Nagpur: The sense of joy and pride is palpable as one enters village Umtha in Narkhed taluka of Nagpur district. Its 812 residents are still flush with success of their collective initiative that fetched them the Satyamev Jayate Water Cup award for 2018, instituted by Paani Foundation. Umtha bagged third prize among 16 villages that competed at state level. First prize went to Takewadi village in Man taluka of Satara district, while second was shared by Bhandwali and Sindhkhed in Satara and Buldhana districts. Umtha shares third position with Anandwadi in Beed district.
“The prize is result of hard work of entire village. They performed shramdaan relentlessly for 45 days to secure 87 marks for the 12 initiatives the villagers have to take for watershed management,” said Dr Bhaskar Vighe, project’s mentor. He is fondly called Guruji by the villagers. The remaining 13 marks are earned through a three-level verification of work done.
In 2018, the third year of Paani Foundation founded by actor Aamir Khan and wife Kiran Rao, gram panchayat of Umtha was invited to join the competition. “In December 2017, when the village was observing death anniversary of Sant Tukdoji Maharaj, Paani Foundation officials visited and invited us,” said Guruji. “We called a meeting of the entire village and explained the process to them. They unanimously agreed to participate,” he added. “Once we accepted, five people, two women and three men, from the village were selected and sent for a 3 ½ day training. They were told about techniques of implementing the 12 steps for water conservation and management,” said Hemant Picklmunde, taluka co-ordinator for the foundation.
The work began at midnight on April 8 and had to end by May 22. “The 12 steps initially are the ‘maatha to paytaa’ or top to bottom steps for collecting and conserving water. “Around 8pm each night Guruji would blow a whistle and everybody would pick up their tools and come out to work. Young girls and women helped in building the nursery under the guidance of Vijay Nimbarkar, a villager. We collected seeds from nearby forest and bought some to create a nursery which now has around 2600 saplings we will plant to increase soil moisture,” said Shwanta Kokate, the sarpanch.
The foundation does not give money to carry out the works. The villagers have to do shramdaan for it. “Everybody pitched in with whatever resources they had,” said deputy sarpanch Praveen Dahekar, who stopped construction work of his house to give the sand needed for making bunds as collector had prohibited taking sand from the riverbed. Everybody was given some work. “As we worked in the night, one Shailesh Verma from Nagpur gave us a generator for lights. Surendra Kokate from our village was entrusted with the work of setting up lights around the work area and he would have everything ready by 7pm,” Dahekar said.
The 3x2 foot cement tanks required for soak pits were made by Akshay Chaude, Sachin Thakre and Ritesh Thakre. “The tank costs Rs 900 in the market but we made 110 tanks for Rs 350 each,” Dahekar said. To keep up the enthusiasm, Nilesh Thakre would prepare around 200 cups of tea for those working. Many others pitched in with samosas, jalebi and gulab jamuns.
“Entire district administration from Nagpur would visit the village and help us. On April 8 midnight when the work was about to start, Kadambari Balkawade, CEO of Zilla Parishad was present and worked with the villagers. This further energized us and also helped in changing our opinion towards administration,” said Durga Galbane. “Even the girls from village who are married outside and their husbands came to work,” the sarpanch added.
A lot else changed in the village since May 22 when the work was completed. “We have been able to conserve water through 110 soak pits. If we consider the requirement of around 80,000 litres of water in the village everyday, we will now be able to conserve and collect around 3 crore litres annually,” said Dahekar.
The 4x4x4 ft soak pits made outside 90% of the homes ensure water flowing from kitchen and bathrooms does not flow around the village. The drains remain dry which means no mosquitoes and a clean and healthy environment. “Initially some households didn’t want to get these pits but later agreed. This is the best thing that this initiative has done for us. It has united the village. This award has united us more as there is a collective sense of pride,” said Dahekar.
With the water situation improving and wells filled to brim, the farmlands here are lush. “Oranges, sugarcane and sweetlime are the main crops and require a lot of water. With our new awareness, we will use drip irrigation and sprinklers. Our main objective from now on is green, clean and healthy village,” Guruji added. The village plans to utilise Rs 30 lakh prize money for sustaining and maintaining the structures created, planting more trees and to create an open gym.
