A Trip to Demonstration Village

“Sustainable Development by its very nature is a slow process…” Dr. Suri Sehgal.
It is often said, “……the only thing that counts at the end is the impact.” To achieve impact, one needs to start with a big vision, start implementing what is realistically possible, leveraging strengths to the maximum, promoting what one believes in through marketing and advocacy, networking with other nonprofits and for profit organizations and creating a movement.

Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of Gram Swaraj: “Every village should be its own republic, "independent of its neighbors for its own vital wants and yet interdependent for many others in which dependence is necessary," finds meaning if each village is self-reliant, with provision for all necessities of life - food, clothing, clean water, sanitation, housing, education and so on. These serve as tenets of sustainability and lead the way in paving way for transformed rural India.

Just as every successful model needs a demonstration for replication, Notki village in Mewat district of Haryana has been established as a Demonstration village under the aegis of Institute of Rural Research and Development (IRRAD). The endeavor in Notki gives us the possibility to show government officials, private sector, Sarpanchs, and other villages what can be achieved with determination, hard work and some resources. The idea is to promote the concept of ‘adopt a village’ among the corporate world which may not be easy but is worth trying.

The process of making a demonstration village involves community at all levels such that the Panchayat (the local government body) along with the other community members can identify their developmental needs and sustain them on their own. This process is possible through vigorous training and capacity building sessions.

Interventions in Notki at a glance:

Demographic Profile of the village
Total Population size: 1568
Households: 196
Average Family size: 8  

Key features of Demo Village

The road leading to the village approximately 1 km constructed. Five solar roadside lights placed Government Primary school has been provided with all necessary infrastructure needed to strengthen the foundations of education. Appointment of female teacher which creates merit for the parents to send their girls to school. Revived Village Education Committees Construction and repair of toilet blocks Provision of drinking water tank and fixed taps Provision of electric water motor Roof water harvesting Painting and whitewashing of the complete school campus Wall paintings with educational quotations Fitting and repairing of doors and windows in the classrooms Construction of cooking area for mid day meals Landscaping, pathways and tree plantation in school premises Raised boundary walls Repair of the swings Provision of dustbins Delivery Hut Construction of delivery hut which comprises two rooms- one for check ups and other for delivery Rain water harvesting on the roof Provision of consumable items which will be used during delivery Provision of delivery kits and other medical equipments IEC material and condoms availability Model orchard Area Covered: 4.3 acres No. of plants: 897 Kinds of plants: 13 Cost effective drip system Cleaning and landscaping of pathway to model orchard Soak wells: 6 Construction of toilets: 92 Plantation with 150 Tree Guards

The start of a successful movement is made within the community. Empowerment and awareness serve as igniting forces for the movement to catch up and reach a wider audience. The Notki demonstration movement would serve as a major catalyst for similar movements in other parts of the country, leading to the fulfillment of Gram Swaraj.

Notki’s trip had never been like this before. The typical rural setting has always been a pleasure for the visitors but if that typical setting is decorated with the basic development infrastructure it becomes all the more enriching and fulfilling. The sight of a clean green village, “Nirmal Swach Gaon” is what many Indian architects and luminaries like Gandhi had envisioned, which continues to be dreamt by people who have a vision to pay back to their motherland by organizing themselves as civil society groups, and also in their individual capacities. The trip to Demonstration village, Notki was pleasing in every sense. The sanitized village ambience, improved infrastructure, better education and health facilities, revival of water resources, rewarding agricultural interventions all add to making the village, a dream village. IRRAD’s founder, Dr. Sehgal’s visit to the Demo village is comparable to a lifetime episode. He was given a warm traditional welcome by the community. A walk through of the whole village was arranged showing the interventions that will have long term impacts in serving the society. The project implementation team at the grassroots was upbeat. It was a big day for everyone associated in the making of Demo village. The sense of achievement in the community’s eyes was sparkling too. The Sarpanch expressed his gratitude to Dr. Sehgal and IRRAD’s staff for contributing in making Notki a success. He said, “Lot of people leave India, make lots of money but there are very few who actually come back and serve the countrymen. It takes great courage to share your earnings with others.” Dr. Sehgal reciprocating the love and affection given by the villagers said, “We are here to serve the society. He congratulated the field staff for their immense contribution. He termed community support as vital to every development process as they are the actual beneficiaries.” We wish to see many more villages follow the footsteps of Notki.

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