• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

RANIMISTRI: THE CATALYST OF WASH (WATER SANITATION & HYGIENE) TRANSFORMATION IN SIMDEGA DISTRICT OF JHARKHAND A Saga of Ranimistri of Simdega District Dedicated To All Those People Who Dare to Dream To Be A Maker of Safe And Prosperous World “The Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins With Single Step”, Lao Tzu, A Chinese Philosopher BACKGROUND In his Development as Freedom, Dr. Amartya Sen, winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics, highlights, “very many people across the world suffer from varieties of un-freedom. Famines continue to occur in particular regions, denying to millions the basic freedom survive. Even in those countries, which are no longer sporadically devastated by famines, under-nutrition may affect very large numbers of vulnerable human beings. Also, a great many people have little access to health care, to sanitary arrangements or to clean water, and spend their lives fighting unnecessary morbidity, often succumbing to premature mortality.” In today’s world sanitation and hygiene is an alarming issue. The behavior of safe sanitation and hygiene improves public health leading to reduction in hard-earned money spent on water and open defecation born diseases thus alleviating poverty. It also reduces MMR and IMR as access to safe toilets; safe drinking water saves women and infant children from womb infections, Diarrheal diseases and malnourishment respectively. Under Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), a flagship programme of government of India to achieve the goal of clean India by 2nd October 2019, a fitting tribute to 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the pioneer of sanitation movement in India, communities of Simdega district vowed to achieve freedom from Open Defecation some three years ago. ODF environment is the first and most important step towards improving nutrition and strengthening economy while transforming a society. Communities of Simdega have created Jan Aandolan in the district to achieve sustainable “Safa Simdega” (clean Simdega). The “Safa” journey started with Kersai block to achieve ODF status, which was adventurous and extremely challenging. Difficult terrains, hilly areas, scattered houses, and surrounded by dense forest the block shares its border with Odisa and Chhatisgarh. Kersai had greatest challenges of material management, water availability and masons’ sustainability in constructing quality toilets for sustainable ODF. The spirit of sanitation movement inspired the District Administration, all seven Mukhiyas, Jalsahiyas and entire communities to unfurl the flag of sustainable Sanitation & Hygiene. They were provided technical support from UNICEF persistently to travel the journey successfully. During the journey of ODF Kersai, so many heroes were produced. One among them and the first was Mrs. Dorothiya Kerketta, former Mukhiya of Basen Panchayat of Kersai Block, who kept foundation of “Safa Simdega” by achieving first ODF village of Simdega district during her regime. The genuine sanitation movement created in the district of Jharkhand inspired communities of Simdega to achieve ODF status. Especially women’s determination to eliminate the oldest and rigid behavior of Open Defecation is a great saga of Safa journey. They know that by eliminating this, their health will improve, they can save money and the environment will be safe. Above all, social burden such as fear, disgust, shame etc. on them due to Open Defecation will be transformed into safety, dignity and privacy- fundamental rights for all. Usually, men masons construct toilets. Simdega being surrounded by dense forest, hilly terrains and scattered habitations lacks road, connectivity and means of communication in many parts of the district. Outsider masons did not sustain when the district required number of technical and trained masons for quality toilet construction engaging communities to achieve ODF. In extremely hard- to reach and LWE affected areas toilet construction was out of imagination. Bricks, cements, iron rod, sand etc. could not be mobilized there. Thus, the journey of Safa Simdega seemed blurred. However, men of Simdega got training of toilet construction and working towards the noble cause of making the District ODF. Nevertheless, there number was not sufficient to the required masons to transform Simdega from the state of Open Defecation to Open Defecation Free. Motivation and enthusiasm of sanitation movement in Simdega among women proved to be the game changer. Sakhi Mandal (Women Group, federation of JSLPS) decided to take training of toilet technology. Initially, few women came forward to take training to construct toilets. Technical team of SBM-G, Simdega trained them. They started constructing toilets and earning money. Looking to them, other women groups came forward to take training to construct toilets for the Safa Simdega movement. Jalsahiyas, women Mukhiyas all came forward and many of them became trained masons. In beginning, the District had some 700 hundred women masons. Now there is a force of women masons in Simdega. During his