Gram Vikas in Orissa

Gram Vikas is an organisation operating in thirteen districts of Orissa and was my host organisation during my fieldwork. It works for the health and sanitation of the villages. It is very difficult to mobilise people to adopt something new when they don’t feel the need to do so. Gram Vikas took up this challenge and has done justice to it. My village is a live example of it. Initially people were not ready for the construction of bathrooms in their houses as they hardly needed them, especially the old age group. There were some who agreed and gradually the number increased. It took two long years to mobilise people but finally it happened. Today Gram Vikas has attained 100% coverage in the village. Each household contributed for it. They are also provided with three water connections in each household and a water tank has also been built. The people who initially opposed are no more with the same opinion rather they are very thankful to Gram Vikas for improving sanitation facilities of the village. They feel that the village has become cleaner. They feel proud of the development made which they think has improved their standard of living.