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Surodi Village transforms itself! |
A struggling village in Maharashtra, stands up for itself, reports Ramki Kazhiyur-Mannar, Columbus Chapter.
Seven hundred villagers of Surodi, a formerly parched, economically struggling village in Maharashtra, have demonstrated what grassroots development means in practice. Inspired by the village of Ralegaon Siddhi and Anna Hazare, the youth of this village brought their community together, including every community and every class, to shape their own destiny.
Surodi implemented a watershed development project to overcome the situation, where a vast majority of their land is rainfed, and hence, could only be cultivated one season.
The villagers volunteered physical labor, with Vidnyan Vahini and AID pitching in with the material. The two dozen bunds erected have brought bountiful results. Milk production has increased eightfold. Household work has eased. Agricultural produce has increased dramatically, leading to increased ownership and self-dependency among the laborers.
Most thrilling fact is that the villagers have now raised money among themselves to continue their work. Surodi is now standing up for herself, and all her residents, and is calling out to her neighbors to learn, emulate and empower themselves.
Read the account of a proud citizen of Surodi, Ashok Rupner, an organizer of this project, at the AID website, at http://aidindia.org/main/content/view/490/1/ . |