visit to Jaldega block under the massive campaign, Samaan Pahuchawo, Shouchalay Banawo, Deputy Commissioner of Simdega Sri Jatashankar Chowdhari, IAS, realized the strengths and words of women masons. He honored all the women masons giving their identity as Ranimistri. The catchy name became famous in the state and all the districts of Jharkhand adopted the name Ranimistri and started training women to construct toilets. DC, Simdega launched another campaign “Ranimistri Lagawo, Shouchalawo Banawo” Abhiyan from 21st to 26th of March 2018 to the non ODF GPs in the District. The campaign was dedicated to the Ranimistri in Simdega. Since the campaign was launched, number of women came forward and became Ranimistri. The enthusiasm of women mobilized their communities to fetch, carry construction materials in the hard to reach areas using bicycle and on head. The sanitation movement in Simdega created history. DDC and DC, Simdega led the campaign from front. Along with SBM-G team and BDOs, they visited to the hard to areas of the district, interacted with Ranimistri and motivated them to lead the movement to the destination. Many inspiring stories emerged of Mukhiyas becoming Ranimistri. Many of them mentioned smiling, “we will become Ranimistri if we do not win next election”. Ranimistri in Simdega say, “we are proud to be Ranimistri, we construct toilets for our dignity and privacy and earn money. We give hard- earned money to our children for school fees! And sometimes we also help our husband”. Ranimistri shaped the Safa Simdega journey. During the campaign from 700, the number of Ranimistri increased to almost 2000. With the help of Ranimistri Simdega achieved almost 7000 toilets being constructed from 21st to 26th March 2018. Their employability is also ensured. District Administration, Simdega has decided to enroll and engage them PMAWAS construction. In addition, hand pump repairing training began to provide them so that they will earn their livelihood and their issues of safe drinking water will be resolved by themselves repairing defunct hand pumps. Thus, Ranimistri in Simdega have created a mass movement towards the fight of Open Defecation and unsafe environment. Their will to achieve ODF Simdega is adamant. It is their determination that brought a new dawn in Simdega. ODF Simdega. “Safa Simdega”. IDEA BEHIND THE CONCEPT OF RANIMISTRI Inherent quality among the women of Simdega was observed to lead sanitation movement in the district during community triggering exercises in villages. Their participation in Community Approaches to Sustainable Sanitation triggering exercises, block and district level workshops was amazingly excellent. Sakhi Madal of JSLPS wing was found to be most effective for the cause of Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin). Sri Manjunath Bhajantri, IAS, former DC, Simdega realized the strengths and enthusiasm of women of Simdega for the journey of “Safa Simdega”. He desired to create women led sanitation movement in the district to achieve ODF status with quality and on time bound. He decided to provide fund to Women Village Organization (VO) and Self Help Groups (SHGs) for toilets construction under SBM-G. VOs and SHGs wise training on ODF strategies, community mobilization and toilet technology was done with the technical support from UNICEF. Active women were identified during the training who could lead the mission from front. Exposure visits were planned for them. They were taken to the best villages where sanitation promotion under SBM-G was going on. Soon the district discovered a different and able caliber among the women of Sakhi Mandal who could lead the mission. Their caliber was sharpened during Gadhha Khodo Abhiyan from 20th to 28th of August 2017, a massive campaign to create sanitation movement in Simdega. Their enthusiasm was unmatched in the campaign. Women of Simdega had taken the campaign in their hand to achieve the goal of GKA. Within a week, 68 thousand toilets twin leach pits were dug-up, which actually was the target of GKA. The next challenge for the district was to convert all the pits into toilets. To achieve the ODF status of district on time bound everyday almost two thousand working masons were required. Simdega being the tribal dominated district lacks masons to construct toilets. Here more than 80% houses are of mud. They can make house using mud and wood. For them it was little tough to construct pakka toilets using cements, bricks, iron rod etc. Number of batches of masons training was done in the district to meet the target. One more problem the district faces is the issue of alcoholism. Mostly trained men masons would work a week. Once they would get money, their absence at work will last a month. They would enjoy drinking alcohol until their pocket is full of money. Thus, it was a biggest challenge for the district to create a pool of dedicated masons to achieve the goal of “Safa Simdega”. Masons from outside district could not sustain for long time. They could not talk to their family members over phone for a week or month. The district lacks phone connectivity almost in 90% of its areas.

Load more

  36

Copy Link