanding issues plaguing the inhabitants of Punhana, Nuh, and Haryana. Lack of awareness of water management and the importance of sanitation and wastewater management practices resulted in people suffering from diseases like diarrhea, dysentery, malaria, and dengue. Fakruddin had constant waterlogging in and around his house due to the lack of a proper liquid waste management system. With no drainage system to take care of the household’s wastewater, it remained stagnant in the passage of his house. 

As part of a CSR project implemented by S M Sehgal Foundation, he attended sanitation-awareness sessions where the objective was to sensitize villagers to maintain good hygiene and sanitation practices in their daily lives. Fakruddin learned the importance of maintaining good personal hygiene and creating cleaner surroundings for a healthy and disease-free life. He was inspired to install a low-cost underground pipeline system from his home to his agricultural land for the disposal of wastewater**. His family now has fewer incidences of diseases and has saved a considerable amount of money on medical expenses. Fakruddin recalls how his family was facing great inconvenience due to odor, mosquitoes, and diarrhea and lived in unhygienic conditions because of stagnant wastewater in and around his home.

“Awareness sessions organized as a part of the project changed my outlook toward sanitation and waste management practices.”

Anganwadi and Health Sub Center Repaired in Teharki’s School

Village Teharki in the Meerut District of Uttar Pradesh has an Upper Primary school where 138 children study in grades six to eight. The school was in a dilapidated state with weak doors and windows, broken walls, and a filth-strewn courtyard. The Anganwadi and health center inside the school was also in deplorable condition. In a CSR-supported partnership project, S M Sehgal Foundation took up the initiative to repair the Anganwadi and hospital and beautify the school.

A discussion was held with the school’s headmaster, the sarpanch, and community members, who also put in their wholehearted effort.  New strong metallic doors and windows were installed, flooring in classrooms and veranda was redone, brick benches were constructed, new doors in toilets were fixed, the school compound was leveled, and whitewashing and wall paintings were done, among other improvements. Now the school looks attractive and has become a place of pride in the village.

The enthused community and school committee have taken charge to keep the premises clean, and the children are studying better.

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