Swachhata Hi Seva 2018
Page 1
Swachhata Hi Seva 2018
Page 2
Amma interacting with the Hon. Prime Minister on occasion of the “Swachhata Hi Seva� Launch on September 15, 2018
Swachhata Hi Seva 2018
AMMA’S MESSAGE FOR SWACHHATA HI SEVA Nature and the environment are manifestations of God. The world—the created—and God—the Creator—are not two; they are one and the same. So, we must develop a respectful and worshipful attitude towards Nature. We have two mothers, the mother who gave birth to us and Mother Nature. Our birth mother may allow us to sit on her lap for a couple of years, but Mother Nature patiently bears our weight our entire life. Just as every child is obligated to his birth mother, we all should likewise feel an obligation and responsibility towards Mother Nature. If we forget this responsibility, it is equal to forgetting our own self. If we forget Nature, we will cease to exist; to do so is to walk towards death. We should not leave Mother Earth with scars. On the other hand, we should leave her with flowers bedecked in her hair. We should leave her in a better condition than in which we came to her—never worse. Cleanliness and sanitation are fundamental to the development of any country. If we care about the coming generations—the world that will be inherited by our children and grandchildren—we must act now. In the old days, there was no specific need for environmental preservation because protecting Nature was part of worshipping God and part of life itself. More than remembering God, people used to love and serve Nature and society. They saw the Creator through the creation. They loved, worshipped and protected Nature as the visible form of God. We should try to reawaken this attitude. Today, the biggest threat to humankind is not a third World War but the loss of Nature’s harmony—our widening separation from Nature. Amma Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
Page 3
Swachhata Hi Seva 2018
“The training that you have given women to become masons and to construct toilets is a great example of Human Resource Development and skill-development. Women were always ahead in matters of cleanliness and sanitation. But now you have also given them skill and empowerment as well. I offer my pranams to all the efforts being rendered by you, [Amma, Mata Amritanandamayi Devi].� Shri Narendra Modi
Hon. Prime Minister of India September 15, 2018
Page 4
Swachhata Hi Seva 2018
Page 5
Swachhata Hi Seva 2018
AMMACHI LABS - TRANSFORMING VILLAGES THROUGH WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT
Since the beginning of the UNDEF co-funded project: Women’s Empowerment, Community Sanitation through Democratic Participation (WE:CSDP), participating villages across India have been actively working with the Swachh Bharat Abhayan Mission. Women’s Advocacy Self-Help Groups (ASHGs) have been formed in 21 villages from 18 states and are leading these efforts.The Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS 2018) call to action was no exception, and all of the UNDEF Project Villages participated in several sanitation and cleaning campaigns after the nation’s call for shramdaan, or an act of selfless service towards a clean India. Most of the community events were led by women Champions of Change who have taken up the cause of sanitation through the WE:CSDP project. The WE: CSDP Project (UDF-15-667-IND) was launched in February, 2017 by Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham’s AMMACHI Labs. It is a two year, pan-India initiative jointly funded by the United Nations Democracy Fund. It aims to address the issues of inadequate community sanitation, women’s health, and water management in rural India through improving democratic representation of women in local governance. The implementing agency, AMMACHI Labs, is a research focused academic center for promoting gender equality and fostering women’s empowerment with a special focus on technology and other innovative methods. As part of this unique, two-week, women-led shramdaan, swachhata (cleanliness) rallies, cleaning of public spaces, awareness sessions about hygiene and sanitation, special Swachhata-themed competitions for school children, sanitation pledges, open defecation free (ODF) rallies, and community mobilization programs to access Swachh Bharat Mission (Clean India Mission) programs took place on a daily basis in all of the project villages. The active participation and community engagement of the SHS 2018 events in these villages have created new pathways to sustained behavioral changes and transformation at the grassroots level. This SHS 2018 event also marks the 3rd Milestone of the WE:CSDP project and demonstrated the community leadership, respect, and influence the women’s groups have gained since participating in the program. The women have succeeded in taking the knowledge, skills, and opportunities gained in the WE:CSDP program and using it to empower themselves and transform their communities.
Page 6
Swachhata Hi Seva 2018
Malgaon Village, Chattisgarh September 15, 2018
Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS 2018) programs in Malgaon village, Chattisgarh were led by AMMACHI Labs’ community organizer (CO), ASeRVe coordinators and CREATE’s tuition teacher. A large number of villagers participated in the cleanup drive, awareness campaigns and rallies organized by our team. Our change agents provided assistance and support to the students in the village to give awareness to nearby houses on the subject of “spreading of diseases” & hygiene. Around fifty people participated in the community event including village women.
Guptapada Village, Odisha September 15, 2018
In Guptapada, large number of villagers participated in community cleanup drives and the rallies organized by the AMMACHI Labs team and women champions.
Page 7
Swachhata Hi Seva 2018
Kalinagar Village, West Bengal September 15, 2018
In Kalinagar, SHS 2018 events were led by AMMACHI Labs community Organizers (COs) and leaders. Awareness campaigns, hygiene sessions and clean up drives took place led by many women champions.
Gudipadu Cheruvu Village, Andhra Pradesh September 15, 2018
In Gudipadu Cheruvu village, SHS 2018 events were led by women leaders and community organizers. The entire village has pledged to continue 18 days of clean-up drives until October 2, 2018. Villagers participated in ODF rallies and awareness sessions.
