By FGR Bureau
“From periphery to mainstream, having covered wide range of districts from Chitrakoot, Fatehpur, Haridwar, Balrampur, Siddharthanagar, Shravasti and Bahraich in the states of Uttar Pradesh & Uttarakhand, the entire experience deciphered understanding the real meaning of ‘Aspirational Districts’. The districts represented important spiritual &cultural hotspots but remain relatively backward in development. But being less developed, it also signified that these districts have immense potential to bring Mainstream& Balanced development through ‘participatory governance’ and serve as an inspiration for other districts to tailor a similar model”.
Realizing this, India Water Foundation felt the need to raise awareness of the people to bring about ‘development from below’. Acknowledging the idea of ‘Learn Global and Act Local and vice-versa’ and upholding the principles of Solve Different, we realised this concept through Eco Routes: Eco and WASH dialogues for Eco intelligent rural rejuvenation field capacity enhancement’ a project supported by NCSTC department, Ministry of Science and Technology in aspiring districts. Taking a bird’s eye view, we took cognizance of the noble issues viz 6 key indicators of Education, Heath & Nutrition, Basic Infrastructure, Agriculture & Water Resources, Skill Development and Financial Inclusion.
The problems were manifold, multiple challenges but the aspirations of these districts were held high such that no obstacles could deter to inhibit the aspirations. Acknowledging the same, IWF while ‘taking science at ground zero’ made an effort to raise the scientific awareness and temper, capacity building of the people, disseminating good practices on health, education and hygiene. The women community of Chitrakoot for instance, during our MHM (Menstrual Hygiene Management) session faced the biggest challenge of deeply-rooted socio-cultural taboos surrounding menstruation. Many were unaware of nutritional component while many never heard about reproductive tract infections (RTI). IWF, through vociferous interaction, brought about behavioral change among women, attitudinal shifts in social mindset and prompting women to spread MHM learning in their community. In short, we provided training to the trainers who would take the lead forward to diffuse their experience and learning to the people of Community. IWF applauded the innovative efforts of distinguished people in their respective work space and community by felicitating them with ‘Champions of Change’ Award. They represent the future discourse of the respective districts to chart out a roadmap based on their ambitions, successful stories, innovative grass root ideas and willingness to bring ‘Real Change from below’’. Realizing this, India Water Foundation felt the need to raise awareness of the people to bring about ‘development from below’. Acknowledging the idea of ‘Learn Global and Act Local and vice-versa’ and upholding the principles of Solve Different, we realised this concept through Eco Routes: Eco and WASH dialogues for Eco intelligent rural rejuvenation field capacity enhancement’ a project supported by NCSTC department, Ministry of Science and Technology in aspiring districts. Taking a bird’s eye view, we took cognizance of the noble issues viz 6 key indicators of Education, Heath & Nutrition, Basic Infrastructure, Agriculture & Water Resources, Skill Development and Financial Inclusion.
As per the problems, issues shared by the community stakeholders, experts from our end also deliberated and advised amicable solutions local, nature-based solutions and technical suggestions as well to address water scarcity, ground water depletion, interlinking health-nutrition, sustainable agriculture practices, raising entrepreneurship skills and the prospects of river rejuvenation. IWF ensured to lay a foundation stone of ‘unique yet proactive’ solutions.
We underlined that Development also has a vicious cycle, even if one of the 6 indicators is misplaced or removed, the entire cycle breaks. Hence, it becomes important to converge Development at a single platform laying its focus on fulfilling the aspirations of people to make their life better’. Also, the stakeholder consultation was preceded with activities of painting competition for school children, public consultation, school interaction and play-card activities, human-chain formation. The campaign at Ghats, Schools, marketplace, railway Station, bus Station, religious places, malls, community parks, etc was indeed educative for everyone, including us to learn & share experiences, pieces of wisdom, attempting to bring cohesive solutions, which was previously ignored largely. The essence of such campaign was that people from diverse cultures, formed a mosaic of opinions reflected the symbolic representation of various opinions, mindset, and thoughts of the people.
We raised the mandate of Eco literacy higher ranging from scientific principles of WaSH especially among children & women, reducing plastic trash & litter and promoting water conservation and intricately seized the golden opportunity to align the success with our ‘Eco Routes mandate. The campaign gathered an intense momentum of approvals or disapproval of many local causes and challenges. Through these powerful messages, we seized the golden opportunity to mobilize people, garner new dimensions and align our ‘Eco Routes stakeholder dialogue along the same lines. We spearheaded the idea that ‘Change is the need of the rightful need of the hour & it must come from within’. In these districts, every single individual acted as a ‘Catalyst of Change’.
Keeping Education as a key tool, we encouraged schools; teachers motivate students to think about worsening crisis of environment with specific impetus to Water and disseminate their social responsibility to children. Painting competition reflected the engagement of children in a creative environment to identify their thinking in alignment with environmental themes of Sustainable Development, Water conservation, Renewable energy, Climate change and Circular approach. It allowed complete self expression and supports their creativity and innovative ideas expressed through environmental art. We aligned our agenda & activities according to IWF mandate and engage them as equal Partners-in-Development. As a proactive civil society, we took this opportunity to disseminate knowledge, best green practices, train and educate and capacity building initiatives in order to help students, teachers understand the significance of conserving environment and make their respective schools as the Environmental harbingers of ‘FutureNext’.
Summing up our intellectual journey in the 7 Aspirational Districts, the response from the stakeholders was overwhelming and we looked forward to converge different aspirations of the district in a holistic manner. The support received from the district administration and the community was well appreciative. On the bottom line, it can be said that that people from diverse backgrounds, reflected a mosaic of opinions, thoughts, attitudes and mindset, which was interesting, engaging and a fruitful experience. As a part of our ongoing EcoRoutes mandate, we believe that true inspirations can lead the path of success and hence Aspirational Districts deserve a credit for themselves.
