PURI:
The women members of 32 households of Udayakani have set an example for others
being part of creating durable asset of the community. Being severely affected
by the Cyclone Phailin and its subsequent flood, the women members of the
village took charge toresolve the long standing demand of waterin their
village. Dominantly a Dalit populated village, Udayakani people have always
been sidelined from the developmental opportunities as a causative of the
social stratification.
Grippingly,
the role of women remains instrumental; starting from the selection of
beneficiary to the selection of work for the Cash for Work scheme. Women took
the leadership in doing the pond excavation work; not depending solely on the
male members. The Village Disaster Response Committee; which is formed in every
project village to ensure community ownership and bringing women into fore in
decision making process, the women honed skills and demonstrated their
leadership with all appropriateness.It was possible due to the continuous
support and process facilitation by implementing organizations ActionAid and
Young India.
Nature
has always been impolite to the villagers by taking their habitation into its
fury and destroying agriculture – the basic livelihood source. The villagers of
Udayakani have been displaced three times since 1956 as the houses and
agricultural lands have been submerged by the sea. Water was a major challenge
for them especially after the Phailin and the villagers had no other options
but to manage with the saline water which may have exposure to contamination.
Alternatively, they had to go the neighbor village to bath and for drinking
water.
“As
cyclone Phailin and subsequent flood caused a trail of damage and destruction
to lives and properties of the village, the people were in urgent need of
income source to meet daily basic needs for their families.Also, not a single
work under MGNREGA was started in the village since the Act is operational. So,
it was difficult for the villagers to sustain their lives. Wedecided to
startwage based programme Cash For Work in the village immediately to the
villagersand European Commission on Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection
(ECHO) has provided all financial support for this activity, said Mr. N.A. Shah
Ansari, Social Activist and President of Young India.
Cash
for Work has not only helped the villagers to meet their daily household needs
but also enabled them to createa durable asset for the community as well,”
Mr.Ansari added.
Now
the villagers have realized their dream.Water has already started accumulating
in both the two ponds and the villagers have already started using it for
bathing other sanitary purpose.
Water
was a long standing demand of our village. Now we are happy that we can have
our daily bath and that is in our village. The support we received from these
organizations has definitely added values and dignity to our community, said
Ms.Tarulata Kandi, President ofVillage Disaster Response Committee.The result
we grew from the work has enthused us to do more work for the village and we
will continue to play our parts to create and improve our community resources,
Ms. Kandi revealed.
The
women members of the village have proved that Unity works as the core principle
of a positive change in the community and women too can perform all the
productive works that male members do.
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