Page 8
Swachhata Hi Seva 2018
Sarai Nooruddinpur Village, Uttar Pradesh September 15, 2018
Before Cleaning
Before Cleaning
After Cleaning
Before Cleaning
Before Cleaning
After Cleaning
Before Cleaning
After Cleaning
After Cleaning
After Cleaning
Sarai Nooruddinpur women leaders organized a community clean up which resulted in remarkable before and after pics of the community. Over 80 bags of waste were collected.
Page 9
Swachhata Hi Seva 2018
Indpur Village, Himachal Pradesh September 15, 2018
Several community cleanup drives and awareness rallies took place in Indpur. Women leaders along with village children were at the forefront of the event.
Page 10
Swachhata Hi Seva 2018
Nani Borvai Village, Gujarat September 15, 2018
In Nani Borvai, awareness sessions, cleanup drives and rallies took place. More than 150 villagers participated in the inaugural function and awareness sessions. The main road in the middle of the village was overflowing with 1 foot of mud and cow dung. The villagers cleaned removed this with the help of a tractor and other tools. Children and women were at the forefront of this effort.
Maljipura Village, Madhya Pradesh September 15, 2018
In Maljipura village the entire community including the children from the participated in the cleanup drive and rally organized by our team. There was a lot of enthusiasm by participants to clean the village.
Page 11
Swachhata Hi Seva 2018
Nala and Dunda Villages, Uttarakhand September 15, 2018
In Nala village and Dunda village, SHG women and villagers participated in the cleanup driveand rally organized by our team. In Dunda there was a Swachh Bharat themed poster making competition for students which had many participants.
Malgaon Village, Chattisgarh September 17, 2018
AMMACHI Labs’ community organizer Mamatha Poyam visited houses in the interior parts of Malgaon village. The aim of the journey was to spread awareness on cleanliness and teach the villagers how diseases spread due to the accumulation of waste and stagnant water. Our CO also campaigned for Swachhata Hi Seva movement. Page 12
Swachhata Hi Seva 2018
Kanti Village, Haryana September 18, 2018
AMMACHI Labs’ zonal lead, community organizer, and SHG women members visited the primary health center in Kanti village as part of the Swachhata Hi Seva movement. The team started cleaning the center with the women’s group and later was pleasantly surprised that the village head sent two government sweepers to help our team in the clean-up efforts.
Kodur Village, Andhra Pradesh September 24 & 25, 2018
In Kodur, SHS 2018 events took place over two days. ODF rallies, pledges, and clean-up drives took place with participation from the entire community. The spirit of Swachhata was strong amongst the villagers.
Page 13
Swachhata Hi Seva 2018
Kanti Village, Haryana September 21, 2018
AMMACHI Labs organized a painting and essay writing competition on the theme Swachh Bharat for the primary school students in Kanti village. Many students participated in the competition which raised awareness about cleanliness and hygiene.
Guptapada Village, Odisha September 24 & 25, 2018
In Guptapada, several community clean up drives took place organized by women leaders. The entire community participated with enthusiasm.
Page 14
Swachhata Hi Seva 2018
Hadiabad Village, Bihar September 21, 2018
In Hadiabad village several SHS 2018 events took place. The before and after pics show the stunning results of the women-led efforts to clean up the entire community.
Page 15
Swachhata Hi Seva 2018
Ratanpur Village, Bihar September 24, 2018
Many of the people who live in Ratanpur are of the Musahar caste and are still severely marginalised. It was so inspiring that the women of the Musahar community came forward to participate in the Swachh Bharat movement. Our facilitator Mousam and CO Usha coordinated the program and they also did an awareness program on health and sanitation.
Page 16
Swachhata Hi Seva 2018
Dr. Kheda Village, Uttar Pradesh
Before Cleaning
Before Cleaning
After Cleaning
After Cleaning
Several community cleanups and rallies took place in Dr. Khera, a village near Lucknow. It was inspiring to see the level of participation by the community and the before and after pictures demonstrate how engaged the community is in the SHS 2018 activities.
Page 17
Swachhata Hi Seva 2018
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE, SHIFTING BEHAVIORS IN INDIA’S VILLAGES THROUGH 5S
As part of an immersive, field-work project, 12 first year MSW Students and faculty and staff from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham participated in Amritodhayam 2018, a rural camp in the flooded area of Aranmula (Pathanamthitta District), Kerala. The area had been gravely affected by the August 2018 Kerala floods and is in much need of rehabilitation. The students and staff participated in an in-depth training of 5S, a Japanese method of improving and maintaining housekeeping. Lead by the Omnex company, the group was trained in a multi-step process based on: Sorting out, Systematic Arrangement, Shine everything, Standardization and Self Discipline. Additionally, the students are participated in awareness sessions, community clean-up drives for SHS 2018 and field assessments with the local communities. Villagers were also being trained in order to sustain the 5S methodology and take it forward. In the future, 5S will be implemented in the UNDEF Villages as Omnex will next conduct more Train-The-Trainers in 5S for the AMMACHI Labs field team.
Page 18
Swachhata Hi Seva 2018
Page 